Expert Foot & Ankle Treatment from Michigan’s #1 Podiatrist - Balance Foot & Ankle Specialist
Not Sure If It’s a Skin Tag or a Plantar Wart?
How to Cut Thick Toenails Without Pain or Damage
Cutting thick toenails might seem simple—but doing it wrong can lead to painful splitting, bleeding, or even fungal infections. Whether your nails have thickened due to age, fungus, or other medical reasons, knowing the right way to trim them is crucial. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the safest, most effective method to cut thick toenails at home and help you determine when it’s time to seek professional help.
How to Cut Thick Toenails
- One of the questions in our Michigan podiatrist clinics is how to trim thick nails. The best way to clip thick toenails to help the nails look normal and thin is explained below.
- Following our podiatrist’s instructions to cut thick and/or fungal nails, you can have a nearly normal thickness toenail.
- If you have diabetes, poor circulation, or are prone to not healing or bleeding, see a medical professional like a podiatrist and have your nails debrided.
Toenail Fungus Treatment can be confusing!
That is why we go over the most proven Home Remedies!
This is a podiatrist researched guide to toe nail fungus home remedies, toenail fungus cures and toenail fungus treatments. We will show toenail fungus before and after pictures after laser treatments, remedies and the best treatments. Do home remedies even work? We discuss Vick’s vapor rub, listerine, tea tree oil, baking soda. The truth is there are now some studies saying they can work, as long as they are done safely and properly!
Plantar Wart or Skin Tag? Get a Diagnosis You Can Trust.
Don’t guess when it comes to your foot health. At Balance Foot & Ankle Specialist, our Michigan-based team offers expert evaluations to determine whether you’re dealing with a plantar wart, skin tag, or something else entirely. Get clarity, comfort, and the right treatment today—schedule your visit now.
How to Cut your Thick Toenails
First, get the right tools. This is critical – the right tools make for an easy job clipping even the thickest nails.
“Cut Nails Pedinova Nail Smoother Nail Grinding Tool: The most effective tool we found is the Beurer Electric Nail and Foot Care Kit.”
– a podiatry-grade electric nail grinder and thinning tool. It comes with bits specifically made to work on thick toenails. The large cone, small cone, and disc bits are made from long-lasting Sapphire and diamond chips. We have tried many of these units over the years, and this is the best one we have found and the one we recommend to our patients. The video below shows how to use the Pedinova Nail Grinder.
Heavy duty podiatry-grade toenail clippers: We recommend ClipPro nail clippers for our patients.” Nail nipper for fungal nails.
Toenail Clipper is the best consumer nail clipper for extra thick and irregular nails. Its jaw opens to over 1″ wide, and the top of the blades is slightly curved to contour around your nails. It is very easy to maneuver and provides a clean and smooth cut.
Only use professional-grade toenail clippers like these for thick nails – don’t try to thin thick toenails with fingernail clippers. It’s usually more painful as they just don’t cut these thick nails very well, and you end up gnawing at the nail with the nippers.
Follow these instructions for the best outcome in thinning and shortening thick nails.
Soak your toes in warm water for five to 10 minutes. This will help soften the nail and allow you to cut the thick nail more easily.
Shorten the nail: Use the ClipPro nail clipper to shorten the nail if it is excessively long. The clipper opens wider than most, making it much easier to trim thick toenails. If the nail is particularly thick, you can also use the clipper to trim the nail from the top.
To Thin the Top of the Big Toe Nail: While the nails are still a bit damp, use the Large Sapphire Cone Bit (Figure 7) included with
Padova Electric Nail Grinder to grind the thickened nail from the top. Use gentle pressure and grind it thinner until it is the normal thickness or starts to warm. Continue grinding a little each day until the nail is normal thickness. If it gets warm, stop and do a little more later or the following day.
To Thin the Sides of the Big Toe Nail: Use the Long Sapphire Bit that comes with the PediNova Grinder.” cut nails Pedinova long sapphire bit.
Use gentle pressure going up and down the side of the nail. This will thin the sides and help prevent ingrown toenails since the shoe will no longer press into the thickened nail border.
To Thin the Smaller Toenails: Use the Long Sapphire Bit or Small Sapphire Bit (Figure 8). As above, use gentle pressure and grind the nail until it is normal thickness. To prevent injury, stop grinding if it gets warm, then do a little more later that day or after your next bath or shower.
To Shorten the Nail: Start with the ClipPro Nail Clipper (Figure 2) to remove loose pieces extending beyond your toes. Then sand it smoothly with the Sapphire Sanding Disk Bit (Figure 9). Hold the disk to the end of the nail. Clip and sand”>cut nails, Sapphire, sanding disk a bit shorter until you have reached your desired length. Clip your toenails straight across. Rounded corners tend to lead to ingrown nails.
