The best nail clippers you'll ever use

I can't stand excess nail. Because I type for a living, I view a properly trimmed nail to be one of my requirements for a clear mind and creative process. I can literally feel an extra mm on my nails when I'm writing and it's as if there was a layer of additional distraction and distance between me and the work.

Though I have access to some pretty great manicurists locally, my nails grow a lot faster than I can make it over to them. I can't stand any more than a small rim of nail beyond the standard nail bed. This means I cut my nails between one and two times a week, every week.

Like many of the recommendations I make on this blog, I spent a lot of years wallowing in the muck of sub-standard options before I pushed through to find the promised land.

And for nail clippers, that promised land is the Green Bell G-1008 Nail Clipper. For the low price of $20 you'll find yourself in absolute nail slicing heaven.

The Takuminowaza nail clippers by Green Bell have their roots in Japan's rich tradition of craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail, often referred to as takumi. The brand, Green Bell, was founded in 1968 in Osaka, Japan, and quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality grooming tools. Takuminowaza roughly translates to "artisan's skill," and these clippers sit in this tradition by combining modern technology with the skills of Japanese craftsmanship. These nail clippers are the result of decades of refinement in manufacturing techniques, ensuring that each pair is crafted to perfection.

The clippers are forged from high quality stainless steel and undergo a rigorous process of sharpening, assembly, and polishing.

This line of clippers has become synonymous with luxury and precision in the grooming world, largely due to the impeccable quality control and craftsmanship that goes into each product. The clippers have gained a global cult following for their ergonomic design and fantastic cutting edge, which minimizes the risk of splitting or damaging nails. This has made them somewhat of a staple in both professional and personal grooming settings.

Plus, they look great – not something I have ever found myself saying about a pair of nail clippers in my memory.

Let's walk through the features of the G-1008. It's got roughly the same kind of lever action rotating handle rig as your bog standard dime store nail clippers – but that's where the comparisons end. Instead of a small punch out hump, the GB clippers feature a solid steel top lever machined in a single piece. This means that it maintains the same force all the way through the clip, driving smoothly through your clipping motion. No uneven force that 'snaps' through a nail at the last second after applying a bending force to it through the first half of the clip – resulting in dents and tears.

Probably the best feature of all is that the curved clipping edge itself is insanely sharp, cutting through thicker thumb and toe nails with ease. This means you don't get that 'smashing and tearing' action that you often get on cheap clippers. You're able to take it around the nail with precision, shearing off thin pieces that leave you much closer to a nice round nail with clipping alone, before advancing to filing.

It also features a textured metal strip down the top side of the closed lever to take down nail burrs. It won't replace a separate emory board or file, but it's fine to take off major corners. But the beauty of these things being so sharp is that I rarely have to use a file much at all.

The base side of the clipper isn't ignored, either. You get a broad, comfortable palm rest that allows you to hold the clippers in a normal grip, not just with your fingertips. This greatly reduces those side-to-side slips that can jerk or tear or cause nail bends on a slip or missed clip. Something that is very easy to do when your hands are wet from a shower or after washing them.

The whole kit has a lovely substantial feel to it too, as if it's ready to last a lifetime. I haven't made it there yet but when I do I'll let you know. I also want to try out Green Bell's G-1205 which is considered to be the 'upgrade' to the G-1008 which is the grand daddy OG of their lineup. The G-1205 now has a wider file built into the lever and a larger ergonomic grip which could be useful for people with limited hand strength.

Until then, I have no reluctance to highly recommend the G-1008. My personal pick is the size large which can be had for roughly $20.