It’s okay to buff your nails if it’s not too much. You can make your nails so shiny others will mistakenly think you are wearing polish.
It is important to file your nails and buff them for a manicure. If you have artificial nails, buffing will provide traction for glue or polish.
Which nail buffer is best? What grit do you need?
It all depends on the reason you are buffing your nails and their condition.
According to experts, how to polish your nails.
Nail buffers and files look similar, although files tend to be flat while buffers come in blocks. Depending on what you need, either one can be used.
You must remove the shine from your nails before you apply polish, artificial nails, or extensions.
Shaping natural nails is best done using a file. Slide the file from one corner to another in one direction until you achieve your desired shape; do not file back and forth as this can weaken the nail.
To add texture to your nails, try using the gritty side to shape them. Make an X shape with several gentle strokes and work your way around to the other side; do this without over-thinning the nail; using gentle strokes will ensure a smooth finish even if there are still some ridges and rough spots present.
This is all you have to do before applying polish or artificial nails.
To make your nails shine without applying polish, start by wiping away dust with a dry cloth. Next, switch to using the fine grit portion of the buffer for even smoother results. Finish by making some additional unidirectional strokes for even further enhancement.
Next, press the smooth side of the nail against the surface in small circular movements. Your nails should become glossy quickly with a new buffer.
You can also add cuticle oil. Plant oils and vitamins will strengthen the nails.
Your nails will shine for several days after using the buffer’s smooth side, and you can continue to maintain their glossy shine by touching up with it once or more a week.
What kind of nail buffer works best?
Block buffers with various grits are our go-to. However, nail files can also be effective as long as they’re not too abrasive and gritty.
Protect your nails with gentle buffers instead of harsh abrasives. A file with a smaller number will have more granularity and be rougher in texture.
Next, smoothening can be done with 240-grit. But, again, be sure to get rid of any dust before you switch to a more refined texture.
A chamois buffer and buffing cream might be a good option. This gives your nails extra shine and protects them.
Top 14 Best Nail Buffer 2023
1. Soft N’ Style 4-Way Shiny Block
When we talk about “nail buffer,” one might picture a foam block with various textures on each side. This type of buffer is suitable for natural and artificial nails alike; the coarsest side helps shape and file away ridges while the second smoothens and eliminates stains while the fourth shines with high polish.
2. Revlon Beauty Products Shape’ N Buff Nail Buffer
The Revlon nail buffer is an all-inclusive tool. The black side shapes nail tips while the white one smoothes out ridges. But this buffer doesn’t stop there; you’ll notice two additional options – buff and polish. Polishing gives nails shine and removes stains so your fingertips look like you have clear nail polish on. Note that this product is disposable; after some amount of use (e.g., twenty manicures), its performance may deteriorate slightly. We suggest replacing it after about twenty manicures!
3. Set of Teenitor Gel Nail Files
This gel nail buffer is ideal for all types of manicures, as it comes with various nail files that can be washed to avoid bacteria and fungal infections. This kit includes sturdy double-sided files in various textures – one silver 150-grit file is ideal for quickly sanding long nails while another 180-grit silver filing will grind the edges – both marked “Edge.”
Flex files are ideal for nail surfaces. These thicker files come in grit numbers of 200/280, 100/180 and 1000/4000; they can be used to remove bubbles or prepare nails without using polish. This method provides great shine without using any polish!
4. Makartt Fine Nail Buffer Block 10PCS
Do you enjoy shining nails? Or do you wish to polish them daily? This set of ten dual-sided files can provide smoothing and shine to your manicure with one side having 400-grit for buffing, while the other boasting 6000grit for mirror-gloss. While these aren’t ideal for shaping nails, they are great for regularly refreshing the manicure.
5. DR. MODE Professional Manicure Glass Nail Shiner
Glass buffers for nails are durable and washable, meaning they can be used multiple times and remain safe on the nail surface. Furthermore, being recyclable makes them an eco-friendly option as well. Nano glass takes only 30 seconds to polish nails and smooth edges; files with darker colors have a rough texture while those with lighter hues feature fine grit. Glass files often get higher ratings from reviewers due to their speedy performance compared to other emery boards.
