steph4rose
Active Member
I have noticed that nails are less likely to chip and peal if I prep them using a 100/180 grit buffer, I do not excessivey nuff but do cover the whole nail, is this likely to weaken them? Thanks
Will you weaken nails with 180 grit buffer?
- Thread starter steph4rose
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You can over thin a nail with a smoothing buffer if you too hard or too often, its more about technique than the tool used. My training dictated nothing harsher than a 240grit should ever be used on the natural nail but I know other training courses recommend 180grit for removing surface shine. Again, you can do more damage with a fresh 240 than well used 180, so it's down to you to ensure you do as little damage as possible but achieve the result you need.
NailtechJoe
IN:@thenailmaestro
For what application? Is it hard gel or gel polish?
A 180 grit file needs to be used very carefully as it will remove several layers of nail plate and cuticle; whereas a 240 will remove the top layers, but won't remove cuticle that easily. Like Trinity says, it's down to technique used and the age of the file used. I was trained to use a 240 file on a nail plate whereas Gelish polish dictates the use of a 180 grit on the nail plate. In my experience, I have used an old 180, a 220 and a 240 grit buffer with a Gelish application and it hasn't budged.
There is a catch with the 180 grit side if you are doing gels; if you file over the nail plate from a previous application that was already buffed, you risk making the nail plate thinner which causes the gel to lift and chip. Think of the nail plate as a foundation to layer up a house - a house with a weak foundation will collapse. This is what happens when nails are too thin and why they chip and lift easily.
In my training for extensions as well as for Gelish hard gels, I was taught to use the 120 grit file side when prepping for hard gels. There are 2 camps in this; one says it's ok to use a 120 grit file like the manufacturers state and the other camp (nail education books and scientists) say that a 240 is enough as modern gels bind well to the natural nail.
The bottom line is to follow what the manufacturer says and use the correct techniques as taught.
A 180 grit file needs to be used very carefully as it will remove several layers of nail plate and cuticle; whereas a 240 will remove the top layers, but won't remove cuticle that easily. Like Trinity says, it's down to technique used and the age of the file used. I was trained to use a 240 file on a nail plate whereas Gelish polish dictates the use of a 180 grit on the nail plate. In my experience, I have used an old 180, a 220 and a 240 grit buffer with a Gelish application and it hasn't budged.
There is a catch with the 180 grit side if you are doing gels; if you file over the nail plate from a previous application that was already buffed, you risk making the nail plate thinner which causes the gel to lift and chip. Think of the nail plate as a foundation to layer up a house - a house with a weak foundation will collapse. This is what happens when nails are too thin and why they chip and lift easily.
In my training for extensions as well as for Gelish hard gels, I was taught to use the 120 grit file side when prepping for hard gels. There are 2 camps in this; one says it's ok to use a 120 grit file like the manufacturers state and the other camp (nail education books and scientists) say that a 240 is enough as modern gels bind well to the natural nail.
The bottom line is to follow what the manufacturer says and use the correct techniques as taught.
steph4rose
Active Member
Great thanks, I am prepping for Gelish to natural nails, they specify to use a 240 grit buffer but I believe this doesn't suit all nails as some peoples need more buffing to keep Gelish durable. I am now worried this could weaken the nail plate over time as it is a much rougher buffer but also a 240 grit after a few applications can smooth rather than rough the surface which equally can cause nails to lift. I think I will continue with the 180 but take a much more gentle, quicker approach to ensure I am not over buffing, I guess its just something to be aware of!
cheekychick
Well-Known Member
For gels that state you need to buff before application only means that with the first application you buff the
With Gelish when you remove previous gel polish you only need to buff the regrowth area not the entire nail before reapplication x
With Gelish when you remove previous gel polish you only need to buff the regrowth area not the entire nail before reapplication x
