Final answer:
Yes, you can use fingernail or toenail clippers to cut the tips of your nails, which are composed of dead keratinized cells and do not contain nerve endings, making the trimming process painless.
Step-by-step explanation:
You can use fingernail or toenail clippers to cut tips of your nails. Nails are composed of specialized epidermal cells that are toughened by the protein keratin. The keratin makes them hard, allowing nails to serve as protection for the sensitive tips of fingers and toes. They grow from the nail bed, and as new cells are added there, the older cells are pushed forward, which makes the nail longer. Interestingly, there are no nerve endings in the nail itself, which is why cutting nails does not typically cause pain.
The part of the nail that is commonly trimmed is known as the nail plate, and it is composed of dead cells, making the trimming process pain-free, unless the live skin around the nail is accidentally clipped. For maximum nail health and to avoid injury, it is important to be careful not to cut the cuticle during a manicure. The cuticle serves as a protective barrier for the nail bed against microbes and damage, which is why cutting it can be a bad idea.