Video: How to Thin Nails with a Nail Grinder
(Nail treatment starts at around 1:10 on the video)
Nail Polish for Thick and Fungal Toenails
Cut Nails Safe nail polish, Dr. Remedy Nail PolishFor women, toenail polish can help disguise nail roughness and thickness and is a nice finishing touch for thick nails. For our patients, we recommend Dr.’s Remedy Natural Nail Polish anti-fungal nail polish; It contains Tea Tree Oil and Garlic Bulb Extract (found to have anti-fungal properties).
Unlike most nail polishes, it does not contain Formaldehyde (a chemical that has been proven to cause cancer), DBP (a potential developmental and reproductive toxin), and Toluene (a chemical that the EPA restricts in our drinking water because it can cause nervous system disorders as well as damage to the liver and kidneys)
Frequently Asked Questions?
What are the best nail clippers for thick toenails?
- What are the best nail clippers for thick toenails? A pair of nail clippers is a medicine-cabinet essential, whether you prefer doing your nails at home or need a trim between manis and pedis.
- And investing in good nail clippers can make all the difference, from perfecting your ideal nail shape to getting a nice, clean cut.
- But with so many options out there, it can be difficult to choose the right ones for you and your budget.
What we’re looking for:
Blade material: Stainless steel blades were a must across the board when we spoke to experts, with Rose also mentioning that titanium-steel clippers work too. Both materials are hypoallergenic, so they can be used by almost anyone. They’re also easy to clean and rust-resistant to help avoid infections and extend a clipper’s life. Dr. Dana Stern, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist specializing in nail health, suggests investing in clippers made with good-quality steel “as opposed to less-expensive tools that tend to dull and need to be replaced.” The rest of the nail clipper might be made of a mix of metals or plastic, but it’s most important that the blade that cuts your nails is stainless or titanium.
Edge shape: Nail clippers generally come with two different edge shapes: straight and curved. Regarding picking between the two, it usually comes down to preference. Stick with a straight-edged clipper if you like your nails more squared and a curve-edged clipper if you like your nails more rounded. However, if you’re prone to getting ingrown, experts suggest a nail clipper with a straight edge because angling the sides of the nail with a curved nail clipper can encourage the nail to grow into the skin.
Size: Picking the right size of your nail clippers depends on the person. If you’re someone who has smaller fingernails and toenails, you’re probably fine with a fingernail clipper for both. If you have larger or thicker nails, it’s probably best to have a set of both fingernail and toenail clippers, or you might be able to get away with just toenail clippers in some cases. The slightly larger clippers are also great because they provide more leverage for anyone with mobility issues or trouble reaching their toes.
Extra features: There are just as many nail clippers with added features as plain ones. If any features are useful, we’ll highlight them. It’s worth noting that some of these clippers come with nail files, but they’re not mentioned. That’s because almost all nail files on clippers aren’t good enough for normal use, and you’re much better off getting an emery board instead.
What Causes Thick Toenails - Why Proper Trimming Matters
Thick toenails can be caused by various conditions, including fungal infections (onychomycosis), psoriasis, trauma to the nail, or simply aging. As nails grow thicker, they become harder to cut, more brittle, and more prone to splitting. Ignoring proper trimming techniques may not only cause pain but also invite infections and other complications.
Using the right tools, like podiatrist-grade nail clippers and soaking the nails beforehand, can make a huge difference. It’s also essential to maintain proper foot hygiene and regularly check your feet for any signs of infection, especially if you have diabetes or circulation issues.
If you notice discoloration, foul odor, or severe thickening, it may be more than just a cosmetic issue—it could be a sign of an underlying health condition. In such cases, trimming alone won’t be enough. A podiatrist can help treat the root cause and prevent further complications.
Don’t Risk DIY Injuries—Let a Podiatrist Handle It
Thick toenails are more than just annoying—they can hide infections or other issues. If you’re unsure about trimming them safely, our team in Michigan & Oakland County is ready to help. Call us now or schedule online for expert foot care.
Find Your Nearest Podiatry Clinic in Michigan
Frequently Asked Questions About Cutting Thick Toenails
Use heavy-duty nail clippers or podiatrist-grade toenail nippers designed for thick nails.
Yes, soaking your feet in warm, soapy water for 10–15 minutes softens the nails and makes cutting easier and safer.
Absolutely. Fungal infections are one of the most common causes of thickened nails.
Yes, especially if the nails are extremely hard. Use a coarse nail file or an electric file tool.
Cutting too deep can lead to bleeding, infection, or ingrown toenails. Always trim carefully and conservatively.
Regular clippers may not be strong enough and can splinter the nail. Use clippers specifically made for thick toenails.
If trimming is painful, difficult, or the nail is discolored, smelly, or deformed, consult a podiatrist for a diagnosis and treatment.
