Nail drill bits explained: the ultimate guide

Removing, prepping or updating your nails often involves some filing. With a nail drill you can file much faster and more precisely. Such a machine makes it very easy to update your gel nails, but you can also model or shape your nails very well with it. And for all these things you have different bits.

So it's high time for a real nail drill bit explanation in which we tell you which bit to use for what!

Mandrel band bit

The Mandrel band nail drill bits are mainly used to remove gel polish and other gel products. Often, multiple types of sanding rollers are included that you can put on if you want to file coarsely or finely.

Cylinder/barrel bits

Depending on the variant, cylinder or barrel bits are used to remove old layers of acrylic nails, acrylic gel or gel polish or to treat your nails and remove the shine from the nail plate. In the case of the latter, you obviously need a very fine grit to prevent damage. Never use a carbide bit for this.

To remove old layers of acrylic and gel nails, use the carbide cylinder bit and to treat the surface and side grooves, choose the diamond cylinder bit.

Tip: New to electric filing? We recommend taking a course or training first. Electric filing can seriously damage the natural nail if you hold the handpiece incorrectly or apply too much pressure.

Conical or umbrella nail drill bits

Diamond bits

Diamond bits are of course not made of diamond (if only it were that much fun), but of course owe their name to their grain shape. That same shape makes it possible to remove flakes and dead skin cells on difficult places such as the side walls of the nail plate or to lift your cuticles. You can find the diamond nail drill bits here .