Hardware manicure today completely replaces edged manicure, and some girls, appreciating its safety and accuracy, generally refuse the classic wet manicure. The modern method of removing cuticles with a milling cutter quickly makes your hands well-groomed; when using it, there is no risk of infection.

The high speed of the procedure and ease of use of the device were appreciated by many professionals, both in expensive salons and specialists who receive clients at home. In order for the nails to acquire a beautiful shape and to ideally remove cuticles, special attachments are used - cutters, which come in a set, but they are often not enough, since each of them is responsible for a specific job. But how to use and how effective this tool is, the information at the link will help you understand.

What is a cutter for hardware manicure?

Using special attachments you can quickly remove dead cells

Such a cutter is not a cutting tool; it has no sharp edges, there are only small abrasive materials that act on the skin during rotational movements of the nozzle. Due to this, this method of manicure is often in demand among girls with thin skin and blood vessels located close to the nail plate.

There are quite a lot of cutters and they are selected for each individual operation, some of them are included when purchasing the device, and the missing units must be purchased in addition. To understand their diversity, we’ll tell you what the difference is between them.

The main difference between all cutters is the material of manufacture and the shape of the nozzle; they also differ in size and rigidity.

But you can see how to remove cuticles using a machine and how effective this procedure is

Some companies use certain designations or color differences to facilitate the choice of hardness. So, the harder the cutter, the darker its color. Some manufacturers have special designations, for example, two black stripes - the hardest nozzle. The yellow and blue colors of the cutters indicate that they are soft.

The video shows what a cutter is and how it is used:

Due to such a variety of cutters, they are often used not only to remove cuticles, but also to treat rough skin and get rid of ingrown nails.

The nozzles differ in the material they are made of and can be:

• Diamond. They are used to remove rough skin and treat the edges of the nail. They are spherical, needle-shaped and cone-shaped, and have a very small diameter. They can eliminate the side ridges on the fingers. Large diameter diamond cutters are used to remove corns, calluses and other defects not only on the hands, but also on the feet. But what is the name of the cuticle remover liquid and how to use it is indicated in great detail

  

  A great option that can be used even on your feet

• Ceramic. They are ideal for beginners. The material, unlike diamond, is softer and more pliable, but because of this it wears out faster. Ceramic tips are made from corundum, a material whose peculiarity lies in its ability to quickly recover. The attachments are suitable for removing side ridges, cracks and corns on the feet, and treating the edges of nail plates. They differ in grain size, the hardest ones are called “artificial penza” and are used only for heels. But you can see which cuticle nippers are the most effective and how to use them.

  

  Worth using for work on the side areas of the skin

• Silicone. They come in soft, medium and coarse abrasiveness. They are mainly used for polishing the nail plate itself, as well as its acrylic coating. Such attachments are made from silicone carbide or pure silicone. But what are the best baths for softening the cuticle and how to carry out such procedures?

  

  Can be used on the nail plate itself

• Silicon carbide. They are also called sand caps. They are often used to treat feet; after one such treatment they must be disposed of, as they are considered disposable. They are produced in different diameters and hardness; such attachments are selected taking into account the hardness of the area being treated.

  

  Due to its shape, it can be used over several procedures

How to use cutters?

You can remove the cuticle or polish it while simultaneously eliminating the side ridges by alternately using different cutters.

The process of hardware manicure consists of the following stages:

• A diamond cutter is used as a nozzle, its variety is selected in the form of a cylinder with a sharp edge. With its help, the cuticle moves back or lifts. Then, at medium speed, the keratinized layer of the cuticle is cleaned off, and proceed to processing the side rollers. Only in this case the work is carried out at minimum speed. The cutter is installed strictly parallel to the nail plate.
• A narrow cylindrical nozzle with fine abrasive particles is installed on the device. It is used to remove the pterygium, the layer of skin that lies just below the cuticle. Then the treated nails are cleaned of small particles with a brush. The nail is processed parallel to it, and the nozzle is also held.
• A corundum attachment is installed, which is already used for the nail plate, and the edge of the nail is processed with it.
• Using a soft sanding attachment, all irregularities and roughness are eliminated.

But this information will help you understand how to properly remove cuticles at home and what products should be used first.

