A good pair of professional nail clippers is essential when grooming your nails. Whether you do your nails at home or work in a salon, mastering the art of clipping nails is key to achieving clean, precise results. Professional nail clippers are designed for better accuracy, comfort, and performance, but you need to know the proper techniques to get the most out of them.

Here’s your guide to using professional nail clippers like a pro.

1. Choose the Right Type of Nail Clippers:

Professional nail clippers come in different types, each designed for specific tasks. There are two main types of clippers: straight-edge and curved-edge.

• Straight-edge clippers are typically used for cutting fingernails, especially when you want a clean, straight cut.
• Curved-edge clippers are often used for trimming toenails as they follow the natural curve of your nail, making them more suited for the thicker, stricter nail material of your toes.
• When choosing your clippers, ensure they match the needs of the nails you’ll work on to achieve the best results.

2. Sanitize Before Use:

Before using your professional nail clippers, always ensure they are clean and sanitized. This is particularly important if you’re using them on others or have been working with them for a while. Here’s how:

• Clean Your Clippers: Use a disinfectant wipe or a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol to clean the blades and handles.
• Disinfect the Nail Area: Clean your nails and surrounding skin with a disinfecting wipe or hand sanitiser to minimize the risk of infection.

3. Soften Your Nails:

Clipping nails can lead to painful splits or cracks when dry and brittle. To avoid this, soften your nails before trimming:

• Soak in Warm Water: Soak your nails in warm water for 5-10 minutes to soften them. This will make the clipping process smoother and reduce the risk of cracking.
• Use a Nail Softener: If you don’t have time for a soak, consider using a nail softener or oil to moisturize the nails before clipping.

4. Position Your Clippers Correctly:

The angle and position of your clippers are crucial for an even, clean cut. Here’s how to position them correctly:

• Hold the Clippers Firmly: Ensure a firm grip on the handles to avoid slips resulting in uneven cuts or injury.
• Align the Blades with the Nail: Place the clipper blades directly over the nail, positioning them so that they align with the edge of the nail.
• For fingernails, keep the clipper almost perpendicular to the nail plate.