QUICK GUIDE TO USING ELECTRIC NAIL FILES AND TOOLS

QUICK GUIDE TO USING

ELECTRIC NAIL FILES

AND TOOLS

GETTING STARTED

INTRODUCTION

HOLDING THE HANDPIECE

For almost all applications hold the handpiece as you would a pencil

but keeping the shaft of the tool horizontal. Manipulate the finger nail

to present the correct angle to the tool.

(Occasionally you may change from this position, for instance when

cutting a smile line or when performing a pedicure.

BALANCE FINGER

When using your file ALWAYS rest your little finger of the hand holding the

handpiece against your other hand. This acts as a steadier for controlling

the action of the file and allows far greater control of the pressure applied

to the drill tool.

Electric Files, commonly called e-files, make the perfect salon-style manicure or pedicure easy to achieve and keep your feet and hands in perfect

condition.

With a wide range of profiling, shaping and polishing tools your e-file has many uses including nail shortening, quickly buffing nails, preparing natural nails

for extensions, removing gel nail enhancements, removing hard skin from feet and performing professional infills. In fact e-files can be used for most of the

procedures you would use a hand file for.

PLEASE NOTE: This guide shows specifically how and when to use your e-file instead of other tools such as hand files or buffers. As such this guide is

intended to be used in conjunction with the instructions for the other processes you may be following.

As with most new skills electric filing takes time to master and it is vital to know what you are doing to prevent damaging the nail plate. So, be patient, and

allow yourself time to learn and develop your technique. There are many ways in which to practice techniques from buying ‘practice hands’ from beauty

supply companies to sticking false tips onto dowel rods. Whichever way you choose make sure you practice all speeds and different tools so you are

completely confident with your technique before working on real nails.

TOOLS

Your file is supplied with a selection of tools. Many tools are interchangeable

and the use of them is, in part, down to personal preference.

Always check the tools you are using are not damaged or bent. If the

tools wobble or vibrate during use they may be bent. this can damage

the nail and, if extreme, can damage the machine.

Most tools are available in coarse, medium or fine grades - for almost all

applications only medium and fine grades of tools are used.

Acrylic nails are the hardest and can withstand all tool styles. UV gel nails

are too soft for use with carbide tools, these respond best to the diamond

tools.

KNOW YOUR E-FILE TOOLS

DIAMOND TOOLS

Suitable for use on:

Natural nails

UV gel nails

Acrylic nails

Resin wrapped nails (silk or fibreglass)

Made of diamond fragments adhered to a metal barrel, these are available

in fine, medium and course grade. The ones supplied with your e-file are

medium and are the most versatile of all your electric file tools.

DIAMOND FOOTBALLDIAMOND BARREL DIAMOND CONE

ANGLING THE NAILS AND TOOLS

Correct use of the e-file (when working on the nail) is best achieved

by keeping the tool horizontal.

Try to follow this rule as much as possible as it maintains the control

of the handpiece. However, during use, some movement will be required

to achieve a smooth finish.

Tip and free edge - use the top third of the tool

to create a smooth curve to the tip of the nail.

The illustrations show a guide to the angles for each

zone of the nail.

Cuticle - use the top of the barrel tool, take care

to keep the angle flattish so you do not file into the

natural nail.

Centre - use the centre third of the tool here, rolling

slightly with strokes to create a natural curve.

The angle determines which part of the tool is in

contact with the nail. To check you are connecting

with the correct part watch for which area of the tool

goes white with dust.

CENTRE

TIP AND FREE EDGE

CUTICLE

SANDING BANDS

AND MANDREL

Suitable for use on:

Acrylic nails

UV gel nails

Hard skin

The sanding bands are used for shortening nail extensions and can be

used for filing the top surface of hardened products such as acrylic or UV

gel. They are available in various grit grades, the most commonly used

grades are 180 and 240 grit.

The lower the grit number the coarser the grade. As with hand files you

need to progress from coarser to finer grades to achieve a good finish.

