A pair of nail clippers is a medicine-cabinet essential, whether you lot prefer doing your own nails at home or need a trim in between manis and pedis. And investing in good smash clippers can make all the difference, from perfecting your ideal nail shape to getting a nice, clean cut. "The little cheap ones that you get at the pharmacy or dollar shop tend to tear or scissure the blast when you use them," explains celebrity blast artist Fleury Rose. But with so many options out there, it can be hard to choose the right ones for you and your budget. To help, nosotros spoke to Rose and ten other experts, including nail technicians, podiatrists, and our own writers, nigh which ones they use themselves and would recommend.

Best overall | Best less-expensive | Best set | Best toenail clipper for thick nails | Best toenail clipper for people with limited mobility | Best for ingrown toenails | All-time for babies

Blade material: Stainless-steel blades were a must across the lath when we spoke to experts, with Rose likewise mentioning that titanium-steel clippers work also. Both materials are hypoallergenic, and then they can be used by almost anyone. They're as well easy to clean and rust-resistant to aid avert infections and extend a clipper'southward life. Dr. Dana Stern, G.D., a lath-certified dermatologist specializing in nail health, suggests investing in clippers made with good-quality steel "as opposed to less-expensive tools that tend to dull and need to be replaced." The rest of the nail clipper might exist made of a mix of metals or plastic, but information technology's virtually important that the blade that cuts your nails is stainless or titanium.

Edge shape: Nail clippers by and large come up with two different edge shapes: straight and curved. When it comes to picking between the two, it usually comes down to preference. Stick with a straight-edged clipper if you like your nails more squared and a curve-edged clipper if you similar your nails more rounded. All the same, if y'all're prone to getting ingrowns, experts suggest a nail clipper with a direct edge because angling the sides of the nail with a curved nail clipper can encourage the smash to grow into the skin.

Size: Picking the right size of your nail clippers is dependent on the person. If you're someone who has smaller fingernails and toenails, you're probably fine with a fingernail clipper for both. If yous have larger or thicker nails, information technology's probably best to have a set of both fingernail and toenail clippers, or y'all might be able to get away with just toenail clippers in some cases. The slightly larger clippers are also corking because they provide more leverage for anyone with mobility problems or trouble reaching their toes.

Actress features: At that place are just equally many nail clippers with added features as at that place are plain ones. If there are any features that are actually useful, we'll highlight them. It'south worth noting that some of these clippers come with nail files, merely they're not mentioned. That's because near all smash files on clippers aren't good enough for normal employ, and you're much better off just getting an emery lath instead.

Seki Edge SS-112 Stainless Steel Nail Clipper

Stainless steel | Curved | Fingernail clipper | Ergonomic ridges

Crafted by the aforementioned company that makes the Dark-green Bell nail clippers, a longtime Strat favorite, is the Seki Edge SS-112. When I reached out to the company to test the Greenish Bell for myself, they suggested I also endeavor the Seki Edge out, informing me that the Seki Edge is an updated version of the Green Bell with a more ergonomic grip. When I tested the two out side past side, I did appreciate the added ridges on the Seki and felt it was much more than secure in my hand, fifty-fifty while cut my toenails. As for the actual cutting, both cut virtually the same. As former Strategist editor Jason Chen said back in 2016, they "piece through nails similar a santoku through a love apple." It's worth noting that Tweezerman was the almost touted by experts (more on that presently), but after testing both, the ease and seamlessness while using the Seki made it stand up out as truly the best. As Molly Romah, lead nail technician at Chillhouse, points out, this also means they're cracking for thick nails. "It cuts right through thick nails with practically no effort, which gives the user consummate control," she says.

Tweezerman Stainless Steel Toenail Clipper

Stainless steel | Direct | Toenail clipper | Free sharpening service

As mentioned above, Tweezerman was a favorite of the nail-salon experts we spoke to. All pointed out that they're a high-quality pair of affordable clippers. Amy Lin, founder of the NYC-based salon Sundays, uses the directly edge toenail clippers herself because they're salon quality and easy to handle. Rita de Alencar Pinto, founder of the Vanity Projects Institute, specifically called out Tweezerman's straight-edged clippers because of their versatility. They can be used for both fingernails and toenails "very easily and safely" without having to worry nearly potential ingrowns. And they are known to last, which is probable why nail artists are such fans. "I've been using the same pair for a while, and they stay sharp for a long time," says Rose, adding that they're much stronger than whatever other drugstore brand of clippers out in that location. And if your set of Tweezerman blast clippers does happen to dull over time, Jacqueline Grand. Sutera, D.P.Grand., a podiatrist at City Podiatry, notes that you can ship yours to the company for free sharpening.