The video shows how to use it correctly for the best results:

In order for a hardware manicure to go properly, you must adhere to the following nuances:

• in order not to burn the skin, you cannot treat one place for more than 5 seconds;
• work is carried out at speeds that should not exceed 20 thousand revolutions;
• the cutter must process all areas without applying pressure, otherwise the skin may be injured;
• For each individual zone on the finger you need to select your own cutter.

But how to properly trim the cuticle with nippers and how safe and effective it is is described in detail

Cutters for hardware manicure, provided that they are of excellent quality, allow you to process nails as safely, painlessly, and quickly as possible. A good result can be achieved if your hands are treated by a professional craftsman, however, if manicure cutters are used strictly according to the instructions, you can avoid additional expenses and make your hands attractive at home.

Features of hand care

Note! Hardware manicure today is chosen by many representatives of the fair sex, since with its help the nail plate and the skin around it are treated at the highest level. For this, an electrical device is used - a milling cutter with rotating attachments on it.

The technology does not use tools such as:

• scissors;
• wire cutters;
• trimmer.

To correctly perform the procedure, you need to follow not only step-by-step adherence to the technology, but also take into account a number of important features:

Hardware manicure

• The cuticle cutter and rollers in the nail bed are an excellent replacement for removers and classic tweezers.
• Another special attachment is used for grinding.
• There is no need for preliminary preparation in the form of steaming the skin and soaking in water.

This procedure is completely atraumatic and allows for the most competent grinding and correction. That is why it is used in the treatment of extended nails and is recommended for those who have brittle nail plates.

About cutters

Note! Before you take a specific attachment, you need to read its description, since each cutter has a specific purpose.

They have specific relief surfaces, characterized by points of contact with the surface being processed. This is why, for example, a flame cutter for manicure cannot be replaced with a mushroom cutter.

What types of manicure cutters are there and what are they for? Of course, they all act as delicately as possible, removing:

• overgrown roller in the cuticle area;
• dead cells of the upper layer of the plate and skin;
• side burrs.

Note! Healthy skin remains intact, so bleeding and pain are excluded, which means that the skin will remain smooth and attractive, and correction will have to be done much less frequently. However, not everyone is allowed to remove dead skin using this type of treatment.

• the presence of a dense cuticle;
• hard side bolster.

The cutter will not be able to ensure proper removal of growths and dead tissue.

Varieties

What else should you pay attention to when choosing cutters? They are classified according to the material from which they are made:

• Corundum. They are made on the basis of ceramic chips and are somewhat similar to acrylic nozzles. They have no sharp corners or edges, and the structure itself is of medium rigidity. Area of ​​application: removing sensitive skin without leaving scratches. Their peculiarity is that the fabric will not peel off when in contact with corundum material. The average service life is about 2 months.
• The diamond cutter contains diamond dust in its composition, which increases its versatility. The hardness of the nozzle can be medium or high. The latter are used where you need to be extremely careful so as not to touch the subcutaneous vessels. Such cutters are needed to create a design, correction and extension of an acrylic nail plate. The average service life is 3-4 months.
• Ceramic. It is suitable for delicate processing. In production, corundum chips are used, which eliminates the occurrence of damage to the skin during processing. The special feature of the cutter is the presence of a self-healing effect, as well as hypoallergenicity and an increased level of safety. They are used to treat pterygium and cuticle. It is permissible to work with such a cutter for 2 months, after which they lose their suitability.
• Carbide cutters are too traumatic, so they are more suitable for processing acrylic nail extensions in order to give them shape, make corrections, or make special depressions for laying rhinestones. Use on natural nails is strictly prohibited, but masters sometimes use it to remove ingrown nails, corns and similar growths. The service life of a carbide cutter is about 4 months.
• There is also a type of pomegranate cutter, which is created using pomegranate crumbs. These are new generation attachments, with their help you can perform treatment in which the occurrence of damage to the skin is completely excluded. It is advisable to work with such a cutter with the thinnest cuticle. In addition, it is suitable for beginning craftsmen to improve their skills. Service life is about 3 months.
• The silicon carbide cutter is made on the basis of rough material, but at the same time it can be gentle on the skin. Can be used on rough skin to remove calloused areas. Service life is about 6 months.
• Silicone cutter is a mixture of silicone and abrasive particles. Most often it is used when working with extended nails. As for the natural nail plate, a silicone cutter allows you to remove the glossy layer, which is important before extensions. Such tools last about 4 months.
• The highest quality alloy is also used in the production of cutters. They are very convenient to use, and most importantly, they are used when working with weakened nail plates to eliminate calluses, corns, and also when correcting extended nails. They are used on average for about six months.

