Cutting your toenails properly comes down to one core rule: trim straight across, never rounded at the corners, and leave about 1 to 2 millimeters of white nail visible beyond where it attaches to the toe. That simple technique prevents the most common problem men run into with their feet: ingrown toenails. Here’s how to do it right from start to finish.
Soften Your Nails First
Men’s toenails tend to be thicker than fingernails, and they get thicker with age. Cutting them dry often leads to cracking, splintering, or uneven edges. Soak your feet in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes before trimming. This softens the nail enough that clippers can cut through cleanly without excessive force. Dry your feet and toenails with a towel afterward so the clippers don’t slip on wet nails.
If your nails are especially thick or discolored from a fungal infection, this soaking step isn’t optional. Thick, brittle nails can crumble or split unpredictably when cut dry, leaving jagged edges that dig into surrounding skin.
Choose the Right Tool
Standard fingernail clippers are too small and lack the leverage to cut through toenails cleanly. Use a dedicated toenail clipper with a straight cutting edge, not a curved one. The straight edge makes it easier to follow the “cut straight across” rule and avoids accidentally rounding the corners.
If your nails are unusually thick, standard toenail clippers may not grip well enough to cut through. Podiatry-style nippers with a compound-cutting pivot provide extra leverage and reduce the hand strain of forcing through tough keratin. These look more like small pliers than traditional clippers and give you more control on thick nails. Whatever tool you use, make sure the blade is sharp. Dull clippers crush and tear the nail instead of cutting it, which invites splitting and infection.
The Straight-Across Technique
This is the step most people get wrong. Cut straight across the nail in one or two clean passes. Don’t curve the cut to match the rounded shape of your toe, and don’t angle into the corners. The finished nail should look roughly like a flat rectangle, with the corners lying loosely against the skin at the sides rather than being trimmed away.
Two cutting errors cause the majority of ingrown toenails. The first is rounding the corners, which allows the skin to fold over the nail edge as it grows back. The second is cutting too short. When nails are trimmed below the tip of the toe, pressure from shoes pushes the surrounding skin up against the growing nail, directing it into the tissue. Aim to leave the nail just slightly past the fingertip of your toe, with a visible sliver of white at the free edge.
For larger toenails, especially the big toe, you may not be able to cut straight across in a single clip. Make two or three smaller cuts moving from one side to the other, keeping the line as straight as possible.
Smooth the Edges After Cutting
After clipping, run a nail file across the cut edge in one direction (not back and forth like a saw). This removes any sharp corners or tiny burrs left by the clippers. Those small rough spots catch on socks and shoes throughout the day, which can tear the nail or irritate the skin beside it. Filing takes about 10 seconds per nail and prevents most of that snagging.
Leave your cuticles alone. The cuticle is the thin strip of skin at the base of the nail, and it acts as a barrier against bacteria. Cutting or aggressively pushing back cuticles increases your risk of infection and can contribute to ingrown nails. If you find them unsightly, gently push them back with a clean, soft tool after soaking, but don’t cut them.
How Often to Trim
Toenails grow more slowly than fingernails, typically about 1.5 millimeters per month. For most men, trimming every 6 to 8 weeks keeps them at the right length. A good visual cue: when the nail starts extending past the tip of your toe, it’s time. Nails that get too long are more likely to catch on things and tear, or to press against the front of your shoe and cause bruising under the nail.
Dealing With Thick or Fungal Nails
Nails affected by fungal infections often become yellow, thickened, and crumbly. The same straight-across rule applies, but you’ll need to work more carefully. After soaking, use nippers rather than standard clippers, and take small bites rather than trying to cut through the full thickness at once. If the nail is crumbling as you cut, file down the rough areas instead of trying to clip away every imperfection.
Fungal nails won’t improve from trimming alone. Over-the-counter antifungal treatments can help mild cases, but thickened, discolored nails that have been that way for months typically need a stronger approach. The trimming itself is about keeping the nail manageable and preventing it from pressing painfully into your shoe or catching on fabric.
Special Considerations for Diabetes
Diabetes reduces blood flow and nerve sensation in the feet, which means small cuts or nicks from toenail trimming can go unnoticed and heal slowly. The CDC recommends trimming straight across and smoothing sharp edges with a file, the same technique as anyone else, but with extra caution. Check your feet after trimming for any nicks or redness. Don’t try to remove calluses or corns yourself, and have a healthcare provider check your feet at every visit. Many men with diabetes see a podiatrist for routine nail trimming rather than doing it themselves, especially if sensation in the feet is reduced or nails have become very thick.