Doing acrylic or gel nails at home saves you a lot of money. But all that filing is messy. Plus it can be hazardous to your health. What you need to save your lungs from all that acrylic flying around is a dust collector. But what’s the best nail dust collector?
We’re about to find out.
Those little dust particles get everywhere!
If you want to protect your lungs and keep things neat and tidy, then buying a nail dust collector is a great idea.
In this post, we’ll go over FAQ’s about dust collectors.
Then I’ll share my top recommendations for the best nail dust collectors.
Just want product recommendations?
Ok, here are the links to my top 7 nail dust collectors for acrylic nails:
Sunflower best professional (for use in salons) with a stand
Nail Salon Dust Collector with Lamp
Contents:
Is a nail dust collector worth it?
What does a nail dust collector do?
Is it bad to breathe in acrylic nail dust?
What happens if you inhale nail dust?
What type of nail dust collector is best?
How do you clean a nail dust collector filter?
Is a nail dust collector worth it?
Yes, buying a nail dust collector is totally worth it!
It will help you to keep your work area clean and tidy. It will also get rid of the majority of the dust that you would otherwise be breathing in.
Nail dust is nasty stuff. Not only is it full of chemicals, but it can also contain fungal spores – Ewww!
Not something you want in your lungs if you can help it!
Nail dust particles hang around in the air for a very long time – long after you’re done filing. So it’s definitely important to clean up as many of them as you can.
If you have a dust collector on while you’re working, you can also see what you are doing better.
Before I got mine, I was stopping every couple of minutes to wipe away dust with a brush.
Using a nail dust collector with a fan and filter seems way more efficient.
What does a nail dust collector do?
A nail dust collector gets rid of the dust caused by filing and removing gel or acrylic nails.
It contains a fan that sucks the dust out of the air and away from the nails while you are working.
Nail dust filters also have a filter to catch any dust that settles and hold it in place.
You can then bang the filter against the side of your trash can to empty it.
Nail dust collectors are pretty simple machines that are easy to use.
It’s basically a small, lightweight box with a fan inside and a removable filter.
To use a dust collector you just plug it in, make sure the filter is in the right place and press the on switch.
Is it bad to breathe in acrylic nail dust?
Yes, it’s bad to breathe in acrylic nail dust. Dust from acrylic contains harmful toxins that can enter your body and cause havoc.
Breathing in too much acrylic nail dust can irritate your respiratory system.
This dust can irritate the respiratory passages in your nose and throat. Acrylic dust can also potentially cause asthma.
Nail dust can also make asthma worse in those who already have it.
It can cause hyposensitivity – which means that you can become allergic to nail dust.
Once you develop a nail dust allergy – there’s no way of getting rid of it.
Nail dust can also get into your eyes and onto your skin. If it gets into your eyes, you could get conjunctivitis. On your skin, dust from acrylics, gels and other nail products can cause dermatitis.
Get yourself a nail dust collector to protect your lungs. But you might want to also consider wearing safety glasses and gloves.
Here’s a great video about how dust can affect not just you but also your loved ones.
It also has some great tips on how to protect yourself:
What happens if you inhale nail dust?
A lot of the substances used in fake nails are harmful if you inhale them.
If you inhale nail dust, you might find that your nose or throat becomes irritated or itchy.
If you have asthma, you may find that it gets worse after you inhale nail dust.
If you’re lucky – nothing will happen at all.
But if you inhale a lot of nail dust over a long period, you run the risk of developing a permanent allergy to nail dust.
Inhaling nail dust can make you cough, wheeze and could make your chest feel tight.
What type of nail dust collector is best?
The best type of nail dust collector is one that’s powerful but not too loud. It should have a replaceable filter that’s easy to remove and clean.
A lot of nail dust collectors claim to be quiet. But unless you buy one of the more expensive ones they are usually pretty noisy.
It’s also good to get one with a plastic cover over the switch because otherwise dust can get clogged up in there.
You can get nail dust collectors with lights, hand rests and even drills attached. So it’s up to you to decide which one best suits your needs.
If you are going to be mobile, then you’ll need a lightweight portable machine for example.
But if you are working in a salon, a powerful dust collector on wheels might be a better solution.
How do you clean a nail dust collector filter?
Emptying out a nail dust collector is easy – you just tap it against your trash can and the dust will fall out.
But if you want to give it a more thorough cleaning, then there are a few options.
First – check your manufacturer’s instructions.
This is important because some filters can be cleaned using water and some can’t.
If you use water on the wrong type of filter you’ll ruin it and have to buy a replacement.
If you can’t use water, then the best way to clean out the filter is with a brush.
Any type of soft brush should do the job nicely.
You could also try using a brush attachment with your vacuum cleaner.
If your filter is made from water-resistant material – you can gently wipe it with a damp cloth.
If you still have stubborn spots, you can use a can of compressed air to blow the dust out.
But please make sure to do this outdoors so you’re not breathing in the dust and wear a mask.
My top 7 nail dust collectors
Now you know all about these awesome lung-saving machines, it’s time to look at some product reviews.
Let’s take a look at some of the best nail dust collectors out there.
Best budget nail dust collector
(click to check price on amazon)
Looking for a nail dust collector that does the job well and doesn’t break the bank?
Then this one from Miss Sweet is a good one to go for.
In my opinion, even though the design isn’t the sleekest, it gets major points for the reasonable price and the color choice.
It comes in white, pink, and my favorite – rose gold.
This little machine has a 40-watt motor that worked pretty well when I tested it out.
When I tried it, it didn’t get rid of all of the dust.
But it has pretty decent suction and you will definitely notice that you are not covered in dust anymore!