What cutters should beginners use?

Despite the fact that there are a huge number of attachments, it is impossible to perform a manicure without using basic cutters.

Cone-shaped nozzle

Namely:

• A cone-shaped nozzle, more reminiscent of corn, allows you to remove ingrown nails and cuticles and at the same time do it as carefully as possible.
• A barrel cutter is needed to process the side of the fingers and nails. It is used to clean areas that are very difficult to reach, in particular the nail bed.
• To file down nails, making them the same length and a certain shape with an original design, you should use a cylindrical cutter. It is best suited for manicure, as it can be used to remove gel from the surface of the plate.
• Ball-shaped nozzles allow you to carefully and atraumatically remove callous formations.
• Using a polishing attachment, grinding is carried out, which is important for improving the adhesion of the gel coating to the nail.

Which cutter will be the safest, and which ones can be used by novice craftsmen?

Note! It is worth paying attention to the classification according to the degree of rigidity, which is color coded.

Thanks to the specific color scheme used by manufacturers, it will be much easier to choose the necessary cutter:

• Highly abrasive nozzles in black and blue. They are designed to remove thick and rough skin, such as removing calluses and shortening thick nails.
• Green and red/pink are a medium level of abrasiveness used to treat the roller on the sides of the nail and cuticle.
• Yellow is a cutter with a low degree of abrasiveness, suitable for sensitive skin near which blood vessels are located. These attachments are used to correct thin and brittle nails.

To ensure that the router attachments last as long as possible, you should pay attention to the rules for caring for them:

• During processing, it is strictly forbidden to put too much pressure on the nozzles; this may cause the head to bend at the base of the handle. Thus, over time, the cutter will simply become unusable.
• Nozzles must be changed strictly in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions included with the router.
• Sterilization must be carried out, after which each nozzle is placed in a case that prevents contact with moisture, water and dust. It should be stored in a place where mechanical damage is prevented.
• The router should be cleaned regularly at a specialized service center.

Milling cutter shapes

In the assortment of cutters, there is a difference in several categories, in particular in shape:

• The ball-shaped nozzle is used to delicately remove excess skin, and you can remove rough skin as carefully as possible in the most inaccessible place (in the area of ​​the nail bed).
• A cylindrical cutter is needed to correct the shape of the nail, and due to the narrowed body, you can quickly make nails of the same length and shape.
• A fissure cutter is indispensable when processing side rollers. Its main feature is that it is able to adapt to the relief of the skin, which eliminates peeling, irritation and the formation of microcracks after the master’s work.
• A manicure needle cutter is used to work with cuticles and is needed to perform processing with increased precision, even if you need to work on small details, for example, lifting the cuticle on nails that are highly brittle.

Such tools can be selected according to the purpose of use:

Milling cutter shapes

• Reverse cone. It processes the free edge of the nail, thereby eliminating the occurrence of unevenness and curved edges without changes in height.
• Ball-shaped burs are used to treat the skin around the nail plate. Due to this original shape, rough skin is gradually trimmed without affecting the nail plate, which is especially important when removing growths and cracks.
• The cylindrical nozzle can have narrow and wide shapes. They are used to remove varnishes and correct the design of the nail plate. However, they are considered more convenient for shortening the length on the free edge.
• Drum. It is used to remove callused and rough skin, trim thick nails and use them for extensions.
• The rounded cone is a polishing attachment. It can be soft, medium and rough in terms of hardness. The instrument is made from plastic, sometimes silicone, and is covered with a polymer film. The area of ​​application is to remove roughness from the nail and give it shine.

How to choose ceramic cutters for hardware manicure? Milling cutters come in various applications and have a variety of notches, but it is worth taking the advice of experts to help you choose the right tool:

Ceramic cutter

• The diameter of the nozzle directly depends on the power of the router.
• If the product has only a 1-year warranty, then most likely it will last exactly that long, and most often such attachments are inexpensive.
• The rod may have a stripe of red, green and black, which indicates the type of notch. It can be medium and large, as well as very large.

