Easy Way to Cut a Very Long Hard Toenails

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Fungal infections can thicken your toenails, making them difficult to trim. You might also be worried about spreading the infection to your other nails during trimming. Fortunately, you can make the trimming process safer and easier by choosing the right tools and softening your nails before you trim them. You can also protect your healthy nails by properly disinfecting your nail care tools after each use.

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   Soak your nails for 10 minutes in warm water. Fungal infections can make your toenails thick and hard. To trim them easily, you may need to soften them first. Fill a basin or tub with warm water and soak your nails in it for 10 minutes before trimming them.^[1]

   • When you're done soaking your nails, dry your foot and nails with a clean, dry towel. Make sure to wash the towel before using it on any other part of your body to prevent the fungal infection from spreading.

   Tip: You can add extra fungus-fighting power to your foot soak by stirring in a few heaping spoonfuls of baking soda.^[2]

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   Thin your nails with urea cream and a file if they are extremely thick. If your nails are too thick and hard to trim easily even after soaking them, you may need to thin them first. Use a cream containing urea to soften your nails. Put the cream on the affected nails at night and cover them with a bandage, then clean the cream off with soap and water the next morning. Once your nails are soft, carefully thin them with a file or emery board.^[3]

   • You may need to apply the urea cream nightly for a few days until your nails become soft. You can buy foot creams containing urea over the counter at most pharmacies.
   • Take care when thinning your nails that you don't file through the nail and expose the nail bed underneath.

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   Use nail nippers instead of regular clippers. Your nails may be too thick to easily cut with regular clippers, so use a pair of nippers instead. These are made for cutting toenails. They resemble wire cutters and are available at most pharmacies.^[4]

   • Be careful using nippers, since they are more powerful than regular clippers and extremely sharp.
   • Fungus is contagious, so don't share your nail clippers with anyone else.^[5]

4. 4

   Cut your nail straight across in small sections. Start at the outer corner of your nail and make short, horizontal cuts. Don't round the corners of your nails, since this can increase your risk of developing an ingrown nail.^[6]

   • Making small clips can prevent your nail from splintering or cracking as you cut it.
   • Trim the entire nail straight across.^[7] Take care not to irritate the nail bed by cutting the nail too short.

5. 5

   File down the edges of your nails with an emery board. Once you're done trimming the affected nail(s), gently file down any sharp edges. Filing the nails will prevent them from snagging on your socks, which could cause further irritation or injury.^[8]

   • Nail care specialists recommend filing your nails in one direction rather than doing a side-to-side or sawing motion. This will help prevent your nails from fraying or cracking as you file them.^[9]

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1. 1

   Clip any nails infected with fungus last. Clippers or nippers contaminated with nail fungus can spread the infection to your healthy nails.^[10] If only one or some of your nails are affected, clip your healthy nails before you move on to the infected one(s).

   Warning: In addition to toenail fungus, contaminated nail clippers can also spread more serious infectious diseases. When you use the clippers, bacteria and viruses can enter your bloodstream through tiny nicks and cuts on your fingertips. Never share your clippers or other pedicure tools with another person.^[11]

2. 2

   Disinfect your nail nippers with a fungicidal wash after each use. After trimming your infected nails, it's important to disinfect your nippers or clippers. Wash your nippers with a fungicidal disinfectant, such as Barbicide or Spa Complete. Follow the directions on the bottle to use your disinfectant properly.^[12]

   • You can buy antifungal disinfectants at beauty supply stores or purchase them online.

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   Throw away any emery boards after filing an infected nail. If you use an emery board or any file made of a permeable material (such as wood), throw it away after you use it on an infected nail. Disinfectant solutions may not be effective on these types of files.^[13]

   • If you use a file made of metal or glass, you can disinfect it with a fungicidal wash and use it again.

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Add New Question

• Question

  What if I have trouble cutting my toenails?

  

  Marta Nagorska is a Nail Technician and Nail Art Blogger based in London, UK. She runs the blog, Furious Filer, where she gives tutorials on nail care and advanced nail art. She has been practicing nail art for over 5 years and graduated from Northampton College with distinction with a Nail Technician and Manicurist degree in 2017. She has been awarded the top spot in the OPI Nail Art Competition.

  

  Nail Artist

  Expert Answer

  If you have fungus, your toenail will most likely be discolored, thick, and brittle, which makes it difficult to cut. If you're having trouble, talk to a professional, like a podiatrist, to help provide treatment and care.

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Things You'll Need

• Basin or tub
• Water
• Urea cream (optional)
• Nail file or emery board
• Nail nippers
• Fungicidal wash

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