Nail buffer - yay or nay?

[MichelleCarmen]

Hi everyone,

Just curious if anyone here uses a nail buffer? Sephora has a four-step one:

Description:
4-Step Nail Buffer
What it is:
A colorful tool for smoothing, filing, and shaping nails to perfection.

What it does:
Achieve beautifully shiny nails with this easy-to-use manicure must have, accompanied by an outline of how to buff your tips in four simple steps. Begin with heavier grit and progress to a gentle-buffing finishing touch."

What do you gals think of these? I used it once on all my nails and they turned out shiny like polished marble, but that only lasted a couple of days. Now I'm wondering if I should use it again or if it'll thin out my nails.

Thoughts?

 

[Tuckins1]

I do have one and I really love the way it makes my nails look and feel. However, I too, see that it only lasts a few days and then my nails are dull again. They say not to use them too often because you will eventually file down the nail and make it very thin. I usually just put a clear coat on after it gets dull, or i'll buff them again without filing first.

 

[Yimmers]

I have this buffer too. I only use it when I put polish on my nails, though.

 

[mary poppins]

I keep my nails polished. When I use a buffer, which is rare, it's only sparingly to smooth out ridges or roughness before polishing. I don't use a buffer much or on a regular basis because I don't want my nails to become thin.

 

[Cehrabehra]

The filing process should only need doing once or rarely with light buffing touchups so it's not so bad but IMO incompatible with polish.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Those who use a buffer prior to np do you have issues with polish staying on? I do unless I use those awesome rubberized base coats that are tough to remove without acetone which I try to avoid...?

 

[Yimmers]

Oh wow, I never considered or noticed whether my polish stays on longer when I buff or don't buff. Usually, I am so rough on my nails that they wear away quickly on certain nails anyways.

 

[starryeyed]

I buff my nails every week or so. I've given up on polish - it doesn't last and my nails wind up dry and damaged over time.

I don't think the grit on the "Shine" side is coarse enough to really grind away your nail. Leaving your nail open to the air is healthier I think. My nails have been great ever since I gave up the polish.

 

[monarch64]

I love the look of freshly buffed nails but rarely do it because I seem to get carried away and then my nails HURT the next couple of days. If you can do a really moderate buffing then go for it.

 

[zoebartlett]

I don't know about that particular buffer, but I'd say as long as you don't buff your nails too often, it should work fine. I have one of these "all in one" filers/buffers (shaped like an octagon, where each side is a different level of coarseness) that someone gave me. It works pretty well but I don't use it much. I don't use it often mainly because I hate the feel and sound of filing my nails. I rather just cut my nails and shape them with clippers. As far as the actual buffer side goes, it (the shine) doesn't seem to last long.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I love the look of freshly buffed nails but rarely do it because I seem to get carried away and then my nails HURT the next couple of days. If you can do a really moderate buffing then go for it.

Mine seemed sore too! Thought it was my imagination. Thanks. Just to be on the safe side, I don't think I'm going to use it again. My nails grow REALLY fast. I like to keep them trimmed short and need to trim them twice a week!

 

[slg47]

maybe you could try a nail polish that is also a ridge filler? I have one and it works fairly well.