- August 6, 2018
- Nail care
- Kira Ifeevskaya
Any manicure, even the highest quality, must be replaced, and if the nails were treated with gel polish, then even more so. As such material grows, it becomes heavy for the nail plate. Therefore, in order to maintain the health and beauty of your nails, you must remove it. You can remove it in two ways: by soaking it in a liquid specially designed for this purpose or by cutting it off using special equipment. A machine for removing gel polish from nails or a cutter is an attachment to the device. It is needed to remove the old varnish coating. How to remove gel polish with a cutter? And what subtleties need to be taken into account for this? This will be written about below.
What is a cutter and what is its purpose?
Today, hardware manicure is very common; it quickly occupied its niche, completely eliminating its competitor, when the nails were simply soaked in water. Unlike its predecessor, this method allows you to quickly and easily prepare your nails for gel polish coating. Due to the fact that the cutter rotates at the same frequency all the time, this allows the surface of the nail to be made uniform and the cuticle to be easily removed. In addition, the cutter attachments rotate very quickly, so you get a manicure without cuts, bleeding or wounds.
The same machine is used to remove the old gel polish coating, only a different cutter is installed. Preparing nails for a new manicure is carried out using this device. Which attachment should I use to remove gel polish on the device? More on this later. To make this procedure easy, you need a cutter with notches or small indentations. This way you can cut off the coating carefully.
Adviсe
What is the best cutter to remove gel polish? Hardware manicure is safer and non-traumatic compared to filing with a file or removing the gel with acetone. The last two methods are already outdated, and because of them, the nails will become brittle and begin to peel. It is very easy to damage the nail and the skin around it with a file, abrasions form, and it is undesirable to cover such a nail plate with gel.
If you soak the nail, you can dry out the cuticle and nail plate, which will lead to it breaking and causing unpleasant pinching during the procedure. After the nail is soaked, the coating must be removed with a metal spatula, which can injure the surface of the nail, which affects its quality. The procedure for removing gel polish with a manicure machine saves time and does not harm your nails.
The attachment is similar to a corn cob; it fits onto the tool and is firmly fixed. The difference between a cutter may lie not only in the design, but also in the material from which it is made.
How to choose a device for manicure and pedicure?
Filing and leveling the nail plate, removing and polishing cuticles, filing down artificial coverings, treating rough skin - this is an incomplete list of what this small but very useful machine is capable of. Increasingly high demands are placed on nail technology, which is why equipment for manicure and pedicure must be impeccable. Choosing a convenient and durable device that best suits the tasks of the master is not easy. In order not to make a mistake, it is important to immediately decide on the range of services (manicure, pedicure, gel polish, extensions) and the frequency of use of the device (for yourself, for a small circle of clients, for a beauty salon).
All devices for manicure and pedicure can be divided into two large groups: amateur and professional . Machines for home manicure have low power (up to 35-40 W) and a limited set of functions. This is often enough to treat natural nails and cuticles for yourself and your girlfriends. Most often, the power supply of home machines is built into the handle, and control is carried out using a wheel. In salon conditions, powerful (from 60 W) stationary devices , which consist of a control unit and a working handle with a micromotor. They do not vibrate or make noise, do not overheat during prolonged use, and are suitable for all procedures, including pedicures.
There are also semi-professional routers (40-60 W) - they have improved characteristics compared to “home” ones and do a good job of cutting down artificial surfaces. Such machines can be used in a small manicure salon, but are still not designed for serious “stream” work and pedicures.
The most important parameters for choosing a nail milling machine are:
- Number of revolutions per minute . The quality of nail treatment depends on the rotation speed of the cutters. For home appliances, this figure ranges from 4 to 25 thousand revolutions, for salon appliances - from 25 thousand and above.
- Device power . Everything is simple here: the more powerful, the better. A good salon manicure cutter has a power of 60-100 W. This ensures stable operation without vibration and overheating. However, beginners should not take a very powerful milling cutter - the price of such devices is rather high, and without experience it is easy to injure the skin and nail plate.
- Reverse rotation . The ability of the cutter to change the direction of rotation allows you to perform processing as carefully and efficiently as possible. This is a convenient feature that you shouldn’t give up even when choosing a simple machine “for yourself.”
- Power source: battery, batteries or network. Stationary devices are good because they have stable power and wide functionality. Portable ones are convenient for travel and on-site services, however, as the charge decreases, the number of revolutions of the cutter noticeably decreases, which immediately affects the quality of processing.
- Additional options that make the master’s work easier: foot pedal, built-in vacuum cleaner, backlight, power switch. They are mainly equipped with professional devices. Before purchasing, make sure that the premium for these features is worth it.
