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The Best Nail Drill For Acrylic Nails

Last updated on October 21, 2021
Best Nail Drill For Acrylic Nails

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Acrylic nails are formed from a mixture of a powder polymer and a liquid monomer, and once this paste is applied to your nails, it must be shaped. To shape the nails, one needs a quality nail drill. In the event that you want to save money on manicures and do your nails at home, you’ll want to purchase your own nail drill. Before you do, there are a few things to consider as you browse the available models.

Determine where you plan on using the nail drill for acrylic nails. There are professional sets that can be set up in a home or salon, but these aren’t designed to be portable. If you enjoy traveling to a friend’s house for manicure sessions, you’ll want to go with a compact and lightweight drill that fits in a cosmetic bag.

Next, take a look at the drill’s power and durability. Some drills offer 20,000 revolutions per minute, while others go as high as 30,000. You want to make sure that you can adjust the speed to match the task at hand. Being able to switch direction from forward to backward is also a plus. When it comes to a unit that is designed to last, look for one made from a high-quality aluminum alloy.

Check how easy it is to remove and insert drill bits into the unit. Some drills have a simple twist-and-lock system that is quick and secure. Once you know how the unit works, determine which bits are being offered with the drill. Some drills come with just six bits, while others have as many as 11. The top 11 bits include the following: cone, safety bit, needle head, small barrel, large barrel, mandrel and sanding band, coarse disc bit, cone bit, barrel bit, umbrella top bit and felted wool bit.

Review the drill to ensure it operates quietly. A model that runs at 60 decibels is a great choice.

Look for any accessories that add to the value of the drill. For example, some stationary models include built-in slots for storing your drill bits. Others feature a foot pedal, so you can use either your hand or foot to operate the drill. Or perhaps you’re looking for a drill in a fun color? You’ll find units in all sorts of hues, like pink, black, silver, purple and gold.

Our Picks For The Top Nail Drills For Acrylic Nails

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Product Overview
Our Take
 Best All-Around Pick

Ejiubas Low-Vibration Nail Drill For Acrylic Nails

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Ejiubas

Low-Vibration Nail Drill For Acrylic Nails

Whether you work in a salon or love to do nails for friends and family, this top-notch nail drill for acrylic nails is a must-have tool. It offers low vibration, while still having a powerful speed of 30,000 revolutions per minute. The unit comes in a pretty pink and is made from a long-lasting aluminum alloy.

Overall Take

Durable OptionThanks to the twists lock system on this nail drill, you'll be able to quickly change out the nail bits.

 Runner Up

BTArtbox Two Rotation Direction Nail Drill For Acrylic Nails

BTArtbox

Two Rotation Direction Nail Drill For Acrylic Nails

This nail drill is designed to save space and features built-in holes for all of your nail bits. There's a foot pedal for switching from "hand" to "foot" mode, and a forward and reverse button to change the direction of your movement. The unit is also low-noise, low-heat and low-vibration.

Overall Take

Effective and HandyYou'll find this nail drill for acrylic nails comes in a black, white or gold finish.

 Best for Travel

AIRSEE Portable Nail Drill For Acrylic Nails

AIRSEE

Portable Nail Drill For Acrylic Nails

All you need to do to use this nail drill for acrylic nails is insert your drill bit, choose the rotation direction and adjust the speed. The unit comes with a total of 10 drill bits and 56 sanding bands. You can purchase the drill in purple, gold or silver.

Overall Take

Great SizeSince this nail drill for acrylic nails is lightweight and not much bigger than a pen, it fits neatly in any cosmetic bag.

 We Also Like

MelodySusie Adjustable Speed Nail Drill For Acrylic Nails

MelodySusie

Adjustable Speed Nail Drill For Acrylic Nails

Polish and shape your nails just like they do at the salon with this nail drill for acrylic nails. The drill is portable and powerful, running at 20,000 revolutions per minute. Both the speed and the direction of the rotation can be adjusted to match the task at hand.

Overall Take

Econonical ModelIncluded with this nail drill for acrylic nails is a set of six metal drill bits and six sanding bands.

What to Look For

  • While your acrylic nails are designed to last up to eight weeks, they do need to be filled in every two to three weeks. Otherwise, you’ll have a large gap between your cuticle and the acrylic nail. Not only is this gap unattractive, it also leads to needing a full replacement sooner than eight weeks.
  • Never pick your acrylic nails off when you’re ready to remove them. This could cause some serious damage to your nails. Instead, use your nail drill to remove the top layer of the nails. Then soak your nails for 15 minutes in an acetone solution. Afterward, you can push away the remaining nails with a cuticle pusher. Don’t forget to wash your hands with soap and water to remove any traces of the acetone.
  • Moisturize your nails after removing acrylic nails. You can use a vitamin-rich moisturizer made for hands or go with a cuticle oil that contains vitamin E.
  • It’s good practice to give your nails a health break every three to six months. Concentrate on moisturizing your natural nails and allowing them to recover from multiple sets of acrylic nails.
  • To use the nail drill, you’ll want to push your cuticles back and then hold the drill horizontally in your hand. You want to use the side of the bit, not the tip. Working in a circular motion, run the bit from one side of your nail to the other. This removes any dead cells to better prepare your nails to bond with the acrylic. Rub a buffing cream into your nails and switch the bit on your drill to a cotton buffer. Go back over your nails to give them a nice shine.
  • In order to prevent bacterial or fungal infections, it’s imperative that you keep your nail drill clean. Drills can be cleaned using liquid dish soap, water and a toothbrush. Should the drill bits have dried-on nail polish, you can remove the polish with acetone and then wash them. Consider taking your drill and accessories for a professional cleaning once a year.
  • Store your nail drill and accessories in a cosmetic bag or plastic storage container. After spending time cleaning the set, you don’t want it to become covered in dust and debris.
  • Always wear a dust mask when using a nail drill. It’s also good practice to tie back your hair to prevent your hair from getting tangled in the drill.

More to Explore

Did you know that during the Ming Dynasty, the length of a woman’s nails revealed her status in society? Because long nails meant a woman was wealthy enough not to have to perform manual labor, many women resorted to using long artificial nails.

Here are a few more fun nail facts:

  • The Guinness World Records holder for the “Longest Nail Extensions” goes to Odilon Ozare. Ozare won this honor on Aug. 26, 2018 when he donned nail extensions that measured 3.96 feet. Interestingly enough, this wasn’t Ozare’s first world record. He previously received a win for “Tallest Hat.”
  • Although some of the first artificial nails were created from ivory, bones and even gold, acrylic nails didn’t enter the scene until the 1950s. It was dentist Fred Slack who experimented with different chemicals to form a fake nail that could be used to cover up a nail that he broke. Slack was successful and afterward, he created the Patti Nails company with his brother.
  • Acrylic nails have evolved over time, although they still use a similar base to the formula created by Slack. Today, you not only have the option of applying the acrylic over your own nails, you can also add a set of tips for length.

More to explore