The 10 Best Electric Nail Files
This wiki has been updated 29 times since it was first published in October of 2017. Well-maintained digits say a lot about a person, but paying an expert to do your nails quickly becomes a serious expense. If you want to save cash while staying well groomed, we've got you covered with these professional-quality electric nail files and drills. Your friends will never know you've stopped going to the salon for your manicures and pedicures thanks to one of these machines. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Utilyze 10-in-1
2. ECBasket Handpiece Grinder
3. Bellasonic Salon Quality
Editor's Notes
December 03, 2020:
We removed the Subay SUB-211, Dr.Heiz 11-in-1 Portable, Hoposo Drill Set, Makartt JD700, and NatPlus Professional Machine due to availability concerns and replaced them with the Airsee Professional, Pure Enrichment Express, Subay DR201, Touchbeauty 5 in 1, and Bellasonic Salon Quality. The Bellasonic Salon Quality oscillates, rather than spins, so it’s much more gentle on your nails and skin. It is also rechargeable, so you don’t need to worry about cords or replacing batteries.
The Airsee Professional is a good option for beginners because it is lightweight and easy to maneuver. Additionally, it's a budget-friendly pick, so you can try out an electric file without risking too much cash. For people want to do the whole process themselves, the Touchbeauty 5 in 1 includes a mini UV light in its stand to dry your gel nails, giving you all the tools you need for a professional manicure at home.
April 04, 2019:
A common reason people purchase electric nail files is to have the ability to create professional quality manicures and pedicures at home, since many individuals don't like going to the salon as those come with high prices, and can even pose some hygiene risks. We made sure each of our selections won't leave users missing the beauty parlor one bit, and are easy enough to use for those who aren't expert manicurists. The Dr.Heiz 11-in-1 Portable has 36 sanding bands, as well as a large and small barrel head. It also accepts most standard replacement sanders so you won't have to search far and wide to stock up on the essential pieces. The NatPlus Professional Machine boasts impressive power, even when you apply a lot of pressure or have been using it continuously for a long time, so it won't cut out on you and leave you with half-done nails. The Utilyze 10-in-1 has ten speed settings, making it quite similar to those you'd find at the salon. No styling or cleaning job is beyond reach with this precision tool. And for nail stylistas who are always on the go, the Genmine USB is portable and acts as a power source for your Android or iPhone, essentially letting you take a mini salon with you, and eliminating the need to pack an extra phone charger.
4. Touchbeauty 5 in 1
5. Pure Enrichment Express
6. Beurer Manicure & Pedicure Home System
7. Madenia Nail Master
8. Genmine USB
9. Airsee Professional
10. Subay DR201
What An Electric Nail File Can Do
The same holds true for grown-out acrylics, which makes doing infills a breeze.
Getting a manicure can be a luxurious treat, but it only takes a few instances of chipped acrylics to tire of booking maintenance appointments with your technician. Unless you have deep pockets, these visits to your neighborhood salon can quickly add up, and if your favorite establishment is fully booked, you’re doomed to look scruffy until a spot opens. If you’re looking to up your manicure game at home and save yourself time and money, it's smart to consider investing in an electric nail file.
E-files are versatile tools that are ideal for anyone interested in the upkeep of their hands and feet, whether you’re a hardcore manicurist or are simply preparing for sandal season. There are myriad tasks they can tackle, many of which are very straightforward.
When it comes to your feet, it’s difficult to avoid dryness, flaking, and calluses. An electric file can easily remove hardened skin from the heels, balls, and sides of your feet, plus reduce the appearance of cracked heels. A suitably-sized cone bit is excellent for cleaning in between your toes, while a small cylindrical bit is perfect for clearing away dead cuticle skin.
