Many women enjoy getting their nails done. There are several types of nail services, such as acrylic nails or standard manicures and pedicures. These nail services typically are conducted by nail technicians at beauty or nail salons. Manicurists and pedicurists generally use several common tools and equipment to complete a full manicure or pedicure. The most essential nail technician supplies include nail clippers, cuticle tools, files, buffers and paints.
Nail clippers typically are used at the beginning of a manicure or pedicure. They are essential nail technician supplies because most clients want their nails trimmed significantly. Nail clippers cut the nails cleanly and are found in most over-the-counter manicure or pedicure sets. After the nails are cut down, nail technicians usually work on the cuticles with specific equipment and tools. They include scissor cuticle clippers and cuticle pushers, usually made out of wood.
Manicurists and pedicurists typically have several types of nail files among their nail technician supplies. Technicians typically start out with a coarser grit file, which helps to file down the nail and shape it to the ideal nail shape, such as rounded or square. After attaining the desired size and shape of the nail, the nail technician uses a finer-grit nail file. This type of file works to even out the edges and tips of the nails without changing the size or shape of them.
Some other popular nail technician supplies are different kinds of buffers. Buffers work to create a smooth finish to the top of the nails and the tips of the nails. Sometimes the tips of the nails will feel gritty after filing, and buffers counterbalance that texture. Many buffers are gritty block tools, and others are soft file-like tools. Most manicurists use the gritty block buffers first and then end with the soft buffer.
After the nails have been groomed and prepared, nail technicians usually paint them. Clear base coats to protect the nails from yellow discoloration usually are applied first. The enamel nail polish color is applied next, and a final clear coat polish is last. The clear coat polish might help the nail polish dry quickly, but it also works to seal in the color and prevent chipping or flaking.
After completing nail technician school or cosmetology school and earning their nail technician licenses, many nail technicians go on to specialize in acrylic nails. They typically use nail technician supplies such as electric drill files, which usually have several attachments. Acrylic nails are very hard, so nail technicians need to use electric drill files with coarser nail file bits to cut down the length of the nail and shape it. In fills, when the customer already has acrylic nails, the drill is used to remove the top layers of the original acrylic materials so that the new layer won’t make the nails too thick.
