Nail buffer/shiner safe? - Nail Problems Message Board

Winterlily · 11-07-2004, 08:45 AM

Hi,

Yesterday at the mall, I was accosted by a girl working at the Etre "beauty" kiosk. She used their nail block buffer thing on one of my nails and got this fantastic shine -- looks like it's got clear nail polish on it. She assured me that it wasn't the least bit damaging to use this thing to make your nails shine naturally. But, because I'm cynical, I have 2 questions: One and most important, is this truly safe and not damaging in any way to the nail bed, and two, how does it work? She said it was bringing the oils up from underneath the nail, which doesn't sound right. Help? Thanks so much!

Marti · 11-08-2004, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winterlily

Hi,

Yesterday at the mall, I was accosted by a girl working at the Etre "beauty" kiosk. She used their nail block buffer thing on one of my nails and got this fantastic shine -- looks like it's got clear nail polish on it. She assured me that it wasn't the least bit damaging to use this thing to make your nails shine naturally. But, because I'm cynical, I have 2 questions: One and most important, is this truly safe and not damaging in any way to the nail bed, and two, how does it work? She said it was bringing the oils up from underneath the nail, which doesn't sound right. Help? Thanks so much!

No, it doesn't bring the oils up from the nail bed - that is a natural occurrance. The nail plate is constantly being 'bathed' by an upward tidal flow of oils and moisture from the nail bed. The oils and moisture transmit up through the nail plate layers where they will evaporate from the nail surface upon exposure to air. You cannot see this or feel it, but it is happening.

Buffing the nails with a 3-way buffer is not damaging to the nail sas long as you only do this once a month. The grit on the buffer is 360 on the black side, then goes up to 1200 on the gray side. The black side will file away any roughness that is present on the nail plate surface, then the white side smooths it even more. The gray side buffs the nail plate to a high shine. Nail technicians have been doing this in the salon for a very long time.

KrFr · 11-08-2004, 01:08 PM

I think we have the same kiosk at our mall. I don't recall it being a 3 sided buffer but more like the chamois buffer and I believe they use the cream or an oil with it. It has been a long time since I was "accousted" by them as I learned to duck them quite well. Not because the product wasn't good but because it is over priced if I remember correctly.

mel1977 · 11-09-2004, 01:52 AM

OH GOODNESS!!!! I dished out ten BUCKS for one of those buffers!! I think they are only good for a few buffs though. I can't even use the coarser part b/c it lost it's buffering ability. Now I use a buffer from walmart. Man, she pulled me right in too! I am usually not a sucker for those, but she wouldn't Shut up, so I bought it. It is kinda nice though, but I think you can buy similar products at any nail store. But, don't quote me on that. I honestly can't really say if it is a good product or not.
BUt, to answer the question, it is perfectly safe. Just dont buff too much or you will make the nail too thin and it will tear.

Winterlily · 11-09-2004, 05:42 PM

Thanks you guys so much. I feel better now about using it. I could just see using it and THEN finding out it does bad things somehow. Good, I'll stick to once a month with it.

And yeah -- those kiosk people usually tend to leave me alone, but this one got me when I was hungry.

And I will say this for her: She was good at it. Great saleswoman -- wasn't TOO obnoxious, very sweet, and, well, I was hungry. <lol>

Thanks again!

Samantha