Hard to cut toenails

Giving your feet a good old soak in soapy water then drying and cutting them.

I go every 6 weeks for a pedicure. DH goes too. Not expensive if you go locally.

My toe-nails are easy to cut, if only I could get down there.
I have tried lifting my foot on to the toilet seat, but it’s hard work.
It’s easier to pay for a pedicure 😂

Yep pay for a pedicure- makes life much easier!

Suddenly I've found cutting my toenails difficult.
I'm doing yoga exercises so I can bend to do them!

At 70, I decided to treat myself to a monthly appointment with a local chiropodist/podiatrist. Nail cutting is part of the treatment. Well worth the £33.

I find cutting my toe nails still quite easy as I m still flexible but I ve got one toe nail thickened to such an extent that I can’t cut into it but I can’t justify paying just to have one nail cut so I keep somehow chopping into it

I have awful trouble with mine. I sometimes get my son to do them but I'd really rather not. All the local foot people seem awfully expensive.

There is a liquid on the market you paint on your nails and it supposedly softens them. I haven't tried it because I can no longer see my nails, although I can reach them. If I didn't have a podiatrist visit every couple of months there would be a bloodbath here. I think I pay £50, but I have little choice. It cost £65 went I went to his premises, but it is London.

Oh gosh that’s eye watering Charleygirl

I wonder why toenails become so thick and tough, yet fingernails split and break quite easily?

They aren’t difficult to cut, are they?

I can still reach my toenails. My problem is that I can’t see them clearly enough to know whether I am cutting the nail or slicing into my toes. Time to visit a podiatrist?

It’s strange how toe nails seem so much harder than finger nails, therefore more difficult to cut. I can’t cut mine unless I give them a good 10 minute soak in warm water to soften them. They are easier to cut then.

However, if ever the day comes that I can’t reach down to cut them myself, (or see them clearly), then I will pay to have them cut by a podiatrist.

I have nails which tend to curl inwards. After suffering an unpleasant nail operation which took over a year to properly heal, I saw a podiatrist as I wanted to avoid ingrown nails at all costs.
He was very nice but had to change because he was expensive at £52 , so found another also very nice but now pay £30. It’s worth looking around.
They need doing now so a reminder to make an appointment.

I find filing "difficult " toenails to be much better than trying to cut them. I use a "sandpaper" style emery board with the two different sides and start with tbe coarse side.
Then there's no chance of cutting my toe!

Find a comfortable place/position and file them yourself. If you get a large emery board and do it say once a week you can avoid cuts, breaks, and long nails. I used this method with my late mother as she kept moving her foot when I tried to cut her nails.

I have just phoned and the next available appointment is mid March! They certainly are busy people.

Bluebelle -I also have a tough toenail, the smallest on the right is clawlike. Vicks applied regularly under a sock helps soften it.

Mine curl inwards as well.

Do podiatrists ‘file’ the nail from the top, to thin the layer of thick nail down, as well as cutting the nail?

You can buy very good and sharp long handled nail scissors on Amazon.

I use some strong nail clippers.
Better than nail scissors.

Oreo

You can buy very good and sharp long handled nail scissors on Amazon.

Although I might look for a pair of those , ordinary nail scissors aren't good enough.

Question: why do finger nails split, peel and break (well, mine do) but toe nails are so strong they are difficult to cut?
I did think fingernails were weak because of a lack of a nutrient but that can't be the case if toenails are really strong!

I use special professional nail scissors, with the right curve for toe nails. I also have a thick bent nail. I manage to cut them by creaming my feet regularly and then cutting immediately after a shower

Davida1968

I find filing "difficult " toenails to be much better than trying to cut them. I use a "sandpaper" style emery board with the two different sides and start with tbe coarse side.
Then there's no chance of cutting my toe!

I'm going to try this. Good idea.