Important! To choose a high-quality cutter, you need to pay attention not only to the classification of nail treatment products, but also to the features of the system by which such products are labeled.

The number contains about 15 characters, and from them you can find out all the characteristics of the instrument, for example:

• material used for manufacturing;
• connecting element used to install the tip on the tail of the router;
• head length;
• the shape of the working part, it can be in the form of a mushroom, bullet or ball;
• abrasiveness class, exactly the same as sandpaper;
• the type of teeth cutting;
• diameter in the working part.

What cutters are needed for hardware manicure for beginners? In order to understand as precisely as possible what this procedure is and what the cutters are needed for, it is advisable to attend a master class, where they can clearly show all the features of such a process, and also do not forget about recommendations from specialists.

Thus, after studying the classification and advice from experts, you can choose a high-quality cutter for a long service life!

With the help of hardware manicure, you can make your nails perfectly straight and your hands well-groomed and neat. Painlessness, no risk of infection or damage to thin skin, as well as convenience and high speed of operation have ensured that the devices are widely used. They are used both in salons and at home. In order for a hardware manicure to be truly flawless, and for your nails to acquire and retain their chosen shape for a long time, you need to choose the right attachments for the device. Each of the cutters performs its own functions. The attachments that come with the device are often not enough, so you have to supplement them with separately purchased ones.

Types of attachments required for hardware manicure

The attachments for the apparatus used for manicure vary not only in abrasiveness. They have different tip diameters and rotation speed limits and are designed to perform a variety of operations.

Each nozzle has its own purpose

Modern manufacturers of manicure machines offer many different attachments. They can be divided into three large groups, depending on their main purpose:

• filing and shaping nails;
• polishing the cut and surface of the nail plate;
• final polishing and shine.

In addition, there is a narrower division of nozzles according to other criteria.

Manicure cutters - video

Selecting cutter material

Depending on what material they are made of, attachments for hardware manicure are:

• diamond (from natural or artificial stone);
• ceramic (baked);
• combined (silicon-carbide);
• metal (steel, hard alloys).

Diamond

Diamond cutters are designed for:

• treatment of sensitive skin and thin nails;
• removal of thin cuticle.

Diamond spraying allows you to make the surface of the skin and nail plate more even. Small-diameter attachments help polish the nail ridge, while larger ones can remove calluses.

Diamond bits according to the manufacturing method are divided into:

• sintered (diamond dust is mixed with glue and heat treated at high temperature);
• deposited (stone chips are glued to the base blank during electrolysis).

The frequency of replacing diamond bits is every 3–4 months.

The degree of hardness of a diamond cutter can be determined by the number of side notches and their shade. A black mark indicates high hardness, a blue mark indicates medium, etc.

Hardware manicure with diamond cutters - video

Ceramic cutters

Ceramic cutters can be included either in a professional machine set or in a mini-set for home use. The rigidity of ceramic tips is less than that of diamond ones. They are used to process the most difficult areas:

• removal of calluses, rough, keratinized skin;
• grinding down hard, dense nails;
• cuticle processing.

You can determine the grain size of a ceramic cutter by its color:

• white - up to 200 microns;
• blue or pink - up to 100 microns;
• black (“artificial pumice”) – up to 400 microns.

Ceramic cutters - video

Combined

Combined attachments for manicure apparatus (“sand caps”) are a godsend for beginners. The combination of silicon and carbide is attractive due to its low cost and ease of use. You can find such cutters in any specialized store.

Professionals consider silicon carbide caps to be disposable because they are enough for 1 manicure procedure. After use in the salon, such cutters are disposed of.

The roughness of the caps is determined in special units. They are selected depending on the operation:

• removing the main layer of the nail plate (grinding) – up to 80 units;
• grinding - up to 150 units;
• final polishing - up to 320 units.

Metal

Metal cutters can be made of high-quality alloy (medical) steel or hard alloys. With these attachments you can:

• remove keratinized areas on the nail fold;
• treat the cuticle.

A carbide cutter made of tungsten and carbide is almost never used for natural nails, since there is a risk of harming the nail plate. But it will be useful for adjusting the length of artificial nails (acrylic).