It is important to know that the working handles of different manicure devices differ in length, thickness and weight, and tip material (plastic, metal). Many have a matte or rubberized anti-slip surface, which increases the safety of the machine during operation. When choosing a device, be sure to turn it on and try out the handle: it should fit comfortably in your hand, work without excessive vibration, noise and rapid heating.
Carbide cutter
Each cutter, depending on the alloy from which it is made, has its own operating principle. For example, a carbide with notches made of straight, oblique lines or crosses cuts off the overgrown material in a circular motion, first clockwise, then counterclockwise. The threads and hole sizes of metal cutters are different. To remove the coating, you need quite strong indentations so as not to break the tool.
You can correct the shape of the nail and its thickness using a carbide cutter if the nails will be extended or strengthened. With it you can delete the old layer. The rotation of the tool occurs at a speed of 30-40 thousand revolutions per minute, which is completely harmless to natural nails. With this method of removing old manicure, you don’t have to worry about the natural nail plate, since only the top (top layer of manicure) and gel (colored part) are cut off, and the base remains, so the surface of the nail remains untouched.
Which machine is better for home manicure?
When choosing a device for home use, it is important to pay attention not only to its basic characteristics, but also to its design features. Of course, choosing a device in an online store is convenient and profitable, but this is exactly the case when you cannot make a purchase “by the picture.”
You need to hold the machine in your hands, evaluate the convenience and weight of its handle, turn on the device and feel it in operation. A handle that is too large or, conversely, very thin and that fits uncomfortably in the palm of your hand will be a good reason to refuse the purchase.
Here are seven features that the best at-home manicure machines of 2022 have.
Lightweight and comfortable handle
This is the master’s main working tool, so holding the handle in the palm of your hand should be comfortable. Even if you are not going to do manicures for relatives and friends, comfort of use is still important, as it will help avoid injuries.
The optimal weight of the handle is 200 grams. Its lower part, where the fingers grip, should have silicone or other relief inserts. The case material can be anything: both plastic and metal last equally long. Pay attention to the location of the buttons; they should not interfere with operation.
No vibration
You can understand whether the handle vibrates or not only by turning on the device. The device can be completely silent or produce a quiet sound. But what it shouldn’t do is tremble, twitch, or even vibrate subtly. If you feel even the slightest movement in your hand, you should not buy such a device. Otherwise, the risk of injury when performing a manicure seriously increases.
Power up to 60 W
Since home appliances are used to work on the hands and feet, it is important that the power of the device is suitable for these tasks. A device that has a power of 50-60 W can be considered universal, and its cutter is capable of spinning at a speed of at least 35 thousand revolutions per minute.
If you don’t plan to use a pedicure machine, you can get by with a low-power one - up to 35 W. But practice shows that over time, the capabilities of a low-power device become disappointing and seem insufficient.
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Wire of convenient length
It is important to consider where and under what conditions the device will be used. If the outlet is nearby, a short cord will do; if it’s far away, you’ll need a longer cord. In the latter case, it is convenient to use a cord partially coiled. This one does not get confused on the table and allows you to reach a distant outlet.
For home use, you can use battery-powered and rechargeable devices. What distinguishes them from online models is their mobility, which means you can do a manicure while sitting comfortably on the sofa, and a pedicure just in the bathroom.
But it is important to remember that the machine will work efficiently only when its charge is “full”. If the battery is discharged, the number of revolutions of the cutter is seriously reduced, and therefore the quality of processing decreases. Batteries will have to be changed quite often, which will require additional costs.
Main and backup regulators
In non-professional household devices, the regulator can only be located on the device body. In semi-professional and professional ones it is also placed on the handle. The latter design is more convenient: you have to switch speeds often, since cuticles, nails and nail polish removal require different speeds. If you try to work at one speed, injuries are inevitable.
Smooth body
The case can be made of plastic or metal - in this case the material is not important. The only important thing is how easy it is to clean. During use, dust from sawed-off gel polish, nails, and skin particles gets onto the body. If it is made of soft plastic, microscopic dirt will linger on it, and over time the device will begin to look untidy. If the body is smooth, keeping it clean is much easier.
Sometimes the devices are equipped with silicone supports that prevent sliding on the table. Such “accessories” have no practical use: they only take up space and collect dust.
Set of cutters
Manufacturers complete the devices with sets of cutters, so you can use the device immediately after purchase. For home use you need at least four cutters:
- “flame” - it is used to remove thin skin on the nail in the cuticle area;
- corundum - this is how the cuticle itself is treated;
- “corn” - it is needed to delicately remove a layer of gel polish;
- polisher - used to remove roughness on the skin around the nails and feet.
If the cutters are not included in the kit, you can purchase the basic set separately.
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Additional functions
They are not mandatory, but, as a rule, they simplify the use of the device and make its use more comfortable and enjoyable. One of the useful additional features is reverse mode. It changes the direction of movement of the cutter to the opposite and helps to better process the cuticle and polish the skin.
