It’s Time to Level Up Your Manicures With These Nail Drills

K, I gotta preface this with a very important disclaimer: Nail drills (aka electric nail files) are legit professional tools that are a major upgrade from at-home mani kits. They're also super powerful—not only strong enough to remove acrylics, gel nails, and dip powder nails, but also buff hard calluses and even cut and shape the thickest of nails. So, in other words, you really gotta know what you're doing before you add one to your routine. You may have seen them at the salon, but it's quite another thing to use them yourself. But if you (1) work with regular clients/are a legit nail expert, and (2) want to make your process a whole hell of a lot easier, you should absolutely consider trying one. And, no matter what, talk to the pros and do your research. Let's not burn our nail beds, ever!

Phew. With that out of the way, since there are, like, eight million options on the market right now, I did you a solid by finding the 15 best nail drills for every situation. There's a pick that's great for mani-pedis, a cordless one that's worth the splurge, one that's incredible value for what you pay, and even a gentle file that's safe for natural nails.

Our top picks for the best nail drills in 2022:

There's a ton of variety out there, and the result you want matters a lot, so pay attention to the specifications. Shop 'em all ahead, and prepare to never go back once you've got the technique down.