Metal cutters differ from all other categories in their working method: they do not file, but cut off a thin layer of the nail or skin. The result is not dust, but small chips.

Metal cutters have notches, which can be:

• straight;
• oblique;
• cruciform.

Direct notching is considered the toughest to work with. The cross-shaped notch is hammered much slower than the others, therefore it is considered the most durable. Reversible attachments that can rotate in both directions will be useful for left-handers.

Metal and diamond tips are classified as universal. With their help you can do many operations. They are equally suitable for sanding skin and filing nails.

Metal cutters for manicure and pedicure - video

Types and shapes of cutters

The purpose of manicure attachments can be easily determined by their shape. They are:

• trapezoidal;
• spherical (burs);
• cylindrical;
• "drums";
• cone-shaped rounded (polishing).

During the polishing process, silicone attachments can heat the nail plate; To avoid discomfort, do not polish your nail in one place for a long time

Silicone tips, unlike metal and diamond ones, do not clog. When the top layer of abrasive wears off, the bottom layer appears on the surface, etc. Therefore, they work with such cutters until they are completely abraded.

Silicone cutters are convenient for mastering the use of a manicure machine. This makes it easier to get used to working with the handle, as well as determine the duration of treatment for each nail.

Criteria for selecting nozzles

For a successful manicure, you need to select only high-quality attachments for the device. Some of them are quite expensive, but they are reliable, safe and will last a long time.

An important feature of a good cutter is the absence of severe overheating. During intensive work at high speed, the temperature of the nozzle increases, but only slightly. As a result, the nails will be protected from negative thermal effects.

The minimum kit for home hardware manicure includes several different cutters. The kit could be like this:

• medium-diameter bur - will help remove dead skin that has grown around the nail plate;
• rough cylinder - will give the nails the required shape (oval, rectangular);
• fissure (pointed) nozzle - used for grinding nail ridges, as well as in pedicure;
• needle-shaped cutter - used to remove cuticles in hard-to-reach places (on the sides of the nail).

Disposable sand caps or felt cutters are useful as auxiliary attachments.

Each nozzle consists of a shank and a working tip with abrasive. The length of the shank must match the size of the clamp on the handle of the device. The nozzle must be inserted all the way and held firmly in the socket. The diameter of the shank is standard and is 2.35 mm. The slightest deviations from this figure will increase the vibration of the device handle, creating inconvenience during operation.

Selecting attachments for hardware manicure according to shape is very simple:

• drop-shaped, conical and cylindrical have a large lateral surface area; they will help cut the cuticle and polish the nail ridges;
• disc and cylindrical with coarse abrasive adjust the length and shape of the cut of the nail plate;
• conical rounded ones are designed for polishing the surface of the nail;
• soft cutters made from artificial or natural materials are necessary for polishing.

Rules for cleaning and sterilizing manicure attachments

To make a manicure safe, to avoid the formation of abscesses and infection, instruments and attachments for the manicure apparatus must be sterilized before and after each procedure.

Before disinfection, the surface of the nozzles is cleaned of dirt and grease deposits. The easiest way is to rinse the cutters under running water and then wipe with a cotton swab dipped in nail degreaser.

To clean ceramic and carbide attachments from dust after completing a manicure, use special brass brushes.

Heat treatment will help remove harmful microorganisms from the surface of tools. Only high-quality nozzles without plastic holders can withstand it. For this:

1. Place the nozzles in hot water and boil them for 15–20 minutes.
2. Then remove the cutters from the water with tweezers, place them on a disposable paper or clean terry towel, and leave until completely dry and cool.
3. Place in a case or hermetically sealed bag.

Metal attachments can be disinfected at home using the oven. It is heated to the maximum permissible temperature, and then placed on a cutter tray. The nozzles must not touch each other. The instruments are kept in a closed “oven” for 15–20 minutes, then carefully taken out and allowed to cool. After this, you can pack the attachments in a case.

Preparation of solution for sterilization

If the attachments are used individually, for the same person, you can sterilize them with different solutions. To prepare the solution at home you will need:

• 30 g potassium permanganate;
• 100 ml 70% medical alcohol;
• 10 g of borax or boric acid salt.