6. Onsen Secret Professional Nail Buffer
Japan boasts one of the best nail buffers for ridges. It only has three steps, instead having four sides – two white for polishing nails. This design is especially clever since this side wears first on nail buffers.
The manufacturer suggests that buffing your nails is good for them. It removes any chemicals from the surface and improves circulation. The file also contains minerals from Japanese hot springs that can heal nails.
The effects of this product should last for up to 10 days after you have buffed your nails. Then, finish your manicure with a cuticle conditioner to lock in nutrients and moisture.
7. BTYMS 7 Way Nail File and Buffer blocks
This buffer block is incorrectly described as a “seven-way”. It consists of four 2-sided nail files in various textures, marked and numbered for easy reference. Each step in the process has been color coded for easy identification; there are two types of shaping/refining: coarse and medium; plus options for polishing, conditioning, smoothing and buffing. Note that there are only four files; there should actually be eight textures; instead they duplicated polishing onto two files which wears faster. All files can be washed and reused multiple times without worry for damage or wear and tear due to frequent usage.
8. Tropical Shine Mini 4-Way Nail Buffer Block
This nail buffer block is the go-to basic option. The first side is for filing and shaping, the second for smoothing out surface imperfections, the third for creating glossy shine – plus there’s a cuticle protection edge to prevent hanging nails! Our only criticism was that this block is too big for small nails.
9. Tachibelle 4-Way Super Shine Buffing Block
K-beauty enthusiasts are well-aware of this product from Korea: a buffer block made with salon quality that comes in four sides but requires only three steps for shaping nails. You can shape both sides simultaneously with this innovative design, which allows you to use the maximum grit. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and each fingernail should be completed within 20 seconds!
10. Tweezerman Neoon Hot 4-in-1 File. Smooth & Shine block
This brand produces useful items like this buffer block. Plus, you will receive an additional set of stick-on pads – great for less trash going to landfill! These four pads have file, buff and smooth functions to prolong its life expectancy. Plus, with its neon colors you’ll never lose it in your bag!
11. Keiby Ciom Nail Files & Buffers
Finally, it was discovered that buffing curved nails with rectangular blocks is difficult. So instead, these nail files are ergonomically curved to make polishing faster and more efficient; their shape follows the curves of nails for four options: smoothing, shaping, smoothing and polishing.
12. Malva Belle Best Crystal Glass Nail File
We guarantee you’ve never seen a more beautiful glass nail file. Each file comes in either light pink, pastel green, or lilac colors and can be washed in the dishwasher if necessary. These boards are built to last hundreds of times longer than regular emery boards while offering you a lifetime guarantee and full refund if they don’t perform as promised.
13. Winning Nails Chamois Buffer & Buffing Cream
A set that includes a chamois buffer and the best nail buffer cream is available. The cream can be used to polish nails and soften and push back cuticles. Chamois is a gentle abrasive that gives your nails a high shine. The handle allows for easy access.
14. Fancii Professional Electric Complete Portable nail Drill System
What about the best electric nail buffers? This buffer comes with a UV lamp to cure polish and five attachments which trim calluses or cuticles, plus it can double as an electric nail file and drill. All these tools have standard sizes and feature rotary tip tips with coarse grind for shaping nails or smoothening edges, plus a felt pad to polish away any shine on nails. Cordless and run on three AAA batteries, making it great for traveling; plus its warranty lasts 18 months!
Conclusion
Many people believe the best nail buffer you use is the one you have on hand. To ensure your tools have all essential textures, include dual-sided files and buffer blocks, chamois buffers, electric nail files and four-sided blocks for basic home manicures. Buffing your nails regularly will make them easier to maintain and polish so there won’t be any ridges or stains to contend with. If you want perfect and healthy looking nails every time, regularly buffing is key!
