One of the most important nail tool for your average nail technician is the nail file. Nail files all have different grit sizes that varies from 60 to 240. Each number represents the amount of grit on a file. Every grit size has different uses of the file.For example:A file with 100/100 will have 100 grit on both sides. However, 80/100 grit will have 80 grit on one side and 100 grit on the other. So, the side with 80 grit is going to be coarser than the side with 100 grit.
60 grit is the sharpest file carries. 60 grit files are coarse enough to file away the excess dead skin on or calluses on one's foot. This coarse grit is not advised to be used for natural nails.
80 grit is the sharpest file for finger nails. It is commonly used for heavy product removal like thinning the thickness of an acrylic. The 80 grit file may be used to shape and shorten long or thick acrylics.
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100 grit is the most common file to use when shaping and shortening acrylic nails. Although it is best to use on acrylic nails, 100 grit files may be used on natural nails (depending on the nails thickness).
180 grit is the finest grit size carries. It is used to contour and shape nails of medium thickness. 180 grit files are commonly used to shorten and shape natural nails or prepping nails before applying product.
100 grit is coarse enough to remove the hard gel exterior before soaking off the polish. Meanwhile, 180 grit is perfect to use on the little excess gel and buff by applying very little pressure.
Nail File 100/100 Grit Rectangle
180 grit is ideal to shorten, shape and buff nails when using gentle pressure. Remember: do not use anything coarser than 100!
Now that grit sizes are a little more clear, check out the different nail shapes you can form on anyone's nails below!This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase.
Have you ever bought nail files at the store without looking closely and wondered why sometimes they felt different from ones you’ve purchased previously?
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Or have you seen your nail technician using a nail file at the salon and wondered why sometimes it feels heavier and sharper than others?
The answer is simple: it’s because there’s more than one nail file grit. That’s right! Like sandpaper, nail files come in a wide variety of grits for various reasons.
After all, you don’t want to use the same nail file you used to remove your gel polish to shape your natural nails. Why? Read on to find out!
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In this article, we’re taking a closer look at nail file grits, what they mean, what they’re for, and how to choose the right kind for you.
If you look closely when you buy a nail file, you’ll notice that most files have a number associated with them. You may have seen some in the past and wondered what these numbers meant.
These numbers are the grit on nail files — the size of the abrasive particles on the file and nail file coarseness.
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More specifically, the grit number refers to the size of each abrasive grain and references how many abrasive particles fit per square inch of the nail file.
The lower the grit number, the rougher the grit, while the higher the number, the finer the grit. Knowing a file’s grit can help you determine which file you need for various nail care purposes.
Now that you know what nail file grits are, the next step is understanding that one file doesn’t necessarily have just one grit.
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Some files have different grits on each side for various purposes. But some have the same. If both file numbers are the same, like 100/100 grit, this means both sides have the same 100 grit.
On the other hand, if the numbers are different, this means the sides have different grits. A file with the number 120/180 grit means that one side is softer than the other.
To give you a better understanding of nail file grit levels, here’s an easy cheat sheet. Grit numbers can be as low as 60 and as high as 240.
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Although 60 grit is far too coarse for the natural nail, this is usually only used for removing calluses and dead skin cells from the feet.
Meanwhile, 240 is often the most recommended as the best to use for natural nails to help shape the free edge and walls. This is the one that may also be used (gently) on the nail plate.
Based on the chart above, you can gauge which grit is best for you to use for various purposes. But what is the rule of thumb when it comes to choosing grits for acrylic and natural nails?
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The most important thing to remember is that natural nails aren’t as thick or strong as acrylic nails. You can use coarser grits on acrylics, but you should not use them on the natural nail or you might cause breakage and damage.
The best nail file grit for acrylic nails is from 80 to 150. If you opt for higher grits, you may have to exert a little more pressure on acrylic nails, but this will work better for your natural nails and are safer.
The best nail file grit for natural nails is 180 to 240. It’s important to use a higher grit so you don’t damage your nails.
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Now that you know all the different types of grits and their uses, the next question you might have is, does the shape of the file matter?
In the market, there are several different nail file shapes and sizes. Do these matter when selecting the best file for you? And if so, what is the best nail file shape to look for?
This shape is good for filing the side walls of the nail all the way to the tip. It’s a go-to shape to achieve classic slim nails.
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This is ideal for use on the cuticle area as it is rounded and can help you avoid harsh lines. Plus, the shape is good to help prevent over-exerting your wrist.
An excellent happy medium between straight and banana, this size allows you to file long strokes on the nail walls while having a curve to fit the cuticles too.
An oval is rounded and is good for the bottom of the nail and the cuticles. It’s also thicker, which means it can cover more area.
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These are basic recommendations, but the truth is that you can use every file for almost every purpose. At the end of the day, the best one for you is up to your personal preference and which shape suits you best.
The most commonly used nail tools are nail files and nail buffers. Are these the same? After all, the nail buffer also has a rough side. The answer is… no, they aren’t the same!
Simply put, one is used to file the nails, and the other is used to buff and polish the nails. And the way they are made is specifically so they can serve their own purpose.
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A nail file is a tool with a hard or stiff core to help file down the nail’s free edge, shape the natural nail, and repair cracks or broken and rough nails. They are also sometimes used to shorten nails instead of cutting them.
A nail buffer isn’t used to shape the nails but instead is used to smooth the nail surface, even out ridges, and make nails look shiny and healthy. It has a softer core for more flexibility.
While one side of a nail buff can be rough and coarse too, overall, nail files are usually what they are talking about when someone discusses grit.
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Since a gel manicure is strong, it must be filed down during removal, requiring a coarse file. Knowing what grit nail file to remove gel polish is important so you can successfully remove the product without damaging the nail underneath.
The best nail file for gel nails is 100 to 150 grit. You can even use 180 if your nails are thin or damaged. A 180 grit nail file is safe for natural nails and can still remove gel polish.
100 grit is quite sharp and is often used for sculpting acrylic nails. This rough nail file should not be used on natural nails.
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There is no correct answer to this question as each grit serves a different purpose. For those with acrylics, grits from 100 to 150 are good, but those with natural nails should use 220 to 240.
Your nail shape doesn’t necessarily determine which file to use, and all files can help you achieve different nail shapes, depending on how you use them.
Nail files come in many forms, and an emery board is just one of them. Emery boards are cardboard or foam sheets with emery on top. They can flake, bend, and break over time.
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Now that you know more about nail file grits, you can be more mindful when choosing the best one for you. Remember, each
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