Alcohol is poured into a small glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid, then borax or boric acid salt is added there. Mix thoroughly (not to be confused with shaking!) until the liquid becomes cloudy. After this, potassium permanganate is added.

The prepared solution is poured into a container, and then nozzles are placed in it and placed in a steam bath.

Ready-made preparations (Cutasept F, Octenisect, Sterillium, Korzollex Plus) are also suitable for sterilization.

Video: rules for cleaning cutters

For each stage of the manicure procedure, there are certain types and types of attachments. You won’t be able to shorten the nail and cut the cuticle with the same cutter. The abrasive material applied to the surface of the nozzles wears off over time. And even proper care and regular cleaning of tools cannot prevent their wear. Therefore, from time to time, the cutters must be carefully inspected and, if necessary, replaced with new ones.

Since the replacement of cutters occurs during operation, when the handle stops rotating, professionals recommend choosing models of manicure machines with a comfortable clamp - fully or semi-automatic. This will allow you to quickly remove the unnecessary attachment and securely attach the new cutter to the handle socket.

Service life of cutters made of various materials

The service life of cutters will depend on what material they are made of:

• cutters made of steel and alloys are considered the most durable. Their service life is more than 5 years, depending on the frequency of use and quality of the material;
• Diamond or sapphire coating also wears off quite slowly, but requires regular cleaning. If used daily, such cutters are enough for 2–3 years of work;
• Ceramic attachments are designed for 30–45 days of use. But the service life of silicone and rubber cutters, as well as polishers, is much longer;
• disposable “emery” and “sand” caps are the most short-lived, their service life is limited to one manicure procedure.

Options for cutter change systems

On professional machines, the attachments are replaced by turning the head. On devices for home use, a key can be installed with which the cutters can be changed.

The cutter change system can be:

• self-fixing;
• with locking button;
• with half-turn clamp.

The easiest to use is the self-locking system. Often it is installed on handles that are not intended for professional use.

Easy to use and locking button system. To insert the nozzle, you need to press the button and turn the cartridge clockwise until a characteristic click occurs. After this, without releasing the button, make several turns counterclockwise. Now insert the nozzle into the chuck and screw it in until it stops. Release the button and the router is ready to go.

Handles for professional use are equipped with a half-turn clamping system. To insert the attachment, twist the middle part of the handle until it clicks. After this, turn the handle in the opposite direction.

Video: how to insert a cutter into a manicure machine

One of the types of attachments for manicure apparatus are cutters, which are used in hardware manicure to process the cuticle, remove dead skin areas, correct nails, treat the surface of the nail, to give it shape, to polish and polish nails. Milling cutters for designed for processing both natural and artificial nails.

Working with cutters significantly reduces processing time, especially for hard artificial materials, increases the quality of processing, and sometimes only the use of a cutter can provide a certain technological stage.

What kind of cutters for hardware manicure are there and why?

There are many types of cutters. Made from various materials, they vary in shape and size, hardness, degree of abrasiveness, each performing its own function.

So, let's figure out what cutters are needed for hardware manicure.

1. Milling cutters made of silicon and carbide needed for removing rough skin, good for pedicure. Despite the material from which they are made, they gently treat the skin and help remove calluses. Used once, then discarded.

silicon carbide cutters

2. Ceramic cutters used for gentle treatment of skin and nails. Suitable for shaping nails, treating side ridges and cuticles. The most common are corundum cutters, which allow you to process the skin without causing allergies or peeling of the skin. They come in different shapes and have different degrees of grain. Ideal for the novice craftsman.

ceramic cutters

3. Diamond cutters mainly used by professionals. They file away the free edge of the nail and rough areas of the skin. There is a wide variety of shapes and sizes of these cutters for hardware manicure. Due to the fact that they can be used to accurately and accurately process the surface of the nail, they are widely used in hardware nail correction.

4. Polishing cutters Designed for grinding and polishing both natural and artificial nails. There are silicone, cotton, felt, suede, etc. Various in shape, polishing cutters also vary in hardness. Silicone cutters are used to polish artificial nails, but cotton and felt cutters are mainly used for polishing natural nails.

What shapes of cutters are there?

The most common forms of cutters for manicure devices are:

Cone nozzle. Used to treat the area between the skin fold and the nail plate.

