One of the most important decisions you will make when choosing the right equipment for your salon is the type of nail files and buffers you will use. If you are new to the business, you may not even know that there are different types available to choose from. Surely a file is a file and they just come in different shapes and styles? Unfortunately, the differences between the files are a bit more complicated than you might think! If you mess up you could end up seriously damaging your client’s nails!
What to consider
The first thing you need to understand is the difference between nail files and nail buffers.
Nail files are generally used to shorten the length of the nail and also to shape it. They are usually quite long and flat and you can get single or double files. Nail buffers, on the other hand, are used to refine the nail and remove any marks, as well as polish the surface of the nails. They tend to be quite coarse, and you can get a three-way buffer that works for trimming, cleaning, and polishing your nails.
Once you understand the differences between the two tools, you will need to know more about the differences in abrasion.
Abrasion is what causes nails to shorten. You use the file to rub over the top of the nail and it literally rubs the nail. To achieve this sand is used and different files have a different amount of sand. The larger the grit, the smoother the file will be on the nails. The smaller the grain, the harder it will be.
why do you need to be careful
You must be careful when choosing a file to use for each client. If you choose a file that has little grit, you could damage your client’s nails. Lower grit files should generally be used on hard facing materials; should never be used on natural nails.
The most common grit files tend to be 80, 100, 180, 240, 360, 400-900, and 900-1200. If you are going to do a treatment on natural nails, you should never use a file with less than 240 grit. However, this can be canceled if you are working on a pedicure on the big toe. The nail on the big toe is tough and can be difficult to file. So on these occasions you might be able to get away with using a 180 grit file.
In general, if you use anything less than 240 on natural nails, you can really damage the nail. You should keep the tips mentioned in this article in mind if you want to do the best job possible.