In short
- Cut straight across, following the natural shape of the nail, not too short and not down the sides: the NHS and the Royal College of Podiatry both give this as the way to avoid ingrown toenails.
- Cut after a bath or shower, when the Royal College of Podiatry says the nail is much softer, then file any sharp edges smooth.
- The Royal College of Podiatry prefers nail nippers to curved clippers or scissors, while an NHS podiatry leaflet accepts clippers or scissors: the point is a small tool you can control.
- Toenails grow about 1.6 mm a month, and an NHS podiatry leaflet suggests cutting them every 6 to 12 weeks.
- If you have diabetes at high risk, take steroids or blood thinners, or cannot see or reach your feet, get help: NHS podiatry, over 80 local Age UKs and private foot health professionals cut toenails.
The short answer
Cut your toenails after a bath or shower, in good light, with a small pair of nail nippers. Cut straight across, following the natural shape of the nail, leaving the corners visible above the skin. Do not cut too short and do not cut down the sides. Then file any sharp edges smooth. That is the advice of the NHS and the Royal College of Podiatry, and it is mainly about one thing: stopping the nail growing into the skin.
Some people should not cut their own toenails at all. The Royal College of Podiatry says people with diabetes, or who take steroids or anticoagulants (blood thinners), should not cut their own nails or remove ingrowing spikes themselves, and the NHS suggests seeing a podiatrist if your nails are too tough to cut or you cannot reach them. There is more on who should get help below.
What you need
The official advice agrees on the cut, but not quite on the tool. Here is what each source says:
| Tool | What the advice says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Nail nippers | Recommended. They have a smaller cutting blade, and are available from chemists. | Royal College of Podiatry |
| Curved nail clippers | "Not a good idea" because the curved cutting edge can cut the flesh. | Royal College of Podiatry |
| Clippers or scissors | Either is fine for cutting toenails. | Guy's and St Thomas' NHS podiatry leaflet |
| Nail clippers, then an emery board | Trim with clippers, then file the corners. | Diabetes UK |
| Nail scissors | Can slip. Diabetes UK also warns against using the sharp points of scissors to clean under nails. | Royal College of Podiatry; Diabetes UK |
| Nail file | A metal nail file to smooth and round off sharp edges, filing in one direction, away from your body. | Guy's and St Thomas' |
Our reading: nippers are the safest choice for toenails, especially thick ones, because the small straight blade lets you take small cuts. Good clippers or scissors are fine if you find them easier to control. Keep your own tools and do not share them; the NHS lists sharing nail clippers or scissors as a way fungal nail infections spread. You also need good light: the Guy's and St Thomas' leaflet says to use a well-lit room so you can see clearly.
When to cut, and how often
After a bath or shower. The Royal College of Podiatry says to cut nails after a bath or shower "when the nail is much softer", and the NHS nail problems page says it may help to cut them then. Dry your feet thoroughly afterwards, including between the toes, as the NHS advises for preventing ingrown toenails.
How often. The Guy's and St Thomas' leaflet suggests every 6 to 12 weeks. That fits how slowly toenails grow: a study of 22 healthy young adults measured toenail growth at 1.62 mm a month, against 3.47 mm for fingernails, with the big toenail growing faster than the others. The study saw a trend towards faster growth in younger people, though it was not statistically significant. Either way, go by the nail rather than the calendar: when it starts to reach the end of the toe or catch on socks, it is time.
The Royal College of Podiatry's general advice is to cut or file your toenails regularly unless a health professional has told you not to. If a nail has been injured and is coming loose, the NHS suggests cutting it back to where it is still attached, so it does not bend or catch on things.
How to cut toenails properly, step by step
- Get comfortable and well lit. Sit where you can reach your foot without straining, in good light. If you struggle to see your feet, Diabetes UK suggests checking them with a mirror, or asking someone to help.
- Soften the nails. Cut after a bath or shower, then dry your feet well.
- Cut straight across in small cuts. Start at one side and take small snips across the nail, following its natural shape rather than cutting one big curve.
- Leave the corners. The Royal College of Podiatry says the corner of the nail should be visible above the skin. Do not cut down into the sides.
- Do not go too short. Leave a little white edge. The NHS and the College both warn against cutting too short.
- File the edges. Smooth any sharp points with a nail file. The College's diabetes leaflets say to check there are no sharp edges that could press into the next toe.
- Check the skin. Look for redness, cuts or swelling around each nail before you put socks back on.
- Clean your tools and keep them for your own use.
Straight across or following the toe? You will see both phrases. Most NHS and College pages say "straight across", while the College's diabetes leaflets say to follow the curve of the end of your toe. They agree on what matters: follow the nail's natural shape, keep the corners visible, and never cut down into the sides.
