Prepping Your Natural Nails with an Electric Nail File

Step by Step

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  1. Push back your cuticles

  Once your nails are completely clean and dry, gently push back your cuticles using our Cuticle Pusher. This exposes the entire nail plate. By pushing back the cuticle, you give yourself more of the nail plate to work with, making it possible to apply the product to a larger area of the nail. It is important to hold the cuticle pusher parallel to the nail rather than pressing down into the nail. Let the cuticle pusher glide along the nail near the cuticle. The closer to the top of the handle you hold the cuticle pusher, the less pressure you apply to the nail plate.

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  2. Remove dead skin around the nail

  Now we get to the fun part – using our electric nail file.

  Although our Electric Nail File can make your prep work much easier, it is important to start slowly and gently. Take your time to learn how to use it properly. If you are new to the tool, you should start at level 1 and never hold the file still on the nail or apply pressure to the nail plate. Take your time in the beginning, so you don’t risk damaging your beautiful nails.

  Now you might be asking yourself: Which bit should I use? It’s difficult to say which bit is best, as it depends on your skill level. When preparing your natural nails, it is important that you only use a Diamond Bit or a Sanding Band, and never a Ceramic Bit on your natural nails. Our Diamond Bits are ideal for getting close to the cuticles and removing dead skin cells from the skin around the nails.

  When preparing your nails, the speed of the electric nail file should be set between 2–5 RPM (Revolutions Per Minute). It’s better to go a little too slowly than too fast. Start slowly, so you can learn the technique.

  Once you have pushed back the cuticles, we recommend using a Diamond Bit – Spear Medium, Fine to remove excess cuticle tissue and dead skin around the nail. Move the electric nail file gently along the edge of the nail, always working in the same direction. This helps lift the cuticle slightly from the nail plate, making it easier to remove dead skin around the cuticle area.

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  3. Remove excess cuticle

  Once you have lifted the cuticle away from the nail plate, you can use a cuticle nipper to remove any excess cuticle. Be careful when trimming away the excess cuticle, making sure you only remove the dry, dead skin. It is important to pay close attention so you do not accidentally cut the skin around the nail.

  So how can you tell if the skin is dead? There are a few small signs you can look for, such as whether the skin is hard and rough, whether there are dry flakes, whether the skin is lighter in colour, or whether there are splits and cracks in the skin.

  However, as a rule of thumb, if you are unsure whether the skin is dead, do not cut it. It is better to leave a little too much behind than to cut living skin. Not only can it be painful, but it can also make it more difficult to do your nails. If it starts to bleed, the blood may mix with your products, so in most cases you will need to wait until the bleeding has stopped before continuing with your nails.

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  4. Remove dead skin from the nail plate

  Once you have removed the dead skin cells around the nail, you also need to remove any dead skin cells sitting on the nail plate along the cuticle area.

  You can spot dead skin cells on the nail plate if you see matte or chalky-looking areas, or if you feel resistance when using the cuticle pusher. It is important to remove these dead skin cells – also known as the invisible cuticle – because over time, they lift from the nail plate. If you apply product on top of dead skin cells, the product will lift as the dead skin cells lift.

  So if you do not remove the invisible cuticle, you will experience what is known as lifting. This is when the product lifts from the nail plate, creating an air pocket between the product and the nail plate.

  Pushing back your cuticles and removing dead skin cells helps your manicure last longer and delays visible grow-out.

  We recommend starting with a Diamond Bit – Cone-Shaped Medium to remove the invisible cuticle at the base of the nail plate, near the cuticle. Do this by guiding our Electric Nail File around the cuticle area. Afterwards, remove the dead skin along the sidewalls of the nail.

  For prep, all of our Diamond Bits can be used. It simply depends on what you prefer, which bits best suit your needs, and how experienced you are.

  Be careful when filing directly on the natural nail, so you do not cause nail damage.

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  5. Buff the nail surface

  Once you have removed the cuticle and any invisible cuticle, buff the nail. You can use a 240-grit Sanding Band to create a matte finish, or alternatively, you can use our buffer. Avoid using too much force or applying too much pressure to the surface of the nail when filing. Instead, work with a light touch and gently guide the nail file over the nail plate. The goal is to make the surface of the nail matte, so the product you apply later has something to adhere to.

  You can also file your natural nail into shape if you wish.

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  6. Wipe with Cleanser

  When you buff and file the nail, a small amount of nail dust will naturally settle on the surface of the nail. That’s why it’s important to clean the nail with our Cleanser and a Lint-Free Pad. Dampen your Lint-Free Pad with Cleanser and wipe it across the nail plate. It’s important to clean thoroughly around the cuticle area. It can be difficult to get right down to the cuticle with a Lint-Free Pad, so we recommend using our Micro Brushes dipped in Cleanser, as they make it easier to clean close to the cuticle.

  It’s important to remove all dust, dirt, and other residue from the nails. Even the smallest speck of dust can get caught in the products you apply and affect the appearance and longevity of the product. So make sure the nails are completely clean.

  Once the nails have been cleaned with Cleanser, it’s important not to touch them, as this can cause oils or dirt to collect on the nails again.

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  7. Apply PH Bond and Primer

  For the best results, complete your prep by applying a thin layer of PH-Bond and Primer. It's important to let both products air-dry for 60 seconds. You can also use PH-Bond and Primer separately, but for the longest-lasting result, it's best to use both. PH-Bond temporarily dehydrates the nail plate and removes excess oil, while Primer leaves a bonding layer that ensures the Base Coat can adhere more easily to the natural nail.

  Once this is done, your nails are ready for product application!

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