The backlight function on the handle is convenient. Thanks to it, there is no need to worry about high-quality lighting of the workplace, and processing will become more accurate and accurate. But the power is more than 65 W, the number of revolutions of the cutter is from 40 thousand, foot pedal control, heating control - all this is important for professional devices that are used in manicure salons. At home, when the device works only from time to time, there is no need to overpay for these additions.
Ceramic cutter
Nowadays modern manicurists use a ceramic cutter. After using it, the coating turns into dust, not into shavings, it is removed more softly, and there are no unpleasant vibrations that occur when the nail and the cutter come into contact.
Softer texture and high strength are the main advantages of ceramic cutter. One such tool is equivalent to 4 of the same, but made of hard alloy. The coating can be removed easily and quickly due to the fact that the ceramic nozzle does not heat up. How to properly remove gel polish with a cutter? The technology of cutting with a ceramic cutter consists of soft movements that are performed without pressure.
Types of cutters
What the result will be after the procedure depends on the cutter. Ceramic nozzles give a good effect. They are characterized by a gentle effect, high strength and wear resistance. Milling cutters of this type have another good quality. They don't get hot when in use.
Variety of nail polish remover cutters
They contain bone ash, plastic substances, spar, quartz and many other elements. Thanks to them, such cutters cut gently but quickly. Their cutting capabilities are much higher than carbide competitors.
This type of cutter is made of hard metal. They are characterized by the presence of a notch. Its shape can be different: oblique, cross-shaped or straight. The element is also classified depending on the direction (regular, reverse). Those that work in both form shavings. Such models are used for removing artificial nail plates. In the case of gel polish, you need to use cutters with large notches.
Gel polish peels off
Forms
The shape of the cutters also varies: the corn shape is usually found in ceramic bits, while cylindrical or cone-shaped ones are found among metal ones. There are other forms, but manicurists give greater preference to the above. In accordance with the degree of rigidity, it is necessary to determine the scope of work. The type of cutter you will need depends on which nails the master will work with. The degree of hardness is indicated at the base of the tool: the hardest are green or black.
After the gel polish has been filed off, the remainder of the manicure is removed with a soft buff. That is, removing old manicure with a machine and treating nails with a buff is much safer compared to other outdated methods.
Why should it be done with a machine?
How to use a gel polish remover? Many masters remove the old layer using methods that are not only outdated, but also harmful to the nails. Since the machine for removing gel polish from nails makes them afraid of “cutting through” the plate. The impossibility of this is determined by a number of reasons. A person competent in manicure knows that old gel polish is cut off down to the base (you can recognize it by its glossy shine). And the final stage is polishing with a buff. Therefore, if you do everything correctly, you won’t be able to “saw through” the nail.
How to care for your instrument at home
A shellac remover is a device that performs various hygienic procedures, and its attachments require careful care. Particles of nails, skin and blood remain on the cutters. They can become a breeding ground for infection during subsequent use. Therefore, after each session, all parts must undergo careful processing, consisting of several stages:
- Removing visible dirt. After removing the varnish coating, you need to clean the surface of the cutter with a special brush, which usually comes with the device.
- Disinfection. At home, you can immerse the nozzles in boiling water for 10–15 minutes.
- Sterilization. There are special devices with programs for each type of cutter, but they are not cheap. Therefore, you can use an ordinary, cleanly washed oven, preheated to 2000C. The cutters, laid out on baking paper, are sent there for 20 minutes. After cooling, they are packed into sterile bags using tweezers.
The device itself must be kept at a constant temperature and dry, not exposed to open sun, so that the batteries in the compartment do not oxidize and damage the contacts.
If, before working with a device for manicure, pedicure and gel polish removal, you study all its technical characteristics in the instructions and watch a step-by-step training video on the Internet, then the result will be decent on the first try.
Removing gel polish and discomfort
Gel nail polish remover may cause a stinging sensation when the old polish is removed. This factor is also tied to the experience of the master, as well as to the condition of the client’s nail plate. It can be very subtle, and then situations like this arise. In such cases, the master must learn how to properly remove regrown material using a cutter, and also warn the client about possible sensations that may cause discomfort. In all other cases, when the gel is cut off, the client feels a slight “tickling”, which does not bring any inconvenience to the woman.
The best manufacturers of home and salon manicure devices
Buying a shellac remover is not a problem today. They are sold in brick-and-mortar stores and online. The choice is large, as is the price range:
- the lower level of cost is from 800 rubles. for the simplest and most inexpensive option from China;
- up to 6000 rub. – for equipment equipped with a full set of cutters and producing 30 thousand rpm;
- 6000–20000 rub. – devices charged from a battery.
