Confession: I loathe filing my nails. LOATHE. I find it tedious, messy, and there's something freaky about all that sawing. For the longest time, I've been using traditional cardboard nail files, but the way I burn through them, they peel and get dull superfast. So when a glass nail file crossed my desk, I was instantly intrigued. It works like a dream, and there's no danger it will fall apart, since glass is a pretty tough material. But it's also hard not to get that nails-on-a-chalkboard feeling when you use it. I talked to Sally Hansen nail ambassador Tracylee (she's worked with Nicki Minaj, Natalie Portman, and Emma Stone) to get her take on glass vs. emery boards and steel files.

Do glass files have any benefits over traditional emery boards?

"Glass files, also known as crystal files, regardless of how they are used, seal the keratin layers together at the edge of the nail, preventing peeling and chipping. Traditional files should be used by filing in one direction only, but they rarely are, and filing in both directions causes the layers of keratin to shred, leaving the edge thinner and more prone to peeling and chipping. Another bonus is that glass files can be sanitized and sterilized. And they're great for professional use—given the number of jobs we do, there is less waste."

How do you clean a glass file?

"Soap and water, and I use a scrub brush to remove any nail debris that may be on it. Spray with antiseptic spray—you can find it at your local beauty-supply store. Once a month, I put my files in the dishwasher. Just keep them separate from your metal utensils, as they could break the files. The high water temperature removes any buildup on the files and makes them look new."

Do you need to do anything special to store it?

"Store them in their original sleeve to prevent breakage. They'll last a year or more if taken care of properly."