If you think nail files are just for bored secretaries, think again. According to top beauty experts, regular filing is the key to keeping your fingernails healthy, beautiful, and strong. If you want your nails to have that glossy, shapely just-left-the-salon look, a quick daily filing session can definitely help you get there.

But not all nail files are equally effective. If you’ve been sawing away at your fingernails with a cheap drugstore file, you might actually be doing more harm than good. A low-quality file can actually make your nails look worse, leaving behind unsightly ridges, ragged edges, and other fingernail fashion faux pas.

If you’re going to dedicate precious time to a daily nail care routine, it makes sense to ensure that you’re doing it right. Check out these nail filing tips from some of the world’s top manicurists and beauty experts.

Choose a salon-quality nail file. Nix dime-a-dozen drugstore files and stay far, far away from your granny’s metal nail-torture device. Instead, stick with a soft, generously-sized file that is easy to handle.

Clip first, then shape. If you’ve got a lot of excess length to take off, use clippers to get your nails down to a manageable size before you begin to use a file. If you try to take off too much length with a file, you could wind up doing damage to your nails.

Focus on the tip. Experts say it’s best to stay well away from your nails’ “stress point” when you’re filing, so try to keep the file at least two to three millimetres above the beginning of the outer white curve of your nails. If you venture below this point, you could injure your nail bed and impede future growth.

Move corner to centre. Many women file their nails with a side-to-side motion, but according to nail care experts, this stroke is actually a manicure no-no. Instead, move from the corner to the centre with soft, even strokes, switching sides to finish each nail.

Think squoval. Although the shape of your hands and fingers will likely determine the best look for your nails, experts recommend that most women aimfor what is called a “squoval.” As you probably guessed, this refers to a squared-off oval look that manicurists say is flattering to the majority of common hand shapes.

Don’t forget to stock up on nail care supplies from Blush’s signature collection. If you could use some extra sparkle in your life, glam up your manicure kit with our Swarovski Crystal nail files.