The sanding bands are used with the mandrel which is a metal barrel

tool. The sanding bands simply push on and pull off the mandrel. The

sanding bands are disposable and should not be used on more than

one person.

Sanding bands are not suitable for high speed use as they are susceptible

to heat build up.

STONE ABRADER

Suitable for use on: Natural nails, Hard skin

The stone abrader can be used to prepare the natural

nail prior to the application of nail enhancements. As with

all tools used on the natural nail care must be taken as

damage can occur if over used. The stone abrader can also

be used to remove hardened skin from around the toes and file down

thickened toe nails.

CARBIDE TOOLS

Suitable for use on:

Acrylic nails

UV gel nails - ONLY for removal

Carbide tools have small flutes cut into the surface, these

shave, rather than grind, a minute layer away. Traditional carbide tools

have flutes going in just one direction, these can be difficult to use. A more

versatile type of carbide has cross cut flutes for use with clockwise or anti-

clockwise rotations.

The deeper the flutes the more coarse the drill tool, the carbide tool

supplied with your e-file is a medium, cross-cut barrel.

Carbide tools are ideal for use on acrylic nails.

NEVER use carbide tools on the natural nail. Not only are they too harsh,

but, also, the shaving action can lead to peeling of layers.

Carbide tools are available in different shapes, the most commonly used

is the barrel - a straight sided cylindrical tool for use filing the surface of

nail enhancements. The top edge of the barrel can also be used to ‘cut’

a line behind lifted product. Take care with this to avoid cutting right

through the product into the nail as these tools are sharp, especially

when new.

Some alternative shaped tools are ‘backfill’ - a shorter version of the

barrel tool, ‘inverted backfill’ - a shortened barrel with the taper extending

away from the tip and ‘tapered barrel’.

KNOW YOUR E-FILE TOOLS

240 GRIT BAND180 GRIT BAND MANDRELCARBIDE BARREL

STONE ABRADER

BUFFING TOOLS

Suitable for use on:

Natural Nails

All types of extensions

There are many types of buffing tools. They

are all used in a similar way.

To achieve a high shine massage a small amount of buffing paste onto

the nail surface.

Hold the buffing tool parallel to the work surface and work the buffing

cream all over the surface of the nail in small circular movements, keep

the pressure light and remove the tool very frequently to avoid heat build

up.

If using a long hair buffer, such as a goats hair buffer, switch to a felt

or cotton style buffing cone to finish.

Always use buffers on a low to medium speed, this is very important as

the insulating properties of a buffer means the heat can build up very

quickly especially on a high speed.

KNOW YOUR E-FILE TOOLS

CLEANING YOUR E-FILE TOOLS

Metal tools

If you are using your metal nail tools on more than one person it is vital

to disinfect them between people.

Remove the dust and debris with a small wire brush or tweezers.

Soak the tools in acetone to remove any remaining acrylic or nail product.

NOTE: UV Gel will not dissolve in acetone so any gel residue needs to be

removed completely with a wire brush.

NOTE: Acetone DOES NOT disinfect the tools.

Scrub the surface with warm soapy water and a small brush such

as a toothbrush.

Finally disinfect the tool by submerging completely in a suitable solution

such as baby bottle sterilising solution (follow the manufacturers

instructions).

Remove from the solution and dry well with kitchen towel. Do not leave

wet as this may cause rust.

Sanding Bands

Sanding bands cannot be cleaned and should be discarded between

uses on different people.

FELT CONE BUFFERLONG HAIR BUFFER

EMERY STONE CONE

Suitable for use on:

Hard skin

The emery stone cone is ideal for use on thick, hardened

skin on the foot. Move in circular motions to remove any

dead skin from around the soles and balls of feet.

CHOOSING THE CORRECT SPEED

Choosing the correct speed is something which takes practice and

it is important to get to know how to tell if you need to increase

or decrease the speed.

A general rule is to use a slower speed for natural, UV gel or resin

wrapped nails and a higher speed for acrylic nails.

If you feel you need to increase the pressure on the tool, this usually

means you need to increase the speed of the rpm.

