I’ve seen several posts and comments over the last couple weeks around overfiling sidewalls, and unfortunately in my enthusiasm for the perfect almond shape I realize I’ve been guilty of doing just that for the past few years. I now realize that that’s caused extremely deep hangnails that seem to start right at the point of growth. Has anyone had success in reversing this kind of thing? What should I do? Would nail strengtheners help? I already use hand cream 3-4 times a day and oil my cuticles a couple times a week.
by goldenfluff23
16 Comments
Products used – 2x Pearl Clutcher by mooncat, mooncat primer and vibrant scents topcoat.
Nothing you can do except to grow out the sidewalls so just do your usual routine to make them grow faster lol
Maybe I’ve been overfiling mine too because mine look similar and despite your issue with the hangnails I think they look great. I did it once on accident, like obvious over filing, and i knew immediately I had messed up bc it just looked off. But I’ll be interested to hear the consensus bc maybe I need to lay off mine too.
I have the same issue from overfiling! I think just keep them moisturized will be the best thing. I noticed that once those hangnail bits grow to the free edge, I’m more likely to get breaks so keep an eye on that. You can use Essie break fix as a preemptive way to get ahead of any potential breaks.
Wait THOSE are sidewalls (not hangnails?)? So if I clip those I’ll keep getting breakage between nail and nail bed? That explains so much 🥲
I have multiple nails that look like the first pic and I’ve been wondering what in the world is going on. It makes perfect sense! I think the advice of cutting it where it is hanging sounds like a good idea so I’ll give that a try.
Okay apparently I did the same thing on mine. Does it cause pain? Not when filing but this deep hangnail growing out.
I’m not sure but I’m here for the comments. I had to keep my nails square for a while to avoid the sidewall overfiling and let them grow out a bit. Last week I felt ready to go back to almond and I was fighting the overfiling demon on my shoulder the whole time 😬
I get these too. Many years of over-filing the sides of my nails when I used to keep them long has left lasting damage. I have a few nails that insist on having recurring low/deep hang nails even though I keep my nails short and have kept them short for about 15 years.
I clip hang nails as cleanly as possible and lightly file with a glass file to try to smooth them out. Keeping polish on helps me. Avoiding picking at them helps (nervous habit to mess with it if it is sticking out). Here for any suggestions.
Yep I’m just coming to grips with this and realizing I need to have a whole new shape 😭
Yup. Just let them grow. You could also use a silk wrap as a reinforcement tool, but you gotta let them grow back out fully without any trauma to the side walls for them to bounce back.
I’ve always though these are just hangnails. I’ve had them long before I ever started filing my nails, and now that I am, I find I can just file them off with my glass nail file.
I had this done TO me for years at salons. When I quit going I had to let it grow out. Seconding the recommendation for those extremely thin files to get you through the awkward stage!
I have the same issue, but thanks to a very dry climate my skin & probably being too rough with my hands, I get a super painful crack in the skin there that takes FOREVER to heal 😭
I currently have three on one hand. I can’t wait for the weather to get warmer and more humid
Saaame! What’s been helping me over the last couple weeks is keeping my cuticles lotioned and oiled, wearing gloves to do dishes/cleaning, wearing polish to protect my nails as they grow, and returning to using glass nail files and filing in one direction only.
Re filing, I’d read that sawing is actually fine and was loving how carefree it felt, but I think it’s not for me. And I’d gone back to thin emery boards that can fit angled under the free edge but they made it too easy/tempting to file into the sidewall.
Those parts will catch up and widen your nails. I’ve recently been doing oval but not too deep and my weirdest nails are getting wider and stronger.