I previously owned the well-known brand “Leighton Denny” file. After six years of weekly use, I accidentally sat on it, ultimately breaking it into half and looking for a replacement as it genuinely was the best file I had ever used with both results and longevity. Unfortunately, the reviews are now less than favourable and are now produced elsewhere (most likely in China), where the quality seems to have massively suffered. I spent a good while scouring Amazon and from countless other similar files but under a different brand to find an acceptable replacement (though I wasn’t sure if anything would come marginally close, as disappointing as this may be). This listing had 9000+ (71% five stars). I’m also cautious of purchasing such items via Amazon as reviews aren’t always genuine. However, here are my HONEST thoughts, whether positive or negative.
Pro:
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* So far, it hasn’t ripped my nails to shreds, leaving unsightly fraying or splits. The best practice is to use gently and not to use excessive force or pressure as you possibly would use a diamond, metal or standard emery board. I do find it “seals” the free edge pretty well as well as the benefit of being able to file back and forth.
* Easily maintained just like other glass files, a little hand soap and a nail brush, I find this method more effective as rubbing your fingers alone doesn’t thoroughly remove build-up. It may exfoliate skin particles back onto the file. Allow to air dry or pat dry with a clean cloth/towel.
* This file's advantage over the LD is the pointed end and being slightly thinner by 1mm, which allows for cleaning under the nail, which my previous one couldn’t do due to having a curved design.
Con:
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* I agree with the other reviews. The “elegant protective case” is cheap and tacky and feels like it could easily break. From what is a somewhat decent file, the case lets it down. I’d highly expect the file to become damaged even if accidentally dropped in its cover.
* As with my previous brand of 3mm compared to this file at 2mm, you may still have difficulty getting into the corners of the free edge to shape as it’s still too thick to reach slightly under the nail to do so. Thinner files have this advantage but are prone to unintentional damage and don’t usually come in crystal/glass. So this may not be your only nail file required to do the job, depending on the length of your nails before filing.
* Sure, this file felt almost identical out the box to my previous brand, and I was genuinely excited to use it as I may have found a “dupe”. However, you don’t notice the difference in performance until it is used to the point if you have nails that need a fair amount of filing, it takes twice as long. With my LD, I didn’t need to clip my nails and could do a full hand in less than ten minutes. With this file, you certainly will need to cut your nails close to the desired shape unless you want to go back and forth with minimal removal. It’s sufficient for tidying up, but I wouldn’t rely on it alone.
Would I recommend it?
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As mentioned, I wasn’t expecting this file to be on par with Leighton Denny’s, and sadly, it doesn’t come close in terms of performance but does have a few advantages as mentioned above, but also at just over £5 cheaper, it may be worth it for you. I have only owned this file for around one week, so it would be unfair to comment fully on its longevity compared to six years of usage. I can’t see this lasting six years, but I think you could get a few years of use if looked after and be mindful of where it is stored while not in use (even in its “elegant” case). Is it brilliant? No. Will it last a “lifetime”? As claimed, Unlikely. If you don’t want to risk my usual brand mentioned above due to the quality issues, I’d recommend giving this a try. You may be impressed if you have nothing to compare. Overall, I’m a little disappointed and will most likely purchase another Leighton Denny from a reputable store to see if the quality is any better than buying the one directly from Amazon. If all else fails, I’ll continue to use the broken half of the LD as it’s still in a usable state and can use this file for minor touch-ups that don’t require massive amounts of filing. The disappointment may be my expectations were set high from using my prior brand.
Notes:
I have read a few reviews “claiming” the file has two sides of different grades of coarseness. This comment is UNTRUE. Both sides are IDENTICAL.
| Manufacturer | Malva Belle |
|---|---|
| Package dimensions | 20 x 7.1 x 2.1 centimetres |
| Package Weight | 0.04 Kilograms |
| Item weight | 0.04 Pounds |
| Brand | Malva Belle |
| Colour | Clear x2 3mm |
| Manufacturer reference | MBF2 |
| Package Dimensions | 19.99 x 7.11 x 2.11 cm; 18.14 Grams |
| ASIN | B076WYDZXN |
