Buffing is a nail care technique that involves “polishing” the nail with a nail buffer or cream.
There are various types of nail buffers available, but these are the 2 most commonly found and used:
1. The 3-in-1 (or sometimes 4/5 or even 6-in-1) emery buffing board with 2-5 different grits and a polisher.
2. Buffing Blocks which are 3-dimensional rectangular blocks each side with a different grit.
What Are The Benefits Of Buffing Your Nails?
-The most obvious must be that it will smooth out ridges on the surface of your nails, which will indirectly make your nail polish adhere better.
-And, as an alternative to clear nail polish, it will give you smooth and shiny nails without worrying about nail polish that will start chipping.
-It will also help you get rid of dry and dead surface cells on your nails.
-Buffing stimulates blood circulation to the nail bed, which encourages the nails to grow faster and contribute to the general health of the nails.
- You cannot use (most) buffers to shape your nail, as their grits are too fine. Use an emery board or nail file instead.
- It won’t magically make nail surface stains vanish. Very superficial stains could be buffed away, but since too much buffing can damage your nail, this is not the ideal solution for fixing stained nails.
- Buffing cannot remove or soften nail cuticles. Cuticles are the fleshy part that extends from the nail bed on your nails. You can use a cuticle cream to soften and push it back.
- You have thin and “bendy” nails.
- You have brittle nails.
- Your nails are chipped. Buffing should only be done after you have shaped your nails neatly with your nail clipper and nail file.
- Make sure your nails are dry and clean before starting. Wet nails are more prone to damage.
- Remember to push your cuticles back before you buff your fingernails.
- Do not buff your nails more than once a month. Buffing too often will thin and weaken your nails.
- Never use an emery board or regular nail file to buff your nails. Always use a super-fine-grit nail buffer to lightly smooth ridges. You should just barely be able to make out the grains on the buffer when you touch it.
- Use gentle, light uni-directional strokes and never use back and forth strokes. Never use a sawing motion. It will do more harm than good.
- Stop immediately if you experience any burning sensation, redness or if your nails become hot. This means you are using too vigorous strokes and might be harming your nails.
Tip: If you like French manicures, you can also opt to finish off with a White Tip Pencil under the nails to convert it into a French Manicure without any polish.
A Homemade Alternative to Buffing:
If you don’t really have any ridges on your nails, you could use a soft cotton flannel cloth (tear up old pj’s) and a hand cream to achieve a buffing result. This is also milder than the regular nail buffer.
Fun Fact: The average person’s nails grow at a rate of 0.08 to 0.12 inches (2 to 3 millimeters) per month [source: American Academy of Dermatology]. Given this rate, it can take three to six months for your nails to grow from cuticle to tip. This is why it’s important to gently buff your nails only when needed, so that the same spot doesn’t get buffed too much – in this case, less really is more.
Article by: Mariaan Enslin