How To Cut Thick Toenails?

One day you may find yourself struggling to cut your nails but please know that you are not alone. Thick toenails are more common than people imagine and as we age our nails tend to get thicker and harder to cut. 

If you have thick toenails you may need to take special care of it because if left untreated, it may become quite painful and lead to issues such as ingrown toenails or toe fungus. 

Toenails can thicken due to several reasons that include tight-fitting shoes, injury, fungal infection, psoriasis and even genetics. Men tend to have thicker toenails than women and that can be prevalent to both later in life.

There are some simple steps that can help you to properly cut your thick toenails:

  1. Pick The Right Nail clippers For Thick Nails
Choosing the right nail clipper for thick toenails is an important step. Trying to use ordinary scissors or knives can cause injuries, thus you should use nail clippers that specifically designed for cutting nails.

If you have thick toenails, you may consider a clippers such as the: ZOHL Solingen Nail Clippers For Thick Toenails Stainless 13cm
For those with curved nails or that need to cut ingrown toenails, a nail nipper with flat and pointy blade can help, so look at the:  Zohl Solingen Nail Clippers For Ingrown Toenails 13cm

Toenails and Fingernails have different thickness and is advised to have two nail clippers. One clipper for your fingernails like the ZOHL Solingen Nail Clippers SHARPTec Pro 6cm. and pick another larger nail nipper for your toenails. 
Picking the right tool for the job can help you to make your nail grooming routine easier and safer. Reducing the chance of injuries or also preventing transferring bacteria or fungus between your feet and hands. 

  2. Soak your Feet in Warm Water
Always wash your feet and nails thoroughly before cutting. Then soak your feet in warm water for at least 10 minutes to soften your toenails, making it easier to trim thick toenails.

In most cases, soft toenails are safer and easier to cut than dry hard nails. Take the time to clean your feet and make this an important step of your pedicure routine.

  3 - Cutting the nail
Find the right cutting technique for your toenail type is super important. Podiatrist often suggest cutting toenails straight across, to prevent the appearance of painful ingrown toenails. For many people just cutting following the natural shape is easier.

For a straight cut easiest to do in two cuts — the first one with the clippers slightly off the side of the nail to create a straight edge; the second to remove the rest of the nail following the line of the straight cut. Avoid over cutting too deep or too deep into the corners.

  4. Filing the nail
Filing your thick toenails can bring may benefits at the look your nails with an sapphire nail file to smooth any jagged edges that could snag and potentially tear the nail as it grows.

To thin the top of the Toenail, use a good saphire nail file, like the Zohl saphire nail file, to grind the thickened nail from the top. Use gentle pressure and file it thinner until it is back to a normal or desired thickness. Depending on the thickness, you may continue grinding a little each day/week or until the nail is back to a normal thickness.

Long nail files are ideal for filling thick toenails and can assist with maintaining it shorter and even cleaner in between cuts.
Curved files like the Niegeloh Solingen Sapphire Nail File Curved 18 cm are suitable for filing both fingernails and toenails, with the convex shape blade ideal for a comfortable angle, especially if your nails tend to curve.

  5 . Time and frequency between cuts

The fifth step is determining how long to leave your toenails following the cut. This is important, because cutting your toenails too short could heighten your risk for ingrown toenails or cutting your skin which can lead to other issues. 

But always remember that if you don't cut your toenails nails often, they can easily get damaged and break, and are more likely to harbor dirt and bacteria that can potentially spread infection.

Following some simple steps like the ones we shared above may help you to improve your overall nail grooming routine. From choosing a right clippers for thick toenails to applying the best cutting technique to your nails, may not only help you steer clear from nail issues but improve even your overall health and wellbeing. 

It is important to always consult your podiatrist or doctor for advice on the best way for managing your nails and overall health needs.

If you want to assistance with choosing a high-quality German nail clipper check our range here. And for all your pedicure needs, you may consider our complete pedicure sets. Or get in touch with our team and we would love to help.