Frustum. Designed for processing the free edge of an artificial nail and giving shape.


The nozzle is conical and round. Used to treat rough skin on the feet.

Cylindrical. Universal nozzle for working with skin and nails.

Ball nozzle. Designed for treating hard-to-reach areas of the nail plate, as well as for drilling calluses.

Reverse cone. Allows you to treat the free edge of the nail and calluses.

Where to buy cutters for hardware manicure?

They are sold in the same stores where the devices themselves are sold. You can also find it in online beauty stores. In addition, you can buy cutters for hardware manicure and pedicure on Chinese websites, for example, on Aliexpress. You can save a lot of money here. But before buying, be sure to read the reviews about the seller.

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Attachments for hardware manicure. Types and functions of cutters

Hardware manicure is still the prerogative of masters. The reason is simple: such machines are not cheap, and not even every master is ready to afford this tool. Although, with a large flow of clients, you can’t do without a device: it will save time and effort, and protect the technician’s hands from wear and tear. Another important factor is that a hardware manicure gives a more long-term result, and (rather than soaking) it allows you to protect the nail from contact with aggressive chemicals.

There are two disadvantages to hardware manicure:

1. Price. But progress does not stand still: manufacturers are finding simpler and cheaper solutions, models are being produced for home use, and you can also purchase a used version. And the best way to save: pay only for what you need. This will help you understand the characteristics of manicure machines.

2. Fear of injuring yourself or the client is the second disadvantage that stops many, especially when it comes to home use. Of course, the master must undergo training, gain experience, see various customer problems, i.e. understand the full range of tasks. But if you want to do manicures only for yourself and family members, then it’s enough to figure out what tasks you will need to solve.

The article contains the basic properties and functions of nozzles and the rules for their use.

Material

• Diamond - spraying diamond powder onto a metal pin (cuticle treatment in manicure and pedicure; polishing the skin and nail plate)
• Corundum - “stones” are sintered in ovens from powder (processing cuticles in manicure and pedicure; polishing the skin and nail plate)
• Ceramic (for removing artificial coatings: gel, acrylic, gel polish; treatment of surface cracks in pedicure)
• Steel (for removing artificial coverings: gel, acrylic, gel polish; correction and treatment of thickened nail plates in pedicure; thinning of keratotic nails; treatment of keratinization, calluses, hyperkeratosis of the skin of the feet)
• Sand (skin polishing; polishing the nail plate in manicure and pedicure)
• Silicone (polishing the nail plate or skin; also used for rubbing oil or wax into nails)
• Brushes (cleansing dust and other contaminants from the nail plate and skin)

The material determines the price of the nozzle and the quality of its work. So, a ceramic cutter will last longer than a steel cutter, will not get hot, and during the work process it clogs much less, but its price is higher. Sand caps save time on processing, because are disposable, but you need to use a new one every time, which means you will buy them more often.

Treatment

0. As already stated, sand caps are disposable and are not reprocessed.

1. Preliminary cleaning step - - should be performed immediately after use. It also applies to new, never used attachments that are supplied non-sterile. The treatment time in an ultrasonic bath is 5 minutes. (for a 2% solution), when soaking - 60 minutes. (1% solution)/ 30 min. (2% solution)/ 15 min. (3% solution). Next, the instrument is washed under running water and cleaned of dried residues.

2. Drying the nozzle and visual inspection. At this stage, the nozzles are checked for defects and the quality of the cleaning performed.

3. Sterilization (heat treatment in dry heat) is only suitable for diamond, corundum and steel cutters.

Abrasiveness

Nozzles vary in degree of softness. Diamond, steel and ceramic cutters are marked with a ring of a certain color; for sand caps, the grit is indicated:

• Extra soft (yellow)
• Soft (red, 240 grit)
• Medium (blue or unmarked, 150-180 grit)
• Hard (green, 80-120 grit)
• Extra hard (black)

For manicure, extra soft to medium attachments are usually used, and for pedicure, cutters from medium to extra hard are suitable. The rougher the task, the harsher the abrasive. So, if you work using the “combi” technique, that is, cutting the cuticle, then all you have to do is sand it with a soft ball, and a medium-hard ball will allow you to cut off the open cuticle. But of course, you need to understand what kind of leather you are working with - very thin leather should be processed with a softer cutter.

