A nail drill is an electric tool that is used to shape fingernails and toenails. These sorts of drills are most commonly used in spas and beauty parlors and are rarely purchased for personal use in homes. In fact, for safety purposes, it is best if these kinds of drills are only operated by trained nail technicians. The main purpose of a nail drill is to file down the fingernail or toenail to a workable or aesthetically pleasing length and width. They are used with traditional manual files are not sufficient.
Most drills look like thick pens with an eraser where the nib should be. They are designed to fit easily in the hand. The eraser-like nib at the end is actually a round file. When the drill is turned on, the file rotates at a rapid speed. A nail drill works much like a sander does, just for a very small area of the body. When the drill is turned on and the nib is rubbed along a fingernail or toenail, layers of the nail are quickly sloughed off.
For people with incredibly thick fingernails or toenails. a nail drill can help to thin and reshape the nails. Very thick nails often take too long to file with a hand file because they are so durable and have so many layers. An electric nail drill can get the job done in much less time and in a much more efficient manner.
It is common for a nail drill to be used in spa treatments that include the application of artificial nails. Whether acrylic, glass, or silk wrap artificial nails are being applied, a nail drill can be a useful tool. The reason for this is that, prior to applying the acrylic, glass, or silk, the tops of the fingernails must be filed down. This creates a rough surface that to which the artificial nail can more easily bond. Prior to this kind of filing, the top of the fingernail is often to smooth to easily connect with the artificial nail material.
When acrylic nails are being applied, the nail drill is also used to shape the material once it has dried on top of the natural nail. The hardened layer of acrylic often needs to be thinned in order for the artificial nails to be uniform in thickness. Also, applying the drill to the top of the acrylic nail helps to prepare it for polish and the finishing touches of the manicure.