The emery board vs. nail file debate pits vintage against innovation at its finest. Determine which ones are right for you and your manicure.

Then, all there is to do is gather your tools—a glass file, finer grit buffer, and emery board file—and get to work.

Filing your nails at home doesn't have to be hard. Here, our dermatologist confirms five common mistakes to avoid if you want to the best polished nails.