5 Reasons Why You Should Own a Glass Nail File

Glass Nail File/Crystal Nail File – Made from specially hardened glass, the abrasive surface is made from crystal particles

I would always see glass nail files in beauty shops blinged out to the max with Swarovski elements, rhinestones and other embellishments on them and thought they were purely a fashion thing.  I was wrong.  Glass nail files have some pretty incredible benefits that go way beyond how they look:

1. Prevents splits and breakage

Emery boards and steel files are quite rough, often leaving jagged edges.  A glass nail file smooths and seals the freshly filed edges, which reduces nails’ susceptibility to splits and peeling, which is all key to growing your nails.

2. Doesn’t dull over time

Glass nail files last significantly longer than emery boards.  The way in which they are manufactured – acid/permanently etched – means that they will never wear down. In fact, theoretically they will never need to be replaced, leading some brands to offer a lifetime guarantee.

3. Hygiene

Unlike an emery board which should never be in contact with water, glass nail files can be rinsed in hot water, washed in soapy water and sterilised.  Being able to clean the file gets rid of bacteria and reduces the chances of nail infections.

4.  Longevity

Glass nail files will not corrode or rot.  In comparison, emery boards are porous and can absorb water and bacteria.

5. Efficiency

The finer surface of a glass nail file allows filing to be more precise, which makes targeting specific areas easier.  The filing and smoothing effect is achieved in one process which also saves time.

The only down side is that because they are made of glass, they can break if dropped.  They are made of safety glass so they won’t shatter into a million pieces, simply crack.  So in regards to breakage, a glass nail file should be stored and handled more carefully.

I got a mini one locally today, just to give it a bit of a test drive and see what I thought.  I was very impressed with how effective it was at filing down the parts I wanted gone and the smooth finish around my nail was definitely noticeable.  I would usually use a buffer on the finest grade to do this, but the glass nail file eliminated that step!

Photo Source: http://www.blushcosmetics.com/

UPDATE:

My recommendation: If you’re looking for a specific brand, then I would recommend Mont Bleu. Their files are hand crafted and made from tempered Czech glass ensuring quality and longevity.