Netilas Yodayim
Ruach Ra
32. After one cuts his nails, whether with a tool or by hand (צות השלחן), he should wash his hands due to ruach ra (שו''ע או''ח סי' ד' סי''ח). Netilas yodayim is also required after cutting toenails (קצות השלחן סי' ב' סי''א ), but there is no need to pour water over the feet (ליקוטי מהרי''ח ודלא כא''א בוטשאטש ). If one does not wash his hands and he is a talmid chacham, he will forget his learning; if he is not a talmid chacham, he will lose his mind (שו''ע שם ) and feel fear that day without knowing what he is afraid of (שו''ע שם סי''ט ).
33. Cutting someone else’s nails. If one cuts someone else’s nails, the one cutting does not need to wash his hands, as no ruach ra descends on him, but the one whose nails were cut needs to wash his hands (אשל אברהם מהדו''ת סי' ד' סי''ח, כף החיים ). One should remember this after a manicure or pedicure.
34. Nail filing. One should wash his hands even after just filing the nails, as the dust left on the hands is considered dirty and ruach ra descends.
One Netila
35. Strictly speaking, one does not need to wash his hands three times from a cup; any water works, even without a cup. The main thing is to wash each hand entirely, or at least until and including the top knuckles. Merely washing the fingertips is not enough. However, some go further and wash the hands from a cup three times, alternating between the hands.
