Everything About the Manual Nail File

Everything You Need to Know About the Manual Nail File
The manual nail file is one of the most important tools for creating a durable and beautiful nail. In this blog post, we will describe the features and different types of files.

Grit

The word "grit" indicates the coarseness and describes the amount and size of sand grains on the file. Grit ranges from fine to coarse and is indicated by numbers. The lower the number, the coarser the file.

Buffer

Like standard files, buffers have different grits, but they are numbered differently. Their coarseness is not the same as standard files despite having the same numbers. Buffers are made of softer and more flexible material, making them gentler despite higher grit numbers.

The buffer is used to minimize scratches or indentations in the applied product, whether it’s Builder Gel or Polygel, and to polish the nail to a smooth surface.

Buffers can also be used for prep of the natural nail.

Our Nail Files:

At The Gel Collection, we have developed our own nail files made from the best materials to ensure durability and high file quality. They are comfortable to hold, offer optimal flexibility, and file with high precision.

All our files are washable and can withstand all forms of disinfection – even under running water, they won’t lose grains or wrinkle.

Shapes

There are different shapes of nail files. The shape of the file does not greatly affect its use; it’s mostly about personal preference. However, some shapes do offer advantages.
We have created various files, and you can find them here.

Our nail files are available in the following grits: 100/180, 220/240, and 320/320

Grit 100 (Coarse) serves multiple purposes. It is great for shaping and filing hard products like Builder Gel and Polygel, as well as removing product.

Grit 180 (Medium/Fine) is ideal for gently removing gel polish and lightly filing the nail. With extreme care, it can also be used for more thorough prep of the natural nail if you experience product lifting. It is also good for fine-tuning the shape of hard products like Builder Gel and AcrylicGel or for removing soft products like Gel Polish.

Grit 220 (Fine) is perfect for creating a surface grid on the natural nail before applying product to optimize durability.

Grit 240 (Fine) is ideal for filing the final details of hard products like Builder Gel and AcrylicGel. Both 220 and 240 are particularly good for gentle prep of the natural nail and polishing the sculpted nail.

Grit 320 (Extra Fine) is excellent for precise, delicate filing work, such as polishing the nail or filing details on the natural nail before applying Gel Polish.

Our buffers are available in the following grits: 100/180 and 220/280

Grit 100 is great for buffing the surface of hard products like Builder Gel and AcrylicGel.

Grit 180 serves the same purpose but can also be used to buff the surface of slightly softer products like Rubber Base.

Grit 220 and 280 are both ideal for smoothing the surface of either the natural nail or a product, especially if small uneven areas are visible. For example, they work well for evening out small fibers that stick up from Fiber Base.

Our wooden file is unique. Its wooden core ensures a very thin thickness (2mm), which makes filing the lower arch (underside of the nail) significantly easier.

To give you flexibility in your filing work, the file offers two different coarseness levels: grit 180 (medium) and grit 220 (fine). Grit 180 is ideal for filing the lower arch after applying hard products like Builder Gel or AcrylicGel, while grit 220 is perfect for filing the lower arch of the natural nail.

Additionally, we offer mini nail files. Their small size makes them perfect for on-the-go use – whether at the office, on a trip, or anywhere else. We have two models: 100/180 and 180/220. The explanations above about the different grits also apply to our mini files.

Note

New nail files have sharp edges and sides, which can cut into the skin. Therefore, it's important to always remove the sharp edges by running an old used nail file over the sharp corners.