If a nail is too thick to cut, do not force it. The Royal College of Podiatry says you can use a nail file on top of a thick nail to thin it, and the Guy's and St Thomas' leaflet suggests filing twice a week if cutting is difficult. Our guide to thick toenails has more.
Mistakes that cause ingrown toenails
The Royal College of Podiatry says one of the most common causes of an ingrowing toenail is not cutting toenails properly. These are the mistakes the NHS and podiatry sources warn about:
| Mistake | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting down the sides or rounding the corners | Can leave a spike of nail which grows into the skin | NHS; Royal College of Podiatry |
| Cutting too short | Lets the skin fold over the end of the nail | NHS; Royal College of Podiatry |
| Picking or tearing nails | Leaves a ragged edge and can tear into the side | Guy's and St Thomas' |
| Cutting a V shape into the nail | Advised against by NHS podiatrists | Guy's and St Thomas' |
| Tight shoes, socks or tights | Push the flesh of the toe onto the nail so it pierces the skin | Royal College of Podiatry; NHS |
| Digging under the nail with sharp objects | Can break the skin beside or under the nail | NHS |
The explanations for cutting too short, tearing and digging are our plain-English summary of why the advice is given; the sources give the advice without the reason. Not every ingrown toenail is caused by cutting: the College also names inherited nail shape and, less often, fungal infection and some medicines.
If you already have an ingrown toenail, the NHS advice changes: do not cut the nail, leave it to grow out, soak your foot in warm salty water, and wear wide, comfortable shoes. See a GP if it is not getting better, there is pus, you feel hot or shivery, or you have diabetes. Our ingrown toenail guide covers this in more detail.
Cutting toenails for older people
Toenail cutting often becomes hard with age. A 2005 review of nail problems in older people names two reasons: thicker nails, and difficulty reaching the feet. Age UK warns that poorly cut toenails can become ingrown, and that foot problems can affect balance and increase the risk of falling.
Age UK suggests filing nails regularly if you are struggling to cut them, or asking a friend or family member for help. If you are cutting someone else's toenails, the same steps apply: good light, a soft nail after a bath, small straight cuts and a file for the edges. Stop and get professional help if the nails are very thick or curved, if the skin is broken or red, or if the person has diabetes or circulation problems.
Help is available. Over 80 local Age UKs have trained workers who provide basic foot care such as toenail cutting, for older people who are unable to look after their feet, at a clinic, a day centre or at home if you are housebound. There may be a charge depending on where you live. Age UK also says you may be able to have routine NHS podiatry if your foot condition affects your health or mobility; ask your GP.
Toenail cutting with diabetes
The Royal College of Podiatry's diabetes leaflets explain that reduced feeling and reduced circulation in the feet raise the risk of wounds that do not heal. So the advice on nail cutting depends on your risk, which is assessed at your diabetes foot check:
- Low or moderate risk. The Royal College of Podiatry's leaflets for people at low risk and moderate risk say to cut or file your toenails regularly, following the curve of the end of your toe, file any sharp edges, and not cut down the sides.
- High risk. The College's high-risk leaflet says: do not cut your toenails unless your podiatrist advises you to do so.
The College's ingrowing toenail page is stricter, saying people with diabetes should not cut their own nails or remove ingrowing spikes themselves. If you are not sure which advice applies to you, ask at your next foot check. Diabetes UK adds: cut often but not too short or down the side, and if you have lost some feeling in your feet or are worried about ingrown toenails, see a foot specialist.
See our diabetic foot care guide for the wider picture, including what to do if you notice a cut or change.
Who should not cut their own toenails
Pulling the sources together, get someone qualified to cut your toenails if any of these apply:
- you have diabetes and have been told you are at high risk, or you have lost feeling in your feet (Royal College of Podiatry; Diabetes UK)
- you take steroids or anticoagulants such as warfarin (Royal College of Podiatry)
- your nails are too tough to cut or you cannot reach them (NHS)
- you have poor circulation; the College lists it among the conditions where infection needs urgent attention
- you cannot see your feet clearly
- a nail is ingrown, infected, or the skin around it is sore, red, swollen and warm (NHS)
The College's simplest test applies to everyone: your toenails should never be painful. If they are, get advice.