Power files are especially helpful for fingernail care. Before you even think of adding enhancements like powder dip or acrylics, you’ll need to prep your natural nails. You can gently buff your cuticles and remove dead skin by using a bit with a smooth grit and a low speed setting. After you’ve removed the excess, it’s effortless to sand your nail plate down to a smooth texture ideal for adding a full set of artificial nails. Once your new manicure is in place, you can shape each nail, remove lift, thin out uneven spots, and shorten them if necessary.
If you’ve been living with the same gel color and are dying for a new hue, don’t waste your time wrapping your digits in acetone-soaked cotton balls and tin foil. Your e-file can remove thick layers of polish in a few short minutes. The same holds true for grown-out acrylics, which makes doing infills a breeze.
Features To Look For In An Electric Nail File
There is an abundance of electric files out there, and the one that’s perfect for you might be ill-suited to the next person. Before you take the plunge and whip out your wallet, consider the following aspects to help you whittle down your choices.
The tradeoff is that you have to deal with batteries or recharging it, and it won’t be able to operate uninterrupted for extended periods.
Prior to thinking about technical aspects like bits and revolutions per minute, you’ll want your product to clear a few basic checkpoints. Is it cumbersome? Does it vibrate? These are issues that will quickly become a burden and have you reaching for an old-school emery board and a pair of nippers in no time. On top of that, it needs to be on the quiet side and resistant to overheating. You’ll also want to ensure the drill bit can rotate clockwise and counterclockwise in order to accommodate your dominant hand.
Another practicality to consider is whether you’d prefer a model that’s corded or cordless. Of course, a cordless file will enable you to move around anywhere you like. The tradeoff is that you have to deal with batteries or recharging it, and it won’t be able to operate uninterrupted for extended periods. However, if you’re a casual user who only needs an electric file for quick jobs, this shouldn’t be an issue for you.
If you’ll be cutting through acrylics and performing other tough jobs that require a lot of power, look for tools that range between 20,000 and 30,000 rpm. As far as bits go, seek out files that come with basic manicure and pedicure attachments. After that, you’ll want a natural nail bit, large and small barrel bits, and a tapered cone bit. You’ll need sanding bands with varying grits, too. There are a host of options available in addition to the ones mentioned here, but thankfully, you can buy them separately once you become more advanced.
Then, there are ingenious additions that only serve to make your life easier. A dust shield is an ultra-convenient way to keep your area spick and span, and an LED guidance light will help lower your margin for error. If you hate waiting for your polish to set, opt for a unit with a built-in UV dryer that will save you time and the headache of smudged nails.
Nail Art Through The Ages
These days, decorated digits are a vital component to any chic ensemble. Nail art serves as a way to show off your personal style and individualism, not to mention your creative side. However, it’s not just modern fashion mavens who take part in the seemingly recent ritual of cleaning and decorating their fingertips — people have actually been doing it for thousands of years.
These days, decorated digits are a vital component to any chic ensemble.
Nail art seems to have popped up around the same time in various regions of the ancient world and originated as a reflection of status. From around 5000 to 3000 B.C.E., aristocratic Egyptian women used henna-dyed nails to display their rank — it’s said that Nefertiti was a fan of bright red while Cleopatra favored rust with undertones of gold. Sadly, lower-class ladies were doomed to neutral hues and muted pastels. In Babylonia, you could tell a nobleman from a peasant by the shade of his nails; black for the upper crust and green for the common man. This same era saw the creation of the first nail polish in China, which consisted of beeswax, egg whites, and vegetable dyes.
During the Dark Ages, manicures and pedicures were almost entirely forgotten in Europe, and it wasn't until the Renaissance that wealthy women revived the practice. Meanwhile, across the pond, 15th-century Incas were painting elaborate eagles and other designs on their nails. It would take until the 1830s for modern manicures to come into vogue, and special salons began to pop up to accommodate the hot new trend.
Over the last few decades, the nail care industry has seen an unprecedented level of interest. Men and women of all ages and in every social stratum paint their nails for aesthetic, superstitious, and even political reasons.
A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.