Tweezers are a great tool to keep handy — whether you’re desperately plucking, placing, or popping. And yes, tweezers have many other purposes than just grooming brows, but grooming is the last thing we’ll be doing if our tweezers become dull.
Fortunately, in some cases you don’t need to replace your old pair of tweezers. Instead, you can learn how to sharpen tweezers with various common household items.
1. How to Sharpen Tweezers with a Nail File
For this method you’ll need a double-sided nail file — a metal or regular emery board nail file will do.
To sharpen tweezers, begin by placing the tips of your dull tweezers around the nail file. Next, pinch tightly and sharpen by sliding the dull tweezers in a short and steady motion across the nail file. Repeat this step about 3-4 times until your tweezers are as good as new.
Lastly, run your newly sharpened tweezers under hot water to get rid of any metal shavings or grit. You should run your fingers along the length of the tweezers, both inside and out, to ensure they’re thoroughly cleaned.
For maintenance, wipe with some rubbing alcohol to reduce the risk of infection after getting them re-sharpened.
2. How to Sharpen Tweezers with Sandpaper
In case you don’t have any nail files lying around, another way to sharpen tweezers is by using sandpaper — a coarse enough sandpaper will really get the job done.
Fold the sandpaper across a smooth material, like a piece of metal, while keeping the textured side facing outwards. Next, place the tips of your tweezers along the sandpaper and sharpen by pulling the tweezers across several times.
This method is similar to using a nail file, so you’ll definitely want to clean your tweezers after sharpening them with sandpaper as well.
3. How to Sharpen Tweezers by Bending Them Into Shape
The last method for how to sharpen tweezers is by bending them into shape. This method is great if your tweezers have become flattened or bent.
For your tweezers to work, they’ll have to have a slight bend in the middle so the tips of the tweezers meet perfectly. You can create that bend yourself by holding your tweezers open in one hand and sliding a pencil or pen halfway down with your other hand.
Next press the tips of the tweezers closer together so you create a bend in the middle. Repeat this process multiple times by pinching the tweezers closed and squeezing the tips with your thumb and index finger.
Just remember that most cheap tweezers you buy at a drug store won’t last very long. So, if you’re not confident in how to sharpen tweezers, you can check out Tweezer Guru’s line of professional tweezer sets.