Tweezerman Stainless Steel Nail Clipper Set

Stainless steel | Curved and direct | Fingernail and toenail clippers

If you're looking for a set, this Tweezerman i is but a couple dollars extra. It comes with the toenail clipper above and a smaller fingernail clipper with a curved edge. While most of our experts don't recollect having two dissimilar-size clippers is absolutely necessary, Stern thinks otherwise. "Fingernails and toenails are very different in size," she says. "The analogy would be comparing an adult fingernail to a young child's — you lot would utilise ii different-size clippers."

New Huing Podiatrist Toenail Clippers

Stainless steel | Curved | Toenail clipper | Cushion grip

This pair of toenail clippers was recommended by beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newton, who has "potent toenails that grow chop-chop." Months into the pandemic without her usual pedicures, this became an issue. Both her at-habitation pair of blast clippers and a pair of toenail-specific clippers from the drugstore weren't strong or abrupt enough to clip through her toenails. (Equally Viera-Newton and the podiatrists we spoke to mention, thick toenails could be a sign of a fungal infection if yous also have cracks and discoloration. If that'south the case, it's best to see a md or specialist.) After some excavation on Reddit, Viera-Newton plant these clippers designed specially for podiatrists to use on elderly clients, who tend to have thicker (and often ingrown) toenails. "They take a sharp, curved bract that hands slices off any toenail, no matter how potent or hard or gnarly it has gotten, and a nonslip, absorber grip that allows for quick, clean trims," she writes. "Different the other clippers I tried, you barely demand to squeeze them for them to work perfectly."

Clipperpro Omega Select Fingernail Clipper

Stainless steel | Straight | Toenail clipper | Swivel bract

When we spoke to podiatrist Dr. Emily Splichal, she was hesitant about using podiatry nail clippers at home. "They're designed to exist used on someone else," she says, adding that it could pb to cuts and infections if the user isn't conscientious. Instead, she recommended this Clipperpro pair, which has a long plastic grip that'south much larger than that of a standard set of nail clippers and a bract head that swivels 180 degrees. Both of those features make this clipper much easier to use for anyone with arthritis or mobility issues, Splichal notes, since they have more control and an added range they can reach.

Mundial 776-pr Stainless Steel Toenail Nipper With Straight Jaw

Stainless steel | Directly | Toenail nipper

All of the experts we spoke to said it's best to see a professional if you have ingrown toenails, but if you lot're not able to, Lin suggested this nail nipper with caution. It features a more than pointed blade, allowing for precision. It was also recommended by Marcela Correa, a licensed medical pedicurist and the owner of Medi Pedi NYC, and Juan Ortiz, a medical pedicurist at Aida Bicaj spa, back when we spoke to them at length about ingrown nails. And since this specific Mundial nipper has a straight edge, you could apply it to avert hereafter ingrowns. "To preclude ingrown nails, utilise a straight nail clipper to cut the nail and then use a file directly across, just do not cut or file on the sides of the nail," says Romah.

Fridababy The SnipperClipper Set

Stainless steel | Curved | Baby nails | Spy hole

Babies' nails abound speedily, and it'southward important to keep them short so they don't accidentally scratch themselves (or yous). Clipping a baby's nails tin can be a difficult task, so instead of nail scissors, Strategist writer Lauren Ro uses these "intuitive" clippers. Unlike regular nail clippers, these utilise a "kind of slicing motion that'southward meliorate for soft baby nails" and even have a "viewing" window to help get a better look at what you're clipping.

• Marcela Correa, licensed medical pedicurist and the possessor of Medi Pedi NYC
• Amy Lin, founder of Sundays nail salon
• Juan Ortiz, medical pedicurist at Aida Bicaj spa
• Rita de Alencar Pinto, founder of the Vanity Projects Institute
• Lauren Ro, writer at the Strategist
• Molly Romah, lead nail technician at Chillhouse
• Fleury Rose, glory boom artist
• Dr. Emily Splichal, D.P.M., Centre for Functional & Regenerative Medicine
• Dr. Dana Stern, M.D., board-certified dermatologist specializing in nail health
• Jacqueline M. Sutera, D.P.G., podiatrist at Urban center Podiatry
• Rio Viera-Newton, dazzler columnist at the Strategist

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seven of the Very Best Nail Clippers