If, on the other hand, you are removing too much product even with very

light pressure this means the rpm is too fast and you should decrease

the speed.

Also decrease the speed if you are finding it hard to control the tool, especially

if you are near the cuticle area.

Your exact preferred speed will depend on your technical expertise, the

hardness of the surface you are filing and the process, for example, filing

the back edge for an infill requires a slower speed than smoothing the

top surface. Ideally you should maintain a visible result with light pressure

on the surface.

REDUCING THE LENGTH

Use the 240 grit sanding band and mandrel to reduce

the length.

TIP: Do not rely on visible results instead feel the

surface. Often the line of the ridge can still be seen

when it has actually gone.

E-files can be used on the natural nails but it is essential to take great

care and ensure you are completely familiar with the procedures, speeds

and pressures required.

NEVER use carbide or swiss carbide tools with the natural nail.

NEVER use any coarse tools with the natural nail.

The natural nail is most susceptible to damage from heat build up so ensure

you remove the tool for at least as much time as it is in contact with the

surface.

REMOVING NAIL RIDGES

If you suffer from ridges you can use the e-file

to lightly remove them. Use a fine diamond

tool or stone abrader.

On a slow speed move the tool gently over the ridged

area, lift and repeat.

Work on a slow speed and do not remove any more

of the surface than is absolutely necessary.

NATURAL NAILS

STONE ABRADERDIAMOND BARREL

240 GRIT BAND

For this do not keep the tool parallel to the work

surface, instead hold and keep vertical, try not to

angle the tool or your nail edge will be uneven.

Do NOT attempt to shape the nails with the e-file,

always shape using a hand file...

As a guideline, looking at the nails straight on - the three centre finger

nails should all be the same length with the little finger nail and thumb nail

in proportion to these.

Do not make the mistake of comparing the free edges - these will rarely

all be the same. Instead concentrate on the total length of the nail, cuticle

to tip.

NATURAL NAILS

NAIL

BUFFING

PASTE

FELT CONE BUFFERLONG HAIR BUFFER BUFFING PASTE

CUTICLE

OIL

FELT CONE BUFFER CUTICLE OIL

DIAMOND FOOTBALL DIAMOND CONE

BUFFING

Use buffers on a low speed, as

the insulating properties of a

buffer allows heat to build up very

quickly on a high speed.

Massage a small amount of buffing cream into

each nail.

Work the buffing cream all over the surface of the nail

in small circular movements, keep the pressure light

and remove the tool very frequently to avoid heat

build up.

If using a ‘loose’ buffer such as the goats hair ones

switch to a felt or cotton style buffing cone to finish.

BUFFING WITH CUTICLE OIL

After buffing with buffing paste to achieve

a high shine you can buff again with cuticle

oil. However, apply the oil sparingly or you will

ruin the buffing tool. Never allow the cuticle oil

to run down the tip shank into the machine as

this can cause damage.

Simply apply a tiny amount of cuticle oil to the

surface of each nail and buff over in small circular

movements, keep the pressure light and remove the

tool very frequently to avoid heat build up.

CLEANING UNDER THE FREE EDGE

Using a diamond football or diamond cone you

can effectively clean under the natural nail.

This can be useful at removing some staining

under the nail, but be careful not to overdo

this and weaken the nail.

On a slow to medium speed file underneath the free

edge of the nail lightly.

PRE-BLENDING YOUR

EXTENSION TIP

Pre-blending your extension tips gives a more

professional result. It also reduces the amount

of blending once the tips have been applied

to the nails surface reducing the chances of

damaging the nail surface.

NAIL EXTENSIONS

DIAMOND BARREL240 GRIT BAND

STONE ABRADERDIAMOND BARREL

Pre blend the edge with a 240 grit sanding band

or diamond barrel tool. Keep the handpiece flat to

the surface of the extension tip so that the well area

gradually tapers to the end.

Repeat procedure for each extension tip.

PREPARING THE NAILS

To prepare the nail surface before applying an

enhancement use a diamond tool or a stone

abrader.

