You’ll notice the paper leaves a slightly rougher finish than a glass file—like comparing a smooth jazz saxophone to a kazoo. But it will absolutely remove that snag and smooth the edge enough to stop catching on your hair. I once used a paper file to fix a broken nail during a Zoom meeting, and my boss complimented my “manicure.” Little did she know I was holding a dead tree. Just don’t expect a salon shine; you’ll need to buff afterward with a nail buffer or, in a pinch, a clean cotton sock.
The “Don’t Try This at Home” List
You can get fancy and use a piece of emery board-shaped cardboard from a matchbox, which is basically paper’s cousin with better genes. Avoid using notebook paper with lines—the ink can transfer to your nail tips, giving you a weird, temporary tattoo effect. And for the love of all that is holy, do not use wet paper. That’s just a soggy disaster that will leave your nail looking like a raisin.
How To Make Nail Art From Paper at Jessica Zelman blog
