When doing a DIY manicure, nail polish and cuticles are given much attention. However, we often forget to prep the nails with all the correct tools. That is where nail buffing comes into the picture. Do you also find yourself skipping the buffing step in your at-home manicure? Jumping right into painting your nails can be tempting, but buffing your nails can be a real game-changer to the look and feel of your nails. Here, The Nails Girl has created a guide on how to use a nail buffer and why you should include it in your nail care regime.
What is a Nail Buffing?
Nail buffing is the process of making your nail surface smoother with the act of polishing it with a buffer. Buffing removes the shine from your nails, allowing for the product to get more grip on your nails, thereby making your mani last longer.
Understanding the Buffer Tool
A nail buffer is a rectangular-shaped manicure tool made of a sponge, designed to remove the shine from your nail surface. Its functionality is to remove the uneven ridges and texture from your nail bed along with smoothly removing the discoloration, debris, and other residue from the nails. It has different layers of grit for sanding the nail surface through constant friction. It is a versatile tool for achieving a professional salon-quality finish in the comfort of your home. Besides smoothing out the unevenness, a buffer also makes your polish adhere to your nail in a better way resulting in a healthy shine in the result.
Nail Buffer Grit Guide
Nail buffers have grits too, just like nail files. Each side of a buffer has varying levels of coarseness, ranging from rough to fine. The coarse side is used for shaping the nails and smoothing the ridges, while the finer sides are used for polishing and adding shine.
- If you are giving yourself a DIY manicure treatment, you can use the 220/280 grit nail buffer to eliminate ridges from natural nails and make the nail surface smooth even before nail polish application.
- You may also use the 100/180 grit buffer to smoothen the scratches created by the hard file during nail shaping and filing.
Benefits of Buffing the Nails
- Buffing the ridges provides a smooth nail surface for better adherence to the product.
- If you don’t want to apply nail polish, buffing the nails will add a natural sheen to them making them pretty and presentable.
- You can remove any debris, stains, or even tiny fungal deposits by gently buffing your nails.
- If done correctly, buffing can also increase the blood circulation beneath your nail bed resulting in healthier growth.
How to Use a Nail Buffer?
Here are a few steps for you to make your nail buffing experience worth it:
1) Before jumping to your buffing process, make sure you have prepped your nails correctly for the best results. Remove any old nail polish residue using a cotton ball dipped in polish remover or acetone. Cut, shape, and file your nails using the necessary tools (clippers and nail files) to your desired length and shape.
2) Make sure you hold the tool firmly but don’t apply much pressure on the nail when buffing to avoid breakage and damage to the nail bed.
3) Start with the side with the coarse grit on your buffer. Hold the tool parallel to your nail and start applying gentle strokes in a single direction. Form an ‘X’ pattern in your strokes to remove any roughness and uneven ridges from your nail surface. Do this one finger at a time and try to cover the entire nail in 6-8 strokes to avoid overbuffing or heat generation.
4) Now use the finer-grit side again parallel to your nail surface and use similar strokes to buff the nail for a smoother and polished finish.
5) Follow up with applying your nail polish and ending your manicure with a cuticle oil for a neat look.
 The 4-Way Buffer Block
For all of you who love DIYing your manicure, invest in a good-quality 4-Way Buffer Block which can be your go-to tool for all your buffing needs. The all-in-one multi-buffer is used for filing, buffing, polishing, and adding shine. The four sides transition from the most coarse to the most fine numbered from 1Â to 4.
1) The first side is the File which is the most coarse side of the buffer block. It is there for you to file your nails if you haven’t done it with a nail file. Use it in a single direction to get the desired length and shape of your nails.
2) The second side is the reason why you have bought this tool – Buff. This side is to remove the ridges on your nails and any residue from the previous product. It preps your nails for application if you are using UV gel products or press-on nails or any kind of extensions. Hold it parallel to your nail and apply strokes in a single direction for buffing evenly.
3) After you have buffed your nails, use the Polish side for the fine grit to smoothen out and polish the surface of your nails further. Use it in the same way as the buffing side but avoid too many strokes which may produce heat in the nails.
4) The fourth side is to bring out the Shine in your nails to give them a natural glossy finish without applying any polish. Use it in a few circular strokes over your nails as a finishing step.
Wrap-Up
Achieving a professional salon-like manicure is well within your reach now with the help of a nail buffer by understanding the tool and using it correctly. Remember to always prep your nails, use the buffer properly, and finish with high-quality nail polish to transform your nails from ordinary to extraordinary. Follow these simple steps to enjoy your DIY manicure for a longer time.
