Choosing the right nail drill bit is one of the most important factors in determining the effectiveness of a nail service. This is because the characteristics of the instrument directly affect the quality of the manicure and pedicure, the comfort of the client, and the speed of the procedure.
To make the right choice of a nail drill bit, you need to focus on its functional purpose, which is determined by the type of work to be done, the type of skin, and the condition of the client’s nails. A nail drill bit can be either multifunctional or designed to perform only one function. Experienced nail technicians can perform an entire manicure or pedicure using just one nail drill bit.
The functional purpose of a nail drill bit consists of several parameters, the most important of which are the following:
- Nail drill bit head shape
- Colors of abrasiveness
- Material of the nail drill bit
When selecting nail drill bits for a manicure or pedicure, the nail service technician summarizes the characteristics of the cutters for each of these parameters in order to decide on the purchase of specific types available in the catalog.
Nail drill bit head shape
Nail drill bits come in different forms, each of which can be used at various stages of the manicure or pedicure procedure.
Ball
The ball-shaped nail drill bit is effective for grinding side ridges, removing cuticles, and eliminating burrs. Depending on the area of application, skin type, and nail condition, different ball diameters can be used.
Cylinder
The cylindrical shape of a nail drill bit can be either elongated or short. It may have sharp edges or a hemisphere at the top to reduce the likelihood of injury. The cylindrical shape is used both for reducing the length of the natural nail and for removing the old gel coating.
Needle
The needle-shaped nail drill bit is convenient for buffing skin inside the lateral sinuses, working on hard-to-reach areas of the lateral nail edge, treating high sidewalls, and addressing separated cuticles. Additionally, it can be used to correct extended nails. During a pedicure procedure, a needle-shaped nail drill bit can be used for opening and grinding cracks.
Flame
The flame-shaped nail drill bit is the most popular among nail technicians due to its versatility. The flame shape is used for treating lateral nail folds, removing corns, exfoliating cracked skin, and filing the nail plate.
Cone
The cone-shaped nail drill bit can be used to work on the cuticle. This shape allows for effective opening and processing of the cuticle.
Colors of abrasiveness
Different skin types and different conditions of clients' nails require the use of nail drill bits of varying degrees of abrasiveness. Not only the client’s comfort during the procedure, but also the quality of the final result depends on the correct choice of the level of abrasiveness of the cutter surface.
For the convenience of nail service technicians, each nail drill bit is marked with a color corresponding to the rank of abrasiveness of the working surface. The abrasiveness, or grit size, comes in the following ranks:
Extra fine (Yellow)
The yellow mark corresponds to a very fine abrasiveness. Yellow nail drill bits are designed for thin, sensitive skin and for gentle processing of natural nails.
Fine (Red)
A red mark on the nail drill bit indicates that the cutter is slightly abrasive. This type of surface is universal and is used to remove pterygium and cuticles. Additionally, such nail drill bits are convenient for working with lateral sinuses.
Medium (Blue)
The blue mark corresponds to an average level of abrasiveness. Such cutters are used exclusively for processing areas of skin.
Coarse (Green)
The green mark corresponds to a rough level of abrasiveness. The main purposes of nail drill bits with a green mark are treating hyperhidrosis and hyperkeratosis, as well as removing old gel or acrylic coatings.
Material of the nail drill bit
Diamond nail drill bits
Diamond nail drill bits are used to process both nails and skin. The peculiarity of these cutters lies in the diamond chips applied to the head. Diamond nail drill bits come in fine and coarse coatings, which are marked with different colors.
Tungsten carbide nail drill bits
This type of nail drill bit is made from an alloy of carbide and tungsten, which determines its wear resistance. Tungsten carbide nail drill bits are used to remove old coatings. The uniqueness of carbide cutters lies in their ability to cut the material into small chips rather than grinding it into dust when they rotate.
