5-Minute YouTube Tutorial
Learn the basics of the File Manicure™ method. Step-by-step guidance for cuticles and nails
Disclaimers
Use Fyle files only — this method is designed for Fyle tools; other tools may damage nails or skin.
Do not use on irritated skin (rashes, sores, or cuts).
Work on clean and dry hands — cuticles must be dry; files won’t work on damp skin.
Strips and Buff are single-use — the file base is reusable.
You may keep the current Strip and Buff on the base for a quick touch-up between manicures, but for any new manicure always start with fresh ones.
Tips
Use light, shallow strokes →
Always move the file lightly and shallowly — all motions should glide, never press.
There should be no discomfort →
File manicure is amongst the gentlest methods available—ideal for sensitive skin that reacts poorly to cutting or chemical treatments.
Replace the file →
If the file becomes deformed or compressed from pressure, replace it with a new one.
Frequently asked questions
When should you stop filing the cuticle?
If dust stops appearing, that means there’s no keratin build-up left on the cuticle.
Why isn’t the cuticle filing away?
There are a few possible reasons
- Too much pressure — work lightly, on the surface.
- There’s no cuticle left to file — you’re done with this nail, move to the next one.
- Wrong angle or finger not turned — hold at a strict 90° and rotate the finger for sidewalls.
- Skin is too damp.
How should I deal with hangnails?
If they’re dry and superficial, the file will remove them easily. Make sure you use a good lateral tension on the cuticle if it’s an actual cuticle tear.
If the skin is damp or the hangnail/tear sits deep in the dermis (red or inflamed), trim it carefully with a tool or just wait till it heals.
How to treat a cuticle tear in the sinus (corner of the nail):
- The cuticle here sticks very firmly to the nail — don’t pull it all up at once or you’ll create a big hangnail.
- Instead, lift a tiny bit (about half a millimetre), file gently at 90°, then repeat little by little.
- It’s often best to leave this area until after you’ve done your main 90° filing pass, so you can get closer.
- For the last small bit, use the curved side of the file flat along the side, moving outward towards the skin in short, light strokes.
- Always finish by polishing the area with the buffer: stretch the skin, place the buffer where the nail meets the cuticle, and make one long, firm stroke in a single direction.
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