The precision of the electric file is perfect

for ensuring all dead skin cells are removed.

Skin/cuticle cells left on the nail plate contain oils and

moisture which is the most common cause of nail

extensions lifting.

Gently push back the cuticles with the hoof stick

before using your e-file.

Work on the three zones methodically, to avoid going

over one area repeatedly:

cuticle

On a slow to medium speed move the tool gently

over the nail surface right to left, lifting off the nail

between strokes. Do not tilt the file or nail too much

and avoid filing into the nail.

middle

tip and free edge

If necessary use a diamond cone to get into the

sidewall area of the nail surface.

After this stage remember to brush away all dust

before proceeding.

Do NOT touch the nail surface after this stage

as your fingers will transfer natural oils from the skin

onto the nail.

BLENDING THE SEAM

To blend the seams of extension tips use a diamond

barrel tool.

Keep the pressure very light. If you feel the need to apply

more pressure increase the speed of the e-file instead.

NAIL EXTENSIONS

1 1

DIAMOND BARREL 180 GRIT BAND

On a slow speed, move across the seam of the

extension in one direction, lift the tool and repeat.

Angle the nail slightly to taper into the natural nail

without actually filing the natural nail at all.

Remember to lift the tool off the nail very frequently

to avoid heat build up.

Take care NOT to angle the tool too much to

minimise the chances of filing the natural nail.

Using a diamond barrel or diamond football angle the

file towards the side of the nail and carefully blend

the corners of the extension near the side wall.

NOTE: Do NOT use the e-file to reduce the length

of the extensions at this stage, as it will weaken

the bond.

REDUCING THE LENGTH

After the product has been applied you can use your e-file

to reduce the length of the extensions, if necessary, so they

are even.

For all types of extensions use 180 grit sanding

band.

Position your thumb on the top of the enhancement

to provide support to the stress area and hold the

finger in steady.

Hold and keep the tool vertical, try not to angle the

tool or your nail edge will be uneven.

With firm, but not hard, pressure move the drill

across the end of the nail in a straight line.

Do NOT attempt to shape the nails with the electric file. Always use

a hand file to shape the nails.

As a guideline, looking at the nails straight on - the three centre finger

nails should all be the same length with the little finger nail and thumb nail

in proportion to these.

Compare the total length of the nail, cuticle to tip. Do NOT make the

mistake of comparing the free edges - these will rarely all be the same.

Finishing the top surface

For acrylic nails use either a 240

grit sanding band or a medium

cross-cut carbide barrel.

For UV gel nails or wrapped nails

use either a 240 grit sanding

band or a medium diamond

barrel.

When filing some people prefer to complete each nail before moving

onto the next, others prefer to complete each stage on all the nails,

thereby working all the nails together. Familiarise yourself with each step

thoroughly and follow a methodical route.

Hold the finger firmly, pinching the sidewalls down away from the nail

plate.

NAIL EXTENSIONS

1 2 3

CARBIDE BARREL240 GRIT BAND DIAMOND BARREL

ACRYLIC UV GEL ACRYLIC UV GEL WRAPPED

Mentally separate the nail into three zones:

1 - cuticle

2 - centre

3 - tip and free edge

File each zone with the correct part of the tool.

Cuticle

On a slow speed taper the product overlay towards

the cuticle area using the top section of the tool.

To avoid ‘rings of fire’ keep the handpiece parallel to

the work surface and angle the finger as you need.

Work slowly, moving from one side to the other then

LIFT OFF and repeat - do not move left to right

in contact with the nail.

Centre

File over the whole surface thinning the product if

it is too thick and smoothing any bumps. Keep the

nail and tool moving to avoid working in one spot

for too long.

Tip and free edge

Angle the nail slightly to form a smooth dome to the

tip of the free edge.

On both the centre and tip zones you can move the

file side to side in contact with the nail, taking care to

lift regularly to avoid heat build up.

Regularly view the nail from the side to check for any

bumps left at the edge of the product. It is important

to taper the product fully to avoid a ‘step’ as the

product grows out. At the same time avoid filing into

the natural nail.

