NAIL TRUTHS: Nail Drill Do's & Don'ts

Did you know if your nails hurt or feel sensitive after getting your nails done, they are not done properly?

When I first started doing nails I was the drill queen. I used my drill for everything! To prep the natural nail – to shape the acrylic and nail extensions and to smooth the eponychium. I did practically every nail service with a drill. I thought it made me faster and better, but it didn’t. All it did was rip up my own fingers after a 12 hour day and cause problems for my clients.

Thinning out the nail plate causes the product to not adhere over time, making the product lift, which causes the greenies. Excessive drilling creates heat and friction which causes the natural nail to lift up off the nail bed and turn into fungus. Applying the product too thick and drilling it off causes rings of fire and pain. Drilling the eponychium causes abrasions in the skin which can lead to permanent nail allergies and contact dermatitis. I did all of this until one day I realized I needed to
change the way I did nails; not only for my clients but for myself.

The first thing I did was live by my new philosophy, “Apply the nail as if I have no file and no drill.” I started focusing on perfecting my application and only using a hand file, this increased my speed and my clients stopped complaining about their nails hurting and being sensitive.
 

I now use my drill only for shortening, cleaning underneath and removing gel polish.

A few things to remember:
-Use a good quality drill with 25,000 to 30,000 RPMS.
-Use the proper drill bits, speed and techniques for each nail service.
-Never cause heat or excessive friction on the nail bed or the
eponychium.
-Be careful and gentle like you were working on your
grandma.

Always remember to ask questions and do your
research.