Where to get help with toenail cutting
| Option | Who it suits | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| NHS podiatry | People whose foot condition affects their health or mobility (Age UK). Some GPs refer, and in some areas you can refer yourself. | Free if you are eligible; the NHS says it is not available to everyone and waits can be long |
| Local Age UK foot care | Older people who cannot look after their own feet, where the local Age UK runs a service | There may be a charge |
| Private podiatrist | Anyone. Podiatrist and chiropodist are titles protected by the Health and Care Professions Council, which describes them as diagnosing and treating disorders, diseases and deformities of the feet | You pay |
| Private Foot Health Practitioner | Routine nail cutting and nail reduction for people who are otherwise well, or whose GP or podiatrist is happy for them to have it | You pay |
The NHS says you can check whether you can refer yourself by asking at your GP surgery, checking its website, contacting your integrated care board, or searching online for NHS podiatrists near you. Our guide to the difference between a Foot Health Practitioner and a podiatrist explains the training and the protected titles.
How we checked
On 10 November 2026 we read the NHS pages on nail problems, ingrown toenails and fungal nail infection; the Royal College of Podiatry's pages on ingrowing toenails, general foot care and its three diabetes risk leaflets (February 2026); the Guy's and St Thomas' NHS podiatry leaflet on caring for feet and toenails; Diabetes UK's foot care page; and Age UK's foot care pages. Where sources disagree, as they do on clippers and scissors, we show both. Toenail growth figures come from a peer-reviewed study read through Europe PMC.
We did not use clinic, product or forum pages, and we do not name or price local services. This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. If you are worried about your feet, see a GP, a pharmacist or an NHS podiatrist.
Where Fairy Feet fits
Marianna Tapai FHP is a qualified Level 4 Foot Health Practitioner who has worked with nails and feet since 2006, from her own studio in Doncaster. Toenail cutting, including thick or awkward nails, is part of her Foot Health Treatment / Medical Pedicure (£39.99). If getting to the studio is difficult, there is a call-out (home visit) option (£19.99); see treatments and prices.
For people with diabetes there is a Diabetic Foot Health Consultation. If you have been told you are at high risk, or you have an ulcer, an infection or signs of poor circulation, your NHS diabetes foot team or an HCPC-registered podiatrist is the right place, and you should not wait for a private appointment. Marianna is a Foot Health Practitioner, not a podiatrist: she does not diagnose, prescribe or do nail surgery, so a badly ingrown or infected nail needs a GP or podiatrist.
To ask a question or arrange a visit, use the form on the contact page; there is no online booking.
Questions people ask
Should you cut toenails straight across or curved?
Straight across, following the natural shape of the nail, with the corners left visible above the skin. The NHS and the Royal College of Podiatry both advise against cutting down the sides, which can leave a spike that grows into the skin. File the corners afterwards so they are not sharp.
Is it better to cut toenails wet or dry?
The Royal College of Podiatry says to cut them after a bath or shower, when the nail is much softer, and the NHS says this may help. Dry your feet well afterwards, especially between the toes.
How often should you cut your toenails?
An NHS podiatry leaflet from Guy's and St Thomas' suggests every 6 to 12 weeks. Toenails grow about 1.6 mm a month in healthy young adults, so trim when the nail reaches the end of the toe or starts to catch on socks.
Are nail clippers or nail nippers better for toenails?
The Royal College of Podiatry prefers nail nippers, because curved clippers can cut the skin and scissors can slip. An NHS podiatry leaflet says scissors or clippers are fine. Use whichever you can control best, and keep it for your own use.
Can I get my toenails cut on the NHS?
Sometimes. The NHS says some GPs can refer you to a podiatrist, and in some areas you can refer yourself, but routine nail cutting is not offered to everyone. Over 80 local Age UKs offer basic toenail cutting for older people, and there may be a charge.
Sources
- Ingrown toenail. NHS, checked 10 November 2026.
- Nail problems. NHS, checked 10 November 2026.
- Fungal nail infection. NHS, checked 10 November 2026.
- Ingrowing toenail. Royal College of Podiatry, checked 10 November 2026.
- Low risk of non-healing wounds and amputation. Royal College of Podiatry, February 2026, checked 10 November 2026.
- Moderate risk of non-healing wounds and amputation. Royal College of Podiatry, February 2026, checked 10 November 2026.
- High risk of non-healing wounds and amputation. Royal College of Podiatry, February 2026, checked 10 November 2026.
- Caring for your feet and toenails. Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, reviewed July 2026, checked 10 November 2026.
- How to look after your feet. Diabetes UK, reviewed November 2024, checked 10 November 2026.
- Fitter feet. Age UK, checked 10 November 2026.
- Foot care services in your area. Age UK, checked 10 November 2026.
- Growth rate of human fingernails and toenails in healthy American young adults (Yaemsiri and others). Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2010.
- The professions we regulate. Health and Care Professions Council, updated May 2025, checked 10 November 2026.
- Nail changes and disorders among the elderly (Singh, Haneef and Uday). Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2005.