Free border of nail

The free border of the nail is the distal edge of the nail plate that projects beyond the fingertip or toe and is not attached to the underlying nail bed.

The ventral surface of the free border is slightly serrated and may retain a thin layer of parakeratotic cells from the nail isthmus, which provides an effective seal at the distal nail bed and prevents onycholysis. The free border is composed of compact, hard keratin and is the portion typically trimmed during nail care.