Each nail must be checked from several angles to ensure a smooth

surface. If the surface is uneven at all, simply file over the area to remedy.

On all areas check the product is not too thick or clumsy, and the surface

is smooth without bumps or steps.

Check the product is not too thin at the stress line where the free edge

starts. If this occurs more product will need to be applied and the filing

re-done.

NAIL EXTENSIONS

DIAMOND FOOTBALL DIAMOND CONE

Side View

Look from both sides. There should be a smooth

dome, with the highest point centred on the nail,

tapering towards the cuticle and without any stepped

areas.

Straight down the nail

Looking end on at the nail check the ‘C’ curve is

even with the highest point in the centre.

Tip the nail up and down checking for bumps on the

top profile of the nail.

Flat, Top View

Looking straight onto the nail surface roll the nails

to show any imperfections which will show up in the

light.

Check for bumps, flat spots and surface

blemishes.

THE UNDERSIDE

When filing under the nail use a diamond

football or cone as part of the underside is the

natural nail.

Do NOT use a carbide tool.

On a slow to medium speed file underneath the free

edge of each nail lightly to remove any stray product

and neaten the shape.

Check the undersides are straight and even. Feel the free edge and

underside to check for sharp edges or ‘unfinished’ patches. Check the

underside of the nail is clean and free from product and glue residue.

Once you have checked each nail compare all the nails to ensure they

are all even.

FINISHING

Once you are happy with the shape of the nail always

rub each nail vigorously with a white block to smooth

before progressing to the buffing stage.

BUFFING

Buffing is the finishing stage of

applying nail extensions. Use

fine grade diamond barrels and/

or sanding bands over the nail

surface before moving onto

buffing files.

There are many types of buffing materials available, they all have the

same purpose, to shine the nail, so it is worth trying different types to

find one that suits you Always use buffers on a low speed, the insulating

properties of a buffer means the heat can build up very quickly especially

on a high speed.

If using a ‘long hair’ buffer use this for the first part of buffing before

moving to a felt or cotton buffer. Otherwise just use a felt or cotton buffer

for the whole process.

NAIL EXTENSIONS

ACRYLIC ACRYLIC UV GEL

WRAPPED

NAIL

BUFFING

PASTE

FELT CONE BUFFERLONG HAIR BUFFER BUFFING PASTE CARBIDE BARREL DIAMOND BARREL

Rub a small amount to buffing cream into each nail.

Work the buffing cream all over the surface of the nail

in small circular movements, keep the pressure light

and remove the tool very frequently to avoid heat

build up.

Change to a felt or cotton style buffing cone. Buff

over the whole nail. Also buff under and around the

free edge to create a smooth feel.

NOTE: If after buffing there are scratches in the

surface, repeat the surface filing with the the very fine

grade sanding band or diamond barrel and re-buff.

After applying nail extensions there can be areas

of lifting which show as opaque areas. This must

be removed to prevent water becoming trapped

underneath which can lead to watermould on the

nail plate.

Angle the handpiece and with the edge of the tool

cut a line just behind the lifted area. The lifted area

will usually flick off.

Continue until all loose product has been removed.

Do NOT file directly onto the lifted area as the

movement can force more product to detach from

the nail plate.

NOTE: Regularly wipe away dust, sometimes this

can cling to the edge of the product and appears

as lifting.

REMOVING LIFTED PRODUCT

For acrylic nails use the top ‘cutting’ edge of

either a medium diamond barrel or a medium

cross-cut carbide barrel.

For UV gel nails or resin wrapped nails use

the top ‘cutting’ edge of a medium diamond

barrel.

INFILLING

(BACKFILLING)

For acrylic nails use either a 240

grit sanding band or a medium

cross-cut carbide barrel.

For UV gel nails or resin wrapped

nails use either a 240 grit sanding band or a medium diamond barrel.

