Here’s why your E-file bits get clogged – & what to do about it
By Katie Barnes | 03 October 2023 | Expert Advice, Feature
Often, when E-file bits get clogged, it is likely the product it becomes clogged with is uncured. This could be gel, acrygel, gel polish or even acrylic. When product is fully cured it presents as pure dust which will sit in the teeth of your bit and still needs removing but won’t be as problematic as product that contains uncured particles. If the product build up is noticeable it will contain this.
Gel can appear cured at just 30% cure but unfortunately isn’t often fully cured. This presents in small or large chunks of product showing on your nail file or E-file bit. The most common cause of undercuring is using a lamp that is not designed for the system you are working with. Click here for the findings from an experiment we carried out and research with scientist, Jim McConnell of McConnell Labs, about why a correct gel polish cure is so important.
This Instagram reel, and this TikTok post, highlight what can happen when there is buildup of product on your E-file bits, and how to prevent it.
Not only can nail product debris build up in your E-file bit, but also dust and debris from skin and the nail – just like when you use manual nail tools to work on these areas and debris is produced. When you use an E-file bit instead, this dust sits in the E-file bit but is often more difficult to see, leading you to assume the bit is clean.
Sometimes, to the naked eye the bit appears perfectly clean, but is in-fact. We put bits under the microscope to demonstrate the debris that is present, even when not to the naked eye.
No more than you would not clean and disinfect your manual nail tools in-between use and clients, you should not reuse an E-file cuticle bit without cleaning and disinfecting before using on another customer.
To remove debris from your E-file bit, you need to use wire cleaning brush to thoroughly clean the teeth of your bits to remove product build up. The stiff bristles of the wire brush will remove the product or dust build up thoroughly. However, if you only use a soft brush or one with nylon bristles which you may use to remove dust from your client’s hand, then the bristles are often not stiff enough to remove this debris.
This action should be performed after every nail service, then cleaned in warm soapy water then a disinfectant solution used. If debris isn’t removed, then a disinfectant won’t be able to work as it will be blocked by the debris. Click here to read a handy guide about sanitation, disinfection and sterilisation practices.
Not only is this step essential for hygiene, but it will give you longevity in your tools. Make sure your E-file bits are cleaned properly after every single client to prevent both cross contamination and product and debris build up.
Love Katie B x