Can You File Your Nails After Getting Them Done?
Having beautiful nails is something many people strive for. Getting a professional manicure leaves your nails looking polished and pretty. But what happens when your nails start growing out after your manicure? Can you file them yourself or will that ruin the look?
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Yes, you can safely file your nails after getting them done professionally. Light filing helps blend the new growth into the manicured nail and keeps everything looking neat.
In this article, we’ll go over when and how to properly file your nails after a manicure to maintain the look.
When to File Nails After a Manicure
As Soon As You Notice Polish Growth
It’s recommended to file your nails as soon as you notice your nail polish growing out. This typically occurs within 3-5 days after your manicure. Filing down the edge smooths out the polish so you don’t pick or peel it off.
This simple maintenance extends the life of your manicure and prevents breaks and tears.
The best nail file to use is a crystal file. Crystal files have a fine grit that gently smooths nails without weakening them. Avoid using metal nail files as these can damage nails. Lightly file in one direction, using care not to file the skin around the nails.
Every Few Days
To keep nails looking their best, it’s wise to file them gently every 2-3 days after a professional manicure. This keeps free edges neat and tidy. Pay extra attention to filing if you use your hands frequently in water.
In a recent survey conducted by Nail Care HQ, over 85% of nail technicians recommended clients file every few days to get the most wear from a manicure. Frequent filing takes just minutes and preserves the nail polish and shape.
Before Touch Ups
It’s crucial to file nails before getting a touch up or fill to prep the nail bed. Remove all old nail polish with acetone or nail polish remover first. Then use a crystal file to gently shape nails and smooth ridges or cracks in the free edge.
Proper filing creates the ideal clean canvas for fresh polish. It also removes residue along the cuticle and side walls so the new polish adheres properly. A light buff can also help the nail surface hold onto polish better and prevents chipping or peeling.
How to File Nails After a Professional Manicure
Use a Fine-Grit File
After getting your nails professionally done, it’s crucial to use a high-quality nail file when doing any filing or shaping at home. Look for a file with a grit of 180 or higher, as this will smooth the nails without being too abrasive.
Coarser files can damage the manicure and cause peeling or cracks in the polish. Gently filing with a finer grit file will blend the new growth and shape the nails properly without causing damage.
File Gently in One Direction
When filing your nails, always file in one direction, usually from the outside edge towards the center of the nail. Filing back and forth can weaken the nails. Use light, gentle strokes and avoid sawing the file on the nails.
Don’t apply too much pressure or vigorously file as this can thin out the nails. Take your time filing; rushed filing often leads to overfiling and nail damage.
Focus on Blending the New Growth
Pay close attention to filing and blending the new nail growth that occurs at the base of the nails. Freshly grown nail is thicker and ridges may form. Lightly filing the new growth will help taper and blend it into the existing manicure for a seamless look.
Don’t overfile the new growth completely or it may cause the polish to peel in that area faster.
Avoid Overfiling
It’s important not to overfile the nails when maintaining your manicure. Excessive filing can make the nails thinner and weaker over time. Stick to filing only rough edges or shaping slightly, and try not to take off more than a thin top layer of nail.
Removing too much of the nail plate by aggressive filing can cause nail damage. A good rule of thumb is if filing doesn’t seem to be smoothing or blending the nails, stop filing to avoid overdoing it.
Moisturize After Filing
Once done filing nails, it’s a good idea to apply nail oil, lotion, or cuticle cream. Filing can dry out the nails, so moisturizing helps replenish moisture. Look for products containing nourishing ingredients like vitamin E, shea butter, or jojoba oil.
Avoid getting moisturizer directly on the polished part of the nails to prevent streaking. Massage the oil or lotion into the bare parts of the nails and cuticles to hydrate the nail bed.
Tips for Making Your Manicure Last
Use Nail Hardener
Applying a nail hardener regularly can help strengthen your nails and prevent cracks, chips and peeling (source). Look for a formaldehyde-free hardener containing nourishing ingredients like calcium, vitamins and proteins. Apply it once a day as a base coat underneath your polish.
This helps create a protective barrier that extends the life of your manicure.
Get Regular Touch Ups
Schedule touch up appointments every 2 weeks to maintain the look of your manicure. This allows your nail tech to fix any chips or small cracks in the polish. It’s much quicker and cheaper than getting a whole new set.
Touch ups preserve the health of your nails underneath, saving you money in the long run.
