Stumped on which tools you need for a perfect mani and pedi? Keep reading for our top five tools for your tips and toes.
Glass File
Sick of your emery boards wearing down? Invest in a glass file and you'll never be without a nail-shaping tool again! Glass files give a smoother edge than emery or steel-textured boards, and they reduce chipping, peeling, and splitting. The glass file is a good investment because it never wears down (the glass is permanently etched!). However, glass can break, so be careful and don't drop this on the ground.
Cuticle Nipper
For those pesky hangnails, have a pair of nippers on hand. Most people go crazy on their cuticles with this tool, but don't over nip (and see our cuticle care tips for proper trimming protocol)!
Round Cuticle Pusher
For weekly cuticle maintenance, use a round cuticle pusher on the nail bed. Why a round shape instead of a square? The rounded design of the pusher contours to the nail better and takes off excess skin without further scraping or damage to your nail bed.
4-Way Buffer
For a quick mini-mani, a 4-way buffer is your best bet. Each side is designed to file, buff, and polish your nails to perfection within minutes. The bonus? These cost less than $5 at your local beauty supply store.
Orange Sticks/Toothpicks
From cleanup to application, orange sticks are a manicurist's multi-purpose wonder. You can use these to apply glitter or decals, for paint designs, nail water marbling, and to clean up excess polish on the skin. If you don't have orange sticks around, keep at least a handful of toothpicks in your kit for similar results.
Jun 26, 2012
Shelli Z.
Instead of orange sticks/toothpicks, a dual-end detail brush with small dotting tool. The brush side is great for both striping and clean-up and the dotting side does the gems and tattoos and such plus the long metal sheath on that side picks up polish when water marbling with just a quick swipe of acetone to clean up. It saves having to add more crap to the mani kit.
Jun 22, 2011
Crystal B.
I'm pretty new to nail care, so this was super helpful! Now i just need the right polishes. Lol
Jun 18, 2011
Romee H.
I would add on square nail clipper, it's must have tool for basic mani & pedi ^^. And 4-way buffer is not idle to use every week. It will make nail week(after all it's buffing out surface of nail)
Jun 19, 2011
Krystal C.
Jun 18, 2011
Andrea G.
i used to use a glass file because they are so recommended, my nails would peel, chip, rally badly on the same day i did them! so i switched to the classic emery that you can buy like then for a buck or two and now i can go ten days without a mani. i do agree on the rest though! the 4 way buffer is my holy grail product when it comes to nails!! only every 3 weeks though, and very lightly! before you can really see the dust.
love from israel!
Jun 18, 2011
Krystal C.
I used to use the 4-way buffers because everyone else was using them, but I stopped when I realized my nails kept breaking and peeling. Since I stopped using it, my nails have been stronger. So I guess I either used it wrong or my nails just don't like to be buffed.
Jun 18, 2011
Victoria S.
Jun 19, 2011
Krystal C.
Jun 26, 2012
Shelli Z.