Toenail Shapes: Caring For Aging Toenails

Toenails And Aging

The topic of caring for aging toenails is not exactly sexy. The the idea of whether it matters or not what toenail shape you choose as you get older may seem, well, trivial. However, it’s a fact that our toenails thicken with age, as well as due to existing conditions like diabetes or a nail fungus. Additionally, the type of toenails you have also affects the manner in which you care for them.

It’s never too late to learn more about shaping toenails for both style and comfort!

Toenail Care

Getting a pedicure may seem like the ultimate means of treating yourself in order to unwind and destress, but trimming your nails regularly is actually an important step when it comes to proper maintenance and self-care. Doing so ensures your toenails stay healthy and that any risk of infection or fungus is deftly avoided.

With the summer months about to enter in full swing, there’s no better time to learn how to prep and shape those toenails so you can strut down the street in your open-toed sandals with confidence.

Choosing A Toenail Shape

Though fingernails come in many different shapes and sizes, when it comes to how to shape toenails, most people tend to either have them rounded or squared.

Rounded Toenail Shape

If you opt to go with a rounded toenail shape, make sure that you push the skin away from the edges of the nail bed when you file and buff the surface so that you free up the corners of the nail. This will stop ingrown toenails from forming.

Square Toenails

Having them in a squared shape is actually the best for toenails, because cutting them straight and flat across means that the edges of the nail are not too pointed and that the natural shape of the toe is followed. This toenail shape also lets the nails grow straight out without digging into the skin at the sides of the toe and potentially resulting in issues.

Toenail Length

In addition, the length of the toenail should not be ignored. If your toenails are too long, they can also become damaged because of the repeated trauma of your nails hitting the surface of your shoe when you walk. Cutting your toenails to an ideal length will reduce the chance of bruised toenails.

Toenail Care

Caring for aging toenails is simple, but important. Some steps to take:

• Before trimming your toenails, you should soak your feet in warm water. Dry them thoroughly before clipping.
• Push back the cuticles, but do not directly cut into them
• Choose and use a good size nail clipper or trimmer that is designed to cut through thicker nails. There are lots of choices for this, as well as nail clippers thhttps://amzn.to/2Qt8PGuat are easy to use if you have arthritis.)
• When working on your nails, do so gradually and in small cuts to avoid splintering the nail bed.
• Carefully smoothing down the surface and corners of a thick toenail prevents the nails from snagging on the skin when they grow. On the other hand, if your toenails are on the thin and brittle side, it’s advisable to coat the nail bed with a nail oil or nourishing protein polish before cutting them into your desired shape.

If you suffer from split toenails, most split toenails will grow out and resolve themselves on their own. That’s why it’s important to stick to a squared shape so that the nail can heal over the break in your toenail.

A good rule of thumb to follow when deciding on the toenail length is that a small strip of white should still be visible at the end of the nails. When shaping the nail, ensure that the cuts are clean and sharp and that the nail does not have any deformities.

Once trimmed, file your toenails with quick, straight strokes along the the edge and gently across the surface. Corners of the toenail should be squared and not rounded, and the nail file should be held at a 90-degree angle to keep the shape even.

How To Shape Toenails

Though beauticians and medical professionals alike will swear by a basic, squared off toenail shape, this doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun with your pedicures during this season of sunshine. Deck out your toenails in an array of vibrant colors, or try your hand at acrylic toenails if you’re set on shaping your toenails into something more unusual.

While the straight cut works best for your natural nails, you can opt to try rounded or oval shapes if you’re using acrylics. Just make sure that the acrylic sits on top of your toenail in a manner that is still natural-looking and won’t cause any bruising or deformities.

At the end of the day, a square toenail shape remains your best bet because of the way it also prevents bacteria from forming and interfering with your daily activities. Following the original shape of the toe also makes it easier to clean, another practice that should be done on the regular to keep your toenails healthy so you can show them off with pride.

Caring for aging toenails ensures you can opt for all your favorite open-toed shoes and have the beach feet possible!