It is better to buy a machine for removing shellac from nails from a company with a high rating.
According to reviews from users who bought a device for removing shellac from nails, the following have proven themselves to be excellent in combination with convenience, rotation speed and power:
- Marathon 3, South Korea. With all the advantages, you can also purchase attachments from other manufacturers.
- Orbita Smart, Germany. The equipment is equipped with a screen on which you can see current data during the process.
- Global Fashion, UK. The device has high power (80 W) and is suitable even for a professional salon.
You can find a gel polish remover for sale and buy it profitably in many places, for example on Aliexpress.
First stage of withdrawal
How to remove gel polish correctly with a cutter? As mentioned above, first the nozzle is inserted into the device and its fixation in it is checked. The master himself determines which attachment to choose (ceramic or metal). Usually the cutter is inserted until it makes a characteristic click. Next comes the removal process itself. First, check that the coating is dry and the attachment does not slip off the nail plate. You can begin the process itself. Depending on which cutter is used, movements are selected. The main thing is that they are smooth and stroking. The work should be carried out at the same pace, and you should not put too much pressure on the device. And the cutter is carried out from top to bottom, movements are made along the contour of the nail.
Milling cutter
To remove gel, nail technicians use carbide nozzles of medium abrasiveness. Marking: blue stripe on the shank. Such cutters remove material without heating or creating dust: the varnish is cut off by shavings. The same attachments can be used to reduce the thickness of the acrylic coating - the cut layers are thin and smooth, without leaving a groove.
You can complete the process with a smaller nozzle - with a red stripe on the shank. It can also be used at the base of the nail, where there is a high risk of damaging the cuticle skin.
Even smoother cutting with a ceramic cutter. It turns the coating into dust, removes layers smoothly, and does not heat up. Even if such a nozzle comes into contact with the nail, it will not damage it.
The shape of the cutter can be any, focus on your preferences. It is most convenient to use a cylinder or cone - they work well with a reverse movement, so you can use them to remove gel polish from your nails yourself.
You can choose a cut - the simpler and thinner it is, the faster the material will be removed. But a single cut is best used by experienced craftsmen: it is easy to “grab off” excess and injure the skin. For beginners, a cross-shaped cut is suitable. It removes nail polish very carefully and does not injure soft tissues.
If it’s difficult to decide, it’s better to buy ready-made sets. They contain everything you need to work with artificial nail coating. For example, in this set for manicure and correction there are 11 positions: medium and coarse cones, olives, cylinders; polisher and grinder; caps and rubber base; felt, stand.
Next stage of withdrawal
Cuts should be made long, short cuts and strong pressure on the nail are not recommended, so as not to cause discomfort to the client, and also to ensure that the manicure is removed evenly. The cutter should be inclined, and cutting usually occurs in its middle part. The pressure on the nozzle should come either from the side or from above; you cannot put pressure on it from above. That is, it is installed to the lower edge of the nail plate and the master must make one movement with the middle part of the tool to the outer edge of the nail.
Next comes the buff treatment. When the nail plate looks smooth, all irregularities are smoothed out. The final stage of removing old manicure is polishing the nail. When that is finished, you can do a new manicure.
This procedure is not particularly difficult. You just need to constantly practice to hone your skills. A machine for removing gel nail polish does not harm the nail coating; this statement was invented by masters who do not want and do not know how to use this innovation. In addition, the remaining transparent base on the nail plate after filing has a positive effect on the nail itself - it becomes stronger. This is also necessary for the keratinized layers of the skin, which are the nail, they just lack the respiratory function, like other cells. Therefore, a gel polish manicure and its removal do not harm the nails in any way.
Advantages of removing the coating with a machine
We have already figured out how to remove gel polish correctly using a cutter. Now let's look at the pros and cons of this common procedure. If we compare cutting with a machine and a classic file with an abrasive coating, then in the first case the procedure is safe and without injury. Moreover, the speed of the procedure is much higher. Another advantage of this type of coating removal is that the layers of varnish are removed using dry methods, and chemicals containing acetone are not used. This allows you to avoid changes in the structure of the nail plate when the nail becomes soft and dry. The skin around the nail and cuticle also become dry, leading to a burning sensation.
The duration of cutting with the device is a maximum of 10 minutes - this is if the master is experienced. It will take a little longer for a beginner, but he should understand the basics of this technology.
As mentioned above, the nail plate is safe and sound, since the machine does not touch it.
Disadvantages of removing the coating with a machine
The only disadvantage of hardware removal is the small shavings or dust that is produced after cutting. This can cause discomfort as you have to breathe in it. It is recommended to wear a mask when working.
Another drawback is the high cost of purchasing this device, which will also require sets with cutters. There should be several sets. Also, all parts of the machine must be kept clean. Nozzles also need to be changed on time, if necessary.