NAIL EXTENSIONS

CARBIDE BARREL240 GRIT BAND DIAMOND BARREL

As the natural nail grows it is necessary for you to in-

fill as a gap will appear between the cuticle and the

seam. The enhancement may also begin to lift. This

is usually required about two weeks after your first

application and every 2-3 weeks thereafter. Prep the

nails as usual for the type of product in question.

Using the 180 grit sanding band reduce the length

if necessary.

Refer to ‘REDUCING THE LENGTH’ section

Do NOT attempt to shape the nails with your e-file.

Examine the cuticle area for loose/lifted product,

air pockets or bubbles. These show as cloudy areas.

Refer to the section ‘REMOVING LIFTED/LOOSE

PRODUCT’ to remove these.

With the nail at a slight angle and the hand piece

parallel to the work surface, file towards the cuticle

area tapering the product down to the natural nail.

Use your balance finger to maintain firm control and

remember to lift the file off the nail very frequently.

Do NOT file into or on the natural nail at all.

Once back edge is tapered into the nail remove about

half the thickness of the remaining old product over

the nail to allow for the new product to be applied

over the top.

Regularly remove the dust and view the nail from the

side to check the taper and remove any bumps left

at the edge of the product.

Apply the product for whichever nail enhancement

you have used, acrylic, gel or nail wrap, following your

usual instruction for the application of the product.

Once the product is completely hard, file over the

whole surface to finish. Refer to ‘FINISHING THE

TOP SURFACE’ section.

Finally buff until you have the required shine. Refer to

‘BUFFING’ section.

CUTTING A SMILE LINE

The electric file is perfect for cutting a crisp

smile line when backfilling ‘pink and whites’.

For acrylic nails use the top ‘cutting’ edge

of a carbide barrel

For UV gel nails use the top ‘cutting’ edge

of a medium diamond barrel.

NAIL EXTENSIONS

ACRYLIC UV GEL

CARBIDE BARREL DIAMOND BARREL

Wash and dry the hands and prep the nails as usual

for the type of product in question.

Using the 180 grit sanding band reduce the length

if necessary.

Refer to ‘REDUCING THE LENGTH’ section

Thin the product over the whole surface of all the

nails. Aim to remove about a quarter of the product

at this stage.

Using a pencil draw a smile line on each nail at the

new position.

TIP: You can use a template such as an acrylic nail

form to achieve a good, even curve.

Check the smile lines on all the nails together look

even and well positioned.

Using the top of the carbide barrel cut the smile line

into the tip of the nail product. This is one of the few

occasions when you angle the drill tool into the nail to

cut a neat line. Hold the tool at about a 45º angle. Use

your balance finger to maintain control. Do not rush.

You may find it easier to initially cut the shape in

three stages, right edge in, left edge in and finally

the centre. Once this initial guide is there you can

refine the curve.

Once you are happy with the smile line, hold the drill

parallel to the surface and remove three quarters

of the product thickness on the tip.

If necessary refine the smile line using a small

diamond barrel at a slow speed to get a finer finish.

Repeat this on each nail. When all ten nails have had the tip product

thinned, remove any dust compare them together for evenness.

You are now ready to continue your backfill with pink and white gel

or acrylic as you wish.

REMOVING UV GEL NAILS

UV Gel nails cannot be soaked

off, the professional way to

remove them is to file away

leaving a very thin gel layer on

the nail. The precision of the

e-file makes this process quick,

easy and less harmful to the natural nails.

NAIL EXTENSIONS

AFTERCARE ADVICE, HINTS AND TIPS FOR

NAIL EXTENSIONS

• To maintain your nail extensions, use your e-file periodically between

infills to file the back edge lightly to remove any fragments of lifting.

This helps prevent more serious lifted areas.

• Always remove lifted areas as soon as possible and do not allow water

to become trapped under the nail. Always dry your nails thoroughly

after washing. Trapped water can lead to water mould, which requires

medical treatment.

• Do NOT use detergents, such as washing powders or washing-up

liquid, or bleach without wearing rubber gloves, these will damage

your extensions.

