We all use nail clippers, yet many of us don’t know everything about them. While their obvious purpose is to trim nails, there’s more to learn — both about why cutting our nails matters and about a small design detail most people overlook.
Health experts warn that long nails can be unhygienic. In 2022, biology professor Jeffrey Kaplan told USA Today that longer nails provide more surface area for microorganisms to cling to, with studies finding dozens of bacteria and fungi living underneath fingernails.
According to Kaplan, it doesn’t matter whether nails are natural or artificial — both can harbor germs that are difficult to remove through regular handwashing. These microorganisms can enter the body through habits like scratching, nail-biting, or nose-picking, potentially causing infections.
Beyond hygiene, there’s a lesser-known feature of nail clippers that continues to surprise people: the small hole at the end. Many assume it serves no purpose, but it’s actually designed so the clippers can be attached to keychains, toiletry bags, or other items for convenience.
A viral Facebook post recently highlighted this discovery, with one man admitting he was embarrassed to learn — thanks to his mother-in-law — that the tiny hole wasn’t just decorative. He wondered if he was the only one who had never questioned its function.
However, not everyone agrees that long nails are necessarily dirty. North Carolina nail technician Kayla Newman argues that most people who invest in maintaining long nails take proper care of them. As she points out, anyone spending significant money on nail treatments is unlikely to neglect basic cleanliness.
