What grit file do I use for natural nails?

180 grit for shaping and 240 grit (or finer) for shine removal and final buffing. Never use 80 grit or 100 grit on natural nail — they're too coarse and cause damage. The coarse grits are strictly for acrylic, gel, or dip removal.

What grit do I use to remove acrylic?

80 grit for bulk reduction (very coarse), then 100 grit for shaping and de-bulking the remainder. Finish with 180 grit if smoothing the nail edge before re-application. The 80 grit step is acrylic-only — never on natural nail.

Are sanding bands reusable?

No. Sanding bands are single-use disposable — discard after each client to prevent cross-contamination. Reusing sanding bands between clients is an infection-control violation in most state nail salon programs.

How do I clean reusable files?

Washable zebra files can be scrubbed with brush cleaner or mild soap and water, then air-dried. Most salons replace reusable files monthly regardless because the abrasive grit dulls under daily use even when cleaned.

Can salons order files in bulk?

Yes — DTK Nail Supply offers wholesale pricing on Professional Nail Files & Buffers | 80/80, 80/100, & 100/... and a wide range of professional nail brands, with fast US shipping (orders ship within 48 hours from California). Create a free B2B account at dtknailsupply.com for the best price.

Professional Nail Files & Buffers | 80/80, 80/100, & 100/180 Grit

Q: What does the grit number on a nail file mean?

Grit number = abrasive granules per square inch. Lower number = coarser file (fewer, larger grains) for heavy material removal. Higher number = finer file for shaping and finishing. 80 grit is very coarse; 240+ grit is fine.

Professional Nail Files & Buffers at DTK Nail Supply covers the full pro file catalog organized by grit number — 80 grit for very coarse acrylic and dip removal, 100 grit for heavy filing and shaping, 180 grit for natural nail shaping and gel surface prep, and 240 grit fine buffers for shine removal and finishing. Includes washable zebra files, disposable sanding bands, ergonomic half-moon buffers, and high-shine 3-way buffers.

Grit number = abrasive granules per square inch. Lower number = coarser file (fewer, larger grains) for heavy material removal. Higher number = finer file for shaping and finishing. The pro standard: 80 grit only on acrylic/gel/dip removal (too harsh for natural nail). 100 grit for de-bulking and shaping acrylic. 180 grit for natural nail shaping and gel surface prep (breaks the shine before acetone removal). 240 grit and finer for shine removal during natural nail prep and final buffing.

Single-use vs reusable: sanding bands (fit over mandrel drill bits) are disposable — discard after each client. Washable zebra files can be cleaned with brush cleaner and reused, but most salons treat them as monthly consumables. High-shine buffers last 1–3 months under daily use. Wholesale to US salons. Free ship $100+.

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