Skip the Polish, Ask for a Buffing
Sunday September 7, 2008
Last week I got cornered in the mall by a woman selling nail buffers. Naturally, since I am a beauty editor, I stopped and listened to her spiel. She removed old nail polish (clear) and buffed and buffed my index fingernail while I looked on skeptically (and wondered if it was possible to buff right through the nail, ouch). She presented my fingernail to me and I have to say it was the shiniest, prettiest fingernail I've ever seen in my life. In fact, I am looking at it right now, awestruck. There are no ridges, the dullness is gone and the one fingernail is polished like a pearl -- and without a lick of nail polish.
I bought the nail buffer -- a mere $10 -- and vow to work magic on the rest of my digits. With pearly, buffed nails, I see no need to ever apply nail polish again. It just chips off in a matter of hours anyway. By the way, I got a manicure after the mall incident and I asked for a buffing and the results weren't nearly as amazing as the nail buffer. I have one fabulous nail and the others as dull as can be.
Next week, I'll post the brand of the nail buffer for those of you who are interested (I'm out of the city this week). But I have heard great things about OPI's Phat File ($12.50) and Tweezerman's SPA File, Buff and Shine (about $13).
I bought the nail buffer -- a mere $10 -- and vow to work magic on the rest of my digits. With pearly, buffed nails, I see no need to ever apply nail polish again. It just chips off in a matter of hours anyway. By the way, I got a manicure after the mall incident and I asked for a buffing and the results weren't nearly as amazing as the nail buffer. I have one fabulous nail and the others as dull as can be.
Next week, I'll post the brand of the nail buffer for those of you who are interested (I'm out of the city this week). But I have heard great things about OPI's Phat File ($12.50) and Tweezerman's SPA File, Buff and Shine (about $13).
Comments
I buff, get my nails “cleaned up”, then get 2 coats of clear polish on top. Looks NEAT and clean. I get so many compliments, more than when I was doing polish with color. Quick & easy too.
I have been a “buffer” for as long as I can remember. Even clear nail polish becomes dull and can chip. I was a nail polish fanatic in my teens but when I started working the polish wore off and every other night I was reapplying polish. Then I found nail buffing. I can put oil on my cuticles while watching TV and buff to my heart’s content and my nails are shiny and healthy PLUS they don’t dry out and chip and/or crack.
I love my nail buffer! I never paint my nails; I buff the instead and get compliments all the time.
As a licensed Manicurist I LIGHTLY buff the natural nail to reduce the scratches & ridges and give it a nice shine. However, repeated buffing causes the nail to get very weak and is actually more damaging to the nail in the long run. Buffing with those 3 way buffers should be used very sparingly and only when absolutely neccessary. I buff my weekly clients every 3 to 4 weeks and use nail strengtheners in between.
I am not sure which brand the buffer is that you bught since you hadn’t yet had a chance to post it but I also got cornered by a woman in the mall selling a nail buffer. This particular buffer was part of a “deal” with an oil and a lotion. I thought the buffer was fabulous…until it wore out and I went back to get another. OMG…the price of the buffer refill was more then the initial set! LOL I am going to look into the buffers suggested though. I agree that the look of short, neatly buffed nails is very nice!