Nail technicians cut the sides of toenails primarily for cosmetic reasons: trimming the lateral edges makes the nail look narrower, neater, and more symmetrical on the toe. Some technicians also do it because they believe it prevents ingrown nails by removing corners that curve toward the skin. In reality, this practice is one of the most common causes of ingrown toenails and is discouraged by podiatrists.
The Cosmetic Logic Behind It
During a pedicure, the goal is to make your feet look polished. Toenails, especially on the big toe, can grow wide with edges that curve downward along the sides. Trimming those lateral edges creates a thinner, more uniform appearance that looks tidier with nail polish. Many clients also ask for it because they find the wider edges uncomfortable in shoes or visually unappealing.
There’s also a common belief, shared by both clients and some technicians, that cutting the sides prevents the nail from growing into the skin. If you already have a slightly curved nail, it can feel like removing that curving edge solves the problem. It does provide temporary relief, but it sets up a cycle that makes the problem worse over time.
Why Side Cutting Causes Ingrown Nails
When you cut the side of a toenail, you rarely get a perfectly clean edge. The cut often leaves behind a tiny, sharp fragment of nail called a spicule. This small spike is invisible at first because it sits below the skin line at the corner of the nail. As the nail grows forward over the following days and weeks, that spicule grows with it, angling directly into the soft tissue of the nail fold.
The spicule essentially acts like a tiny harpoon. It pierces the skin along the side of the toe in a notched pattern, causing the surrounding tissue to swell and bulge. This swelling then presses against the nail edge even more, which creates pain that makes you (or your technician) want to cut the side again. Each round of cutting produces new spicules, and the cycle repeats. Over time, the area can become red, swollen, and prone to oozing or crusting as a small wound tract forms along the nail’s path through the skin.
Improper nail trimming technique is one of the most well-documented risk factors for ingrown toenails. Attempting to “round off” nail corners is specifically identified as a way patients inadvertently create the barbs and spicules that trigger the condition.
How Toenails Should Actually Be Cut
The medically recommended approach is straightforward: cut your toenails straight across, leaving them long enough so the corners rest loosely against the skin at the sides. You should not round the edges, cut them into a V-shape, or trim them so short that the corners dip below the skin line. After trimming, gently file any sharp edges with an emery board to smooth them out. A rough edge left behind can nick the surrounding skin, which raises the risk of both infection and ingrown nails.
This straight-across cut might look less refined than the sculpted shape you get at a salon, but it’s the shape that lets the nail grow forward without digging into anything. The corners of the nail act as a natural guide rail, sitting on top of the skin fold rather than piercing into it.
What Nail Technicians Are Allowed to Do
Nail technicians are licensed for beautification and non-invasive services only. They are not permitted to provide services that claim a medical or healing benefit, and they cannot perform procedures that fall outside the scope of cosmetic nail care. This means that if you have an ingrown nail, a technician should not be digging into the sides of your nail fold to remove embedded nail tissue. That crosses into medical territory and belongs in a podiatrist’s office.
In practice, this line gets blurred constantly. Many technicians will cut aggressively along the sides because the client requests it, because it makes the result look cleaner, or because they were trained to do it that way. The lack of enforcement varies by state, but the regulatory intent is clear: a pedicure is cosmetic, not corrective.
If Your Nail Corners Were Already Cut Too Short
If a technician has already trimmed your nail corners down past the skin line, you can’t undo the cut, but you can reduce the chance of an ingrown nail developing. Resist the urge to pick at or re-trim the area. Keep the toe clean and dry, and wear shoes with enough room in the toe box so nothing presses the skin into the nail edge. Let the nail grow out on its own until the corners are long enough to sit above the skin fold again. This can take several weeks depending on how short the nail was cut.
Watch for signs of infection as the nail grows back. Redness, swelling, warmth, or any discharge around the nail fold suggests the tissue has been punctured. Fungi can also enter through small cuts in the skin around the nail or through gaps between the nail and nail bed, potentially leading to a nail that thickens, discolors, or starts to crumble over time.
What to Ask for at Your Next Pedicure
You can still get a pedicure without having your nail corners removed. Before the technician starts, ask them to trim straight across and only file the edges smooth. Tell them not to cut along the sides or round the corners. A good technician will understand immediately. If they push back or insist on shaping the sides, that’s a signal they may not be following best practices for nail health. The slight trade-off in aesthetics is worth avoiding the weeks of pain, swelling, and possible infection that come with a deeply cut nail corner growing back into your skin.