Emery Board or Glass Nail File? When to Use Which
The emery board is the file almost everyone knows: abrasive paper on a card core, a few cents apiece, sold in packs of ten. A glass file costs many times more and lasts for years. Which one is better depends less on the price than on how often you file and which nails you file.
The one real difference
An emery board has a glued-on abrasive surface. At first it bites finely and pleasantly - and it grows blunter with every use. On a glass file the surface is etched into the glass; it barely wears at all.
Everything else follows from that. The emery board is a consumable and gets replaced as soon as it stops biting. The glass file is a purchase you make once.
Emery boards: what they are good for
- Pleasantly fine. A fresh board files gently and leaves a smooth edge.
- Hygienic when several people share. Everyone gets their own and it is thrown away afterwards - which is why salons work this way.
- Flexible. It follows the curve of the nail, which a straight metal file cannot do.
- Inexpensive. A pack of ten costs less than one good file.
In packs of ten
The short version for the handbag and for fingernails.
Sandblattfeilen, 10 Stück, 12 cm
The long 17.5 cm version sits more steadily in the hand and works on toenails as well.
Erbe Sandblattfeile 17,5 cm, 10er Packung · short version, 11.5 cm
When the glass file is the better choice
With brittle, soft or thin nails. The very fine glass surface seals the edge of the nail instead of roughening it - and that is precisely what keeps the layers from splitting. An emery board does the same at first, but loses the ability as soon as the grit gives out. And a blunt file tears more than it files.
On top of that, a glass file can be washed and disinfected. An emery board cannot.
All the materials compared in detail: The best nail file - glass, sapphire, metal or ceramic?
For professional use: replaceable file sheets
In podiatry and foot care the principle is split in two: a sterilisable stainless steel core stays, and the file sheet is changed after every client. It is a clean hygienic solution and cheaper in the long run than disposable files.
RUCK Einweg-Feilblätter, fein, 50 Stück · matching stainless steel file core
When to replace it
The file is used up when you need more strokes than you used to, or when it slides across the nail instead of biting. Carrying on with a blunt file is the most common reason for frayed edges - you press harder without noticing, and that is exactly what loosens the layers of the nail.
As a rule of thumb: with weekly use an emery board lasts a few weeks. Once it has got wet it is finished straight away, because the glue comes loose.
Filing properly - true for both
- In one direction, never back and forth. Sawing loosens the layers of the nail - that, not the file, is the real cause of splitting edges.
- On a dry nail. After a bath the nail is soft and frays more easily.
- Hold the file flat against the edge, do not start from underneath - otherwise the edge of the nail becomes thin.
Frequently asked questions
Emery board or glass file - which is better?
For brittle nails and regular care, the glass file, because it seals the edge and never goes blunt. For occasional use, for travelling, and anywhere several people file their nails, the emery board is the more practical and more hygienic solution.
Can you clean an emery board?
Tapping it out, yes; washing it, no. Moisture dissolves the glue between the abrasive sheet and the core.
Which grit should an emery board have?
A medium to fine grit for natural nails. Anything coarser takes too much off a healthy nail and belongs on thick toenails or on artificial nails.
Why do my nails split even though I file them?
Usually because of the technique, or because of a blunt file. Work in one direction, file on a dry nail, and replace the file in good time.
More buying advice
- The best nail file - glass, sapphire, metal and ceramic compared
- Polishing nails - using a buffing file properly
- Caring for and cleaning a glass file
- Metal nail files - when they are the right choice
- The best nail scissors - shapes and cutting edges compared
- The best nail clipper - models compared
Related categories: All nail files, Glass nail files, Metal nail files, Buffing files