Classification of nozzles by shape

Depending on the shape of the edge of the nozzle, the following can be distinguished: , . Rounded ones are considered safer and are preferred by novice craftsmen. Sharp ones, on the contrary, are the most traumatic, but with the proper skill they will allow you to do the job as cleanly as possible.

Depending on the shape of the side surface, nozzles are divided into the following types: Needle, Cone, Cylinder, Flame, Ball. The working surface of the nozzle should be tangential to the nail, so the cones and cylinders are laid on the nail (run parallel), but the flame goes at an angle. Deviation from this requirement inevitably leads to cutting the nail.

By combining the shape of the edge and side surface, various cutter options are obtained.

The structure of the nail. Anatomical features

1. Free edge of the nail

2. Hyponychium (the area of ​​the dermis under the nail)

3. Nail plate

4. Lunula (outer/visible part of the matrix)

5. Cuticle

6. Nail fold/lateral folds are located on the sides

Before you do anything, it is important to clearly understand what exactly you are going to do. The main problems arise when processing the cuticle (point 5). It needs to be opened, the sinus under the nail fold should be cleared of pterygium, and the cuticle should be removed.

It is in the area of ​​the nail fold (item 6) that a “cut” is most often made due to an incorrectly selected cutter. Some masters say that this space is always treated with flame, someone teaches that only a truncated cone can complete the task, someone works with a needle.

But it is important to understand that if there was a universal method, other types of attachments would simply lose their relevance. In reality, you should select an attachment based on the structure of the nail. You must understand what kind of space you have under the nail fold so that you can correctly clean this area of ​​pterygium without damaging the growing part of the nail and the skin. And only based on this, choose the shape of the nozzle!

Correlation of tasks in hardware manicure and pedicure with the shape of the nozzle

1. Treatment of the periungual sinuses: Needle, Cone (M*), Reverse cone, Rounded cylinder (for men’s manicure), Flame
2. Treatment of the side roller in manicure (M) and pedicure (B): Needle, Cone, Rounded cone, Reverse cone, Truncated cone, Rounded cylinder, Pointed cylinder, Flame
3. Side roller opening: Ball (micro)
4. Pterygium removal (M): Needle, Rounded cone, Truncated cone, Flame
5. Lifting non-adjacent cuticle: Flame, Truncated Cone (M)
6. Cuticle removal: truncated cone, ball
7. Treatment of small areas of rough skin: Reverse cone
8. Polishing the nail plate: Rounded cone, Rounded cylinder
9. Correction of the length of a natural nail (B): Reverse cone, Straight cylinder
10. Grinding of keratinizations and calluses: Cone, truncated cone, rounded cone, straight cylinder, ball - small ones allow you to treat the surface without touching sensitive skin, large ones treat large surfaces
11. Treatments of the interdigital space: Rounded cylinder, Rounded cone, Pointed cylinder
12. Crack treatment: Truncated cone, Straight cylinder (for surface cracks), Ball
13. Treatment of an ingrown toenail at the initial stage (M): Rounded cone
14. Removal of core calluses: Ball (micro)

* M - small diameter nozzles, B - large diameter

It is important to pay attention to the following points:

• High-quality devices allow you to rotate the nozzle in both directions. In the “Forward” mode, the nozzle rotates clockwise and allows you to process the left side of the nail, opening the cuticle rather than pinching the cups. Reverse treats the right side of the nail. For steel and ceramic nozzles, the possibility of rotation in both directions is determined by notches. So a double cross-shaped notch works in both directions, but a single cut will not allow this.
• Pay attention to the power of your device: if you bought a low-power machine for home use, it may not cope with a large pedicure cap. This happens due to the large adhesion area. In such situations, the device will begin to overheat and slow down.
• And the last nuance: at low speeds, the cutter can simply begin to cut and tear the skin. In order for the nozzle to grind, giving smooth skin, you need to increase the speed. In areas with strong roughness, the speed should be reduced.

Don't be afraid of minor injuries:

Chlorhexidine will deal with the wounds, the “cut” will grow back - but it is better to strengthen the nails with a protective coating. Most importantly, do not forget to draw conclusions about the reasons for the error and then next time you will not make it!