Nail buffs: types, selection and use

One of those tools that allow you to achieve the perfect appearance of the nails is a buff - a special kind of file, which has a number of remarkable features. Due to the many types of this device, it can be used in a variety of situations, often requiring the utmost accuracy from the performer. It is easy to achieve an optimal result with the help of the buff: it is enough to make the right choice of this tool and adhere to the main recommendations for its use.

The first feature that allows you to distinguish the buff from the usual file is its shape. Most often it looks like an elongated bar (parallelepiped) with a large area of ​​working surfaces. The materials from which such devices are made deserve attention too: due to their properties, they gently act on the nail plates, and therefore are successfully used to solve the most delicate tasks.

In addition to giving nails a spectacular shine, this device can be used to shape outlines. and high-quality grinding of the processed plates. The latter procedure is especially important: it provides for the elimination of various surface defects, and therefore provides high-quality adhesion and long-term wearing of decorative coatings. It is worth mentioning the versatility of buffs, allowing them to be used not only in specialized salons, but also at home.

As for the working resource of the described tools, it is in a rather wide range. Depending on the specifics of the situation and personal preferences, the performer can use both single and reusable buffs.

To date, manufacturers offer nail buffs with two, three or four work surfaces. The last option is considered the most versatile, as it allows to solve the widest range of tasks.

Often these tools have numbered edges, so that a suitable work surface is selected with the least amount of time:

• the first, designed to give the nails the desired shape;
• the second, by means of which the irregularities of the processed plates are eliminated;
• the third, providing high-quality grinding;
• the fourth, with which the nails are polished to a shine.

Another criterion on the basis of which various types of buffs are distinguished is the composition of the working surface. It may involve the use of many materials, the most popular of which are the following.

• PE foam. The most popular option, equally successfully applied by both specialists in salons and non-professionals at home. First of all, this is due to wear resistance and the democratic cost of tools made from this material.Another obvious advantage of polyethylene foam buffs is the ease of maintenance and the possibility of regular disinfection, which does not damage the instrument.

• Suede. A distinctive feature of such devices is the presence of a handle that provides maximum convenience in their use. As described above, suede buffs are used in salons and at home, and their main drawback is the complexity of disinfection, involving the use of a special cabinet.

• The cloth. The use of this material makes the tools light and flexible, which naturally affects the convenience of their operation. Such devices are very delicate, and therefore, experts recommend using them for polishing fine natural nails. There are two disadvantages of fabric accessories - the impossibility of complete disinfection in the absence of special equipment and a relatively high price.

Practice shows that the last type of buffs allows you to polish your nails with maximum speed. In addition, the use of a tool made of cloth is justified in situations where you need to achieve the perfect quality of the treated surface.

Special attention should be paid to the features of the surface of the instruments under consideration, which determine the specificity of their use. To classify bafes on this principle, use the concept of grain - the number of abrasive particles (grips), located on a unit area.

• 60–80. Such devices belong to the category of coarse-grained. They are used when performing pedicure or for the initial processing of artificial nails on the hands. The main qualities of such tools are rigidity and rudeness.
• 100–150. This value of the buff grain allows its use for the correction of extended nails. Through such devices you can get rid of the vast majority of irregularities. In addition, with their help polish the nail plate on the legs, achieving excellent results.

• 150–240. Having such granularity buff is needed for the delicate processing of artificial nails or careful sawing of natural plates.
• 300–500. Tools with the specified abrasiveness value are used to give a striking shine to natural nails that have normal thickness and strength.

If the polished plates are too thin, brittle and prone to delamination, the performer needs to take advantage of a 500 grit buff. The use of such a tool makes the appearance of the nails flawless and negates the likelihood of their mechanical damage.

To polishing nail bar fully met the expectations of its owner, the latter should take into account the specifics of the tasks for which the product is purchased. When choosing a suitable tool, it is advisable to adhere to several recommendations.

• The smaller the thickness of the nail plate, the greater should be the numerical value indicated on the packaging of the purchased product.
• In order to save as much money as possible, it is reasonable to buy buffs with a maximum operational resource.
• If the budget allows, it is worthwhile to acquire several devices made of different materials and possessing varying degrees of abrasiveness.

And also you should not buy too cheap buffs - products of dubious origin, the quality of which leaves much to be desired. Experience shows that such devices become unusable very quickly, without justifying the money spent on them.

There are several basic rules following which allows you to buff your nails with the achievement of the optimal result:

• the working surface of the tool should handle the largest possible area of ​​the nail plate;
• performing processing, it is desirable to reduce the number of unnecessary movements to a minimum (in order to avoid stratification of the nail);
• during the polishing of the plate should not change the initially chosen direction;
• Conducting procedures using the buff should not be frequent (to avoid thinning of the nails, this tool can be used every 7–10 days or less).

Before you begin processing the nail plates, it is desirable to lubricate them with a small amount of nourishing cream. This step is extremely simple and important at the same time, as its execution allows to achieve the best visual result.

Experts do not advise to neglect the "sealing" - a simple procedure involving the application on the ends of the nail plates of beeswax or a few drops of any essential oil.

One of the most important conditions that owners of nail buffs need to take into account is disinfection of the equipment used. This is especially true for craftsmen working in the salon and preferring reusable tools to disposable. To avoid the spread of pathogenic microflora, buffs should be processed after each client, leaving them for 15–20 minutes in a disinfectant solution.

Special attention is given to tools made of soft materials and fabrics. Given the increased sensitivity of such buffs to moisture, they cannot be treated with disinfecting liquids. Ignoring this rule leads to delamination and deformation of the tool, making it unsuitable for further use.

In conclusion, it remains to state that the growing popularity of buffs for manicure and pedicure is due to many of their merits with a minimum number of flaws. The validity of this is confirmed by both masters and non-professionals who wish to achieve an optimal result with convenience and the shortest possible time.

All about nail buffs, see the video below.