Buffing One's Nails

[Miss Dottie]

I've often seen vanity sets that include lovely little pots, a hand-held mirror and a nail buffer--usually looks like it has been covered with sheep skin.

I've picked up a couple of buffing files from my local pharmacy and have liked the look of the polished nails. Truly, it must be very vintage!

Anyone have any experience with buffing their nails? I always worry a tad because I have rather thin nails to begin with. How often do you buff your nails? Any tips?

 

[KittyT]

Some people use oils like Solar Oil when they buff.

When I had natural nails, I never buffed them. Buffing them smooth makes it more difficult for polish to adhere! Natural, buffed nails do look quite nice, though.

 

[Tomasso]

My manicurist has been buffing my nails with this product for over twenty years with no deleterious effect. I would also add that she has a very light hand and is careful not to remove any additional nail surface from the previously polished area.

 

[fortworthgal]

When I buff my natural nails, I use a buffing cream from Sally Beauty Supply, and a chamois buffer. Just go very lightly and you'll get a nice shine in no time! Buffing cream is really the key to getting a good, long-lasting shine with minimal effort. A tub costs around $3 and will last forever.

 

[goldwyn girl]

I buff weekly but lightly with a buffing cream and chamios buffer. I used to use a powder and it was by Sally Hanson but unfortunatly I hav'nt seen it for many years.

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

While I was in dental hygiene school I wasn't allowed to wear nail polish, or have any nail that actually showed past the fingertips. But, I buffed my nails regularly to keep them neat looking. I used a buffer cream and a cheap 4 sided buffer at least once a week. They were so shiny my professors reprimanded me on several occasions accusing me of wearing clear nail polish. Polish is not allowed for it is considered unhygienic and is actually against universal standards of care. Besides, if you were a patient would you want to be lying in the dental chair while a girl comes towards your mouth with bright red talon like nails?? I don't think so

 

[rubyredlocks]

Dottie-I'm so glad you posted this!

I gave up my pedis and acrylic nails when I became pregnant,partly due to financial reasons and partly due to wanting to be extra careful.I always had a thin layer of acrylic added to slightly short rounded nails,because my hands are in water so much that the polish wouldn't stay on otherwise.
My hands have always been my vain spot and seeing them unadorned is something I'll never get used to,but I didn't think of buffing them.
I think this will make me feel better and won't be too time consuming.
Thanks so much for the idea!

 

[Miss Dottie]

My manicurist has been buffing my nails with this product for over twenty years with no deleterious effect. I would also add that she has a very light hand and is careful not to remove any additional nail surface from the previously polished area.

I just picked one of those up and have been quite delighted with the final outcome. And actually it's rather fun to do while watching TV.

A kinda nice side benefit was that it made me tend to my cuticles because when I first buffed my nails, it made my cuticles look particularly ghastly. Oof!

I think I'll stop by the pharmacy and buy one of those whitening nail pencils because my nails look too translucent.

 

[Miss Dottie]

When I buff my natural nails, I use a buffing cream from Sally Beauty Supply, and a chamois buffer. Just go very lightly and you'll get a nice shine in no time! Buffing cream is really the key to getting a good, long-lasting shine with minimal effort. A tub costs around $3 and will last forever.

I haven't heard of buffing cream. I'm very intrigued. Perhaps I'll have to pick some of that up too!

 

[fortworthgal]

Here's what I use, I think it is around $3.50 or $4.

http://www.sallybeauty.com/shop/7040/704350

 

[ShrinkingViolet]

Nail Buffing Powder (recipe from 1945)
Boric acid, 25 g
Talc, 25 g
Osmo Kaolin, 10 g
Wheat starch, 15 g
Magnesia, 5 g
Carmine as desired

Thoroughly mix all ingredients except carmine in a bowl. Mix about a teaspoon of this mixture with a little bit of carmine (about 0,5 g) in a seperate bowl. Add the carmine mixture to the first mixture little by little, and the nail powder is finished. This nail powder should be used with an ordinary chamois nail buffer.

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If some it sounds a little strange it's because I translated it from Danish. It's from a book that has all kinds of beauty and household recipes, including one on how to make fireworks! I haven't tried this recipe myself and I'm not even sure the ingredients are legally available from drugstores anymore, but it's fun to read!

 

[Miss Brill]

You can buy those 4 section nail buffers for $1 at places like Fred's. They always made my nails grow really fast, which I don't like because I prefer short nails.