• Remember the most common cause of all nail extensions nails lifting

is poor nail preparation. Try to meticulously remove all cuticle cells

from the nail plate during the nail preparation stage. Use a diamond

cone tool to get into the sidewall areas if necessary.

• Also do NOT touch the nail plate after the preparation stage to

prevent contamination with skin oils. If you accidently touch the plate,

wipe over again with finishing wipe to remove any oils you may

have transferred.

• Apply cuticle oil to the nails nightly, massaging into the cuticle. Apply

hand moisturiser at least once a day.

CARBIDE BARREL180 GRIT BAND DIAMOND BARREL

Cut the nails to the desired length.

Using a medium speed, carefully file the gel overlay,

leaving a very thin layer of product.

Take great care NOT to file into the natural nail

plate.

Shape with a hand file. Wash hands and nails well

remove all traces of gel dust which can irritate the

skin. Condition the skin and nails with cuticle oil

and moisturiser.

NOTE: Carbide tools are not generally used with gel

nails, however for removal they can be used.

COMPLETE PEDICURE

Assemble all products before

starting so you don’t have to

retrieve tools with wet feet!

You will need; polish remover,

cotton pads or cotton wool,

bowl of hot water with a foot

soak product, exfoliating scrub,

nail brush, nail file, moisturiser,

cuticle remover product, cuticle

stick, e-file tools and your e-file.

Before starting remove nail polish

and if you need to shorten nail length either clip them or use your e-file

with the sanding band on medium speed. Finish by filing across with a

hand file.

NAIL

BUFFING

PASTE

FELT CONE BUFFER

LONG HAIR BUFFER

BUFFING PASTE

EMERY STONE CONESTONE ABRADER 240 GRIT BAND

Soak feet for 5-10 minutes in foot soak and relax.

Lift one foot from the soak and dry. Apply cuticle

remover and leave for 3-5 minutes while you check

the foot for hard skin.

Push the cuticles back and remove any excess

cuticle skin.

Massage your exfoliating scrub all over the foot for

a minute or two, gently on the top and more thoroughly

on the soles and around hard skin areas.

Replace the foot in the foot soak to rinse off

the exfoliating scrub and repeat steps 1 to 3 on the

other foot.

Dry both feet well.

NOTE: All pedicure tools work best when they are

dry and used on dry skin, so remove all traces of

creams or water before using the e-file.

Using your Stone Abrader or Emery Stone Cone

remove any hard skin. Use short strokes or small

circles on a slow to medium speed and remember

to lift the tool off the skin regularly to prevent a build

up of heat.

Do not remove the hard skin completely or the area

will be sore.

NAIL

BUFFING

PASTE

EMERY STONE CONE 180 GRIT BAND

Check the nails.

With the Stone Abrader remover any hard skin

around the big toe nail.

Use the Stone Abrader or 240 grit sanding band

to remove any ridges on the toe nails.

If you have removed ridges with the Stone Abrader

or 240 grit sanding band, use a white sanding block

over each nail to smooth the surface before buffing.

Massage a small amount of buffing paste into each

nail and buff to a shine.

See the ‘NATURAL NAILS - BUFFING’ section.

Finally moisturise the feet and legs.

NOTE: If you wish to apply nail polish to the toenails

remove any residual buffing paste and moisturiser

first with an acetone-free remover.

REMOVING CALLOUSES

If you have to remove callouses as part of

a pedicure use a specialist callous removing

cream or lotion. Follow the instructions taking

care not to leave the product on the skin any

longer than stated. Dry the area before using

your e-file.

Using a 180 grit sanding band on medium speed

remove the top layer of the callous.

Lift the tool off the callous very frequently to avoid

heat build up.

Graduate to a 240 grit Sanding Band or Emery Stone

Cone to finish removing the hardened area.

Do not remove the callous completely as this will

expose raw skin which will be sore.

Moisturise the area.

Moisturising the area regularly should help avoid the

callous building up again.

NOTE: Clean the tools thoroughly after use and

discard the sanding bands.

COMPLETE PEDICURE

• ‘Picking’ - if there is a small area of lifting do not pick. Simply file away

before it has a chance to spread.