Wear Gloves for Wet Work
Protect your manicure by wearing rubber gloves when doing household chores involving water or chemicals. The gloves form a waterproof barrier that prevents moisture from seeping underneath the polish and weakening the bonds. This reduces peeling and extends the fresh look of your lacquered tips.
Use Cuticle Oil Daily
Apply cuticle oil around your nails once or twice a day to condition the skin and nails. The oil moisturizes dry, cracked cuticles to prevent hangnails and overgrown cuticles (source). Well-hydrated nails and cuticles retain polish better.
Massage in vitamin E-rich oil after washing hands to counteract drying effects.
Following these simple tips can add days or even weeks onto your flawless manicure. Little prevention measures go a long way towards maintaining strong, healthy nails that hold polish beautifully.
When to See a Professional Again
For Major Shaping
Getting your nails shaped and maintained by a professional manicurist on a regular basis is highly recommended. Though you can file and buff your nails at home to keep them looking tidy between salon visits, there are times when it’s best to have an expert handle more major nail shaping.
If your nails have grown out significantly since your last manicure, the shaping required is likely beyond just gently filing the free edge. Visiting a salon will allow a manicurist to use specialized tools to trim, shape, and refine the nails so they look their best.
This level of major shaping is difficult to execute properly on your own without the right tools and skills.
Seeking professional help for major shaping also reduces the risk of filing your nails unevenly or too thin. Overfiling can lead to peeling, cracking, and other nail damage over time. The experienced eye of a manicurist will ensure your nails are shaped perfectly.
If You Damage a Nail
Though our nails are durable, it’s not uncommon for them to get damaged by catching on something or taking a direct hit. If you end up with a cracked, split, broken, or peeled nail, it’s best to have a professional repair it for you.
Attempting to trim and shape a damaged nail yourself can often make matters worse. The precision tools and specialized products available to manicurists make them far better equipped to mend and restore damaged nails.
They can trim away ragged edges, seal cracks or splits with acrylic, and reshape the nail so that it matches the others.
Seeing a professional right away when you damage a nail will help prevent the issue from becoming worse over time. It also reduces the risk of infection if you have a peel or crack that exposes the nail bed to outside contaminants.
For Design Removal
Getting a beautiful nail design can be exciting, but removing it yourself once it grows out or starts chipping can be tricky business. Trying to file off gel polish or acrylic nails without professional experience risks damaging your natural nails underneath.
Rather than attempting to remove complex designs at home, it’s best to book an appointment with your manicurist. They have the proper solvents and tools to gently take off gel manicures or acrylics without harming your nails. This helps transition your nails back to their natural state smoothly.
Professionals also know techniques for safely filing down grown out acrylic and gel extensions so they can be replaced with a fresh set. Prevent potential nail damage or infection by relying on an expert for design removal instead of picking away yourself.
The Takeaway
Getting your nails professionally done can be an indulgent treat, but maintaining that salon-perfect manicure afterwards takes some care. Knowing what to avoid and what’s safe can help your manicure last longer. Here’s the key takeaways:
filing nails after a professional manicure
Light filing is okay but avoid over-filing. Filing too soon or too aggressively can weaken nails and cause breaks or peeling. Wait at least 24 hours before filing, and focus only on smoothing rough edges, not dramatically shaping or shortening nails.
Soaking nails after a professional manicure
Avoid soaking nails or exposing them to water for at least 24 hours after a professional manicure. Water can cause lifting, peeling, and other damage. When washing hands, wear gloves to protect nails.
Using nail polish remover after a professional manicure
Don’t use acetone or other harsh nail polish removers, as these can dry out nails. Use a gentle, moisturizing nail polish remover instead. Still, try to avoid removing the polish until it’s quite grown out or starts chipping, to preserve the manicure.
Moisturizing and nurturing nails
Applying cuticle oil daily keeps nails and skin hydrated, reducing chances of cracks, tears or hangnails that can ruin a manicure. Quick oils or creams after handwashing also helps. Consider weekly moisturizing masks too.
By avoiding over-filing, soaking, or exposing nails to polish remover too soon, while keeping them nourished with oils and creams, you can make that professional manicure last for weeks, not just days!
Conclusion
Getting regular manicures helps keep your nails looking their best. With some light filing between appointments, you can safely maintain your manicured nails and enjoy the polished look even as they grow.
Filing your nails properly after a manicure, moisturizing, and being gentle with your hands will keep your nails looking freshly done for weeks. Know when to see your manicurist again for shaping or repairs. A little at-home maintenance goes a long way!
