If you’re hoping to score a salon-worthy manicure at home, having a great nail file on hand is key. But how do you know which type is right for you? After all, some work best for natural nails and others are ideal for artificial nails. And if you have no idea what “grit” refers to when talking about nail files, no worries. Ahead, with insight from nail experts, we’ve found the best options and laid out everything you need to know before selecting the best nail file for you.
Best nail files for natural nails
Dr. Dana Stern, a board-certified dermatologist specializing in nails and founder of?Dr. Dana, says glass nail files are the way to go. "High-quality glass files will create a perfectly smooth edge in contrast to paper emery boards which create microscopic tears in the nail plate that lead to splits, peeling, breakage and premature polish chipping," she says. After making the switch and using the glass file from Stern's brand, our beauty editor, Sophie Shaw, noticed less breakage and snagging with her own nails between manicures.
“This is a great quality file that’s reusable, and the grit isn’t too coarse, which is great on your natural nails for a gentler filing experience,” says digital content creator and manicurist Sarah Haidar. It aids in preventing nail breakage and splitting and helps smooth out rough edges with little to no effort.?
“Soft Touch paper nail files are great, affordable options and are dual-sided with the perfect grit options,” Haidar says. They’re long-lasting, durable, washable and can smooth out stubborn nail ridges with ease.?
These highly affordable, disposable nail files have a soft coarseness that makes them perfect for gently and easily sculpting and shaping natural nails. They’re also extremely lightweight and thin, making them ideal for beginners.?
Stern also recommends this glass file from Sephora, which has a medium grit and is washable and reusable.
Best nail files for artificial nails
Shaw, who often wears press-on nails, loves this affordable set. The two-grit buffer is especially useful, as it features a 100-grit side she uses to file down the sides of the press-ons for a better fit, and a 180-grit side to gently buff the surface of her nails for better nail glue adhesion.
“This has a lower grit and is my preferred paper file for when I’m trying to shape gel extensions,” Haidar says. “It gets the job done quick!” They’re also conveniently double sided, washable and excellent for both natural nails and acrylics alike.
This heavy-duty nail file is ergonomically shaped, making it easier to hold and get super-precise edges. Beloved by professionals, it’s ideal for sculpting nails and achieving a really crisp, polished-looking finish.?
What to look for in a nail file
First and foremost, when shopping for a nail file, consider the grit. Nail file grit refers to how coarse the file is. Files are labeled by numbers, usually between 60 and 1,000. (Double-sided files will have two numbers.) Higher numbers equate to smoother grit while lower numbers mean a more abrasive grit. The grit you want depends on what you’re working with.
“I find that a grit number of 240 to 320 is perfect for all my needs; great to shorten the length of my natural nails or smooth out any small ridges. A lower grit works great for extensions and acrylics, but I find it’s a bit more difficult to precisely shape my natural nails with them,” Haidar says. In fact, using a lower-grit nail file can damage natural nails.
Nail technician and artist Claudia Rosario recommends using 180 grit or higher on natural nails. “On artificial nails, you can also use a 180 grit, but I’ll go as low as 100 grit,” she says.
Another thing to consider when looking for a nail file is the material. There are classic disposable paper files as well as glass files, which offer a more luxe fee and can be cleaned and reused easily.