Why are my nails always dull even after buffing?

This is usually caused by not graduating properly from coarser grits to

finer ones. Always use a white sanding block between filing the surface

and buffing.

The use of a buffing cream at the first stage of buffing will also help

achieve a high gloss shine.

Since using an e-file my nail enhancements become brittle after the

first few infills. Why?

Caused by microshattering this typically happens after a couple of infills. This

can be due to using drill tools which are too coarse or being too aggressive

when filing. This has the effect of vibrating the enhancements and over time

the product bonds become more and more brittle with each infill.

Why do I keep catching the skin at the sides of the nail?

This is known as ‘grabbing’ and occurs when the positioning is not quite

right. Try to keep the handpiece parallel to the work surface and manipulate

the finger rather than moving the drill tool. Also hold the finger by pinching

down the sidewalls of the nail to keep the skin out of the way.

I keep snagging the tool on the nail and losing control. What am

I doing wrong?

Usually this is from using too fast an rpm or applying too much pressure.

Try slowing the speed first. If that does not work, increase the speed but

use less pressure.

Occasionally it could be that the tool is very sharp. In which case apply

very little pressure.

Is it true that e-files damage the nail?

If used correctly e-files are very safe. The tools are smaller and more

precise than traditional files so they can be used more accurately and

can be safer than hand filing.

If used incorrectly the e-file can damage the nail, most commonly by

people filing into the natural nail, or by not lifting the tool off the nail

regularly and building up heat.

The drill tools get hot when in use, how do I stop this?

This is from the friction on the nail plate and it is vital to prevent the tool

getting so hot it causes damage.

Follow these rules to avoid the problem:

• Get into the habit of lifting the tool off the nail every second or so.

• Don’t go back and forth when in contact with the nail plate, instead

move in one direction then lift off the nail and repeat.

• Do NOT apply too much pressure. All your strokes should be short

and light.

Why do my nail enhancements lift at the back?

This is usually caused by incomplete nail preparation leaving skin cells or

oils on the nail plate before applying the extension and product. To avoid

this remove the shine from the natural nail surface thoroughly using a

diamond tool before applying extensions.

Other causes can be:

• Touching the nail plate after preparation which transfers oils onto the

surface.

• Exposing the hands and nails to detergents, such as washing up

without gloves, will damage almost all nail extensions and cause

lifting.

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

“Rings of Fire” - what are they and how do I avoid them?

These are the red lines which only show up as the nail grows. Created by

filing into the natural nail as you taper the cuticle edge, they are thinned

areas of natural nail.

These are often caused when a sanding band is used on the cuticle area,

the narrower circumference of a diamond barrel tools makes it easier to

control. So if you regularly have “rings of fire” and use a sanding band,

try switching to a diamond tool for cuticle work.

To avoid these:

• Take great care to prevent filing into the natural nail. Keeping your

handpiece parallel to the work surface and angling the nail helps

this.

• Use very light pressure and only slightly angle the nail to create the

taper to the cuticle.

• If necessary reduce the speed of the tool to allow greater control.

If ‘rings of fire’ appear regularly you must refine your filing technique,

however, these can be caused by the most experienced of nail technicians

on occasion and are not usually painful or permanently damaging to the

growth of the nail.

If you have painful “rings of fire’ that is serious misuse of the electric nail

file and can be a sign of severe damage the nail plate.

What are “Hot Spots”?

Similar to “rings of fire” but on a smaller scale these are simply red marks

where the file has gone into the natural nail because of filing in one area

for too long. Hot Spots are more likely to be created with hand filing as

the files are larger and less precise than an electric file. Correct use of

electric files will almost never result in hot spots.

They are usually not serious. However it is a sign of damage to the nail

plate and something which should be avoided.

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

CUSTOMER CARE

If you have any questions please email us at: [email protected]

For further information, visit: www.riobeauty.com

www.riobeauty.com

PO Box 17, Cheltenham, England GL53 7ET

1-IN-NAEF-GUIDE/1.0