I found that it handles gel and acrylic dust well and for me, it easily cut the clean-up time in half.
It’s nice and compact so it doesn’t take up too much space and it’s lightweight so very good if you need something portable.
Pros:
- Great value
- Nice choice of colors
- Well made
- Sturdy
- Compact and portable
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Only comes with 1 filter
- The power chord is very short
- Like most dust collectors it’s pretty noisy
Best quality Nail dust collector
Makarrt TICK
(Click to check price on amazon)
This nail dust collector from Makarrt isn’t cheap, but in my humble opinion, it’s worth every penny!
Makarrt is a well-known and trusted brand. So you can expect a dust collector that’s good quality and long-lasting.
This one has a powerful 60-watt motor and 2 super-strong fans.
Unlike the Miss Sweet one, this one collects most of the dust.
So when I tested it there was little to no clean-up!
But the thing i like most about it is the adjustable suction.
Being able to change the power/suction level is fantastic.
It’s great because you can turn it up or down depending on what job you’re doing.
But also because you can control the noise level when you’re not doing heavy-duty jobs like removal.
I like having the option to use it on medium speed.
Because it’s pretty quiet and I can still have a conversation or watch a video.
The Markhart dust collector has vents so that it doesn’t get too hot.
This makes it great for using all day long and means the machine will last longer and doesn’t overheat.
I also like the minimal design and the fact that the filter is easy to pop in and out.
If you do nails often or professionally – I’d say this is a great choice.
Pros:
- Adjustable suction
- Great quality
- Powerful
- Minimal design
- Vents to avoid overheating
- Lightweight
- Compact
- Thick high quality filters
- Filters are easy to remove and clean
Cons:
- You can’t use water to clean it
- Doesn’t have a wrist rest
Quietest nail dust collector
(click to check price on Amazon)
If you find the box-shaped dust filters a little hard to work around, you might prefer this one from Born Pretty.
This model has a curved arch design, so it’s much easier to rest your hand on the machine.
It also has decent-quality faux leather on it that feels smooth. This makes it more comfortable to rest your hand on.
This model is a little different from my other picks because it has a bag instead of a tray-style filter.
To clean, you empty the bag, just like you would with a vacuum cleaner.
I was pleasantly surprised by how quiet this is. It has 3 fans but is not loud at all and it has good suction.
It comes with 2 replaceable dust bags.
Pros:
- Powerful but quiet
- Comfortable hand rest
- Sleek arch design
- Good suction
Cons:
- Elastic that holds the bag in place isn’t great
- The plastic is not acetone resistant
Best nail dust collector with a built in light
(click to check price on amazon)
No space for a table lamp? No worries!
If you have a small workspace or your lighting isn’t the best, then check out this next nail dust collector.
It has a built-in light so you can see better, and it has adjustable suction, which at this price point is amazing!
I like that the light stem is flexible because you can position the LED light exactly where you want it.
You can then turn the dial to increase or decrease the suction depending on if you’re filing or doing drill work.
It also has a soft, silicone pad which makes a pretty good armrest.
It’s not the quietest machine, but it’s a good all-rounder.
I found that it does the job well and is definitely worth the modest price tag.
Pros:
- Great value for money
- Adjustable suction dial
- Has an adjustable bright LED lamp which massively improves visibility
- Silicone armrest
- Sucks up most of the dust
- Comes with a miniature tool kit
Cons:
- A bit loud
Best professional salon nail dust collector
Sunflower best professional (for use in salons) with a stand
(Click to check price on amazon)
Do you have a nail salon?
Need something that’s going to stand up to constant usage?
Then you might want to consider this professional dust collector from Sunflower.
The Sunflower II has an LED light for better visibility while you’re working. It’s also extremely powerful.
It has a built-in odor extractor to reduce fumes as well as dust.
It comes with a handy mount so that you can easily attach it to any workstation. You can position it above where you are working.
This is great because it doesn’t take up any extra space on your nail table.
It’s easy to use, easy to maintain and it comes with a 12-month warranty and 12 extra filters.
Each filter should last about a month with normal salon usage.
If you want to protect your health and have a clean workspace, this could be a great investment.
It will also protect your clients from dust and fumes.
Pros:
- Gets rid of most of the dust
- 1-year warranty
- Has a built-in odor filter
- Not too loud
- Can fit to any workstation with a clamp or wall mount
- You can buy a floor stand separately to wheel this around.
- Great customer service
Cons:
- Expensive
- Suction could be stronger for the money
Most effective nail dust collector
Melodysusie
(click to check price on amazon)
This dust collector from Melodysusie is a great little machine.
I found that it is very effective at reducing the amount of nail dust in the air.
What I like about this one is that it has 2 speeds.
So I put it on fast for doing fill-ins and drill work, and then turn it down onto the slow setting for filing.
In terms of noise – this one falls somewhere in the middle.
It’s not the quietest but it’s also not the noisiest of the bunch.
The suction on this machine is excellent.
It has a magnetic cover too,which makes it super easy to remove and replace the filter.
It’s easy to get a new filter when you need one.
It also has good ventilation to prevent overheating.
All in all, this was comfortable to use, convenient to clean, and did a great job.
Pros:
- Has 2 settings – high and low
- Sleek design
- Strong fan that sucks up most of the dust
- Easy and quick to clean
- Lightweight
- Replacement filters are easily available
Cons:
- Power and fan buttons are very sensitive and easy to catch
- Quite large – takes up a lot of desk space
Best nail dust collector that’s easy to use and clean
AONOLOVO
(Click to check price on amazon)
This is a great little dust collector that performed really well in our tests.
The 40-watt motor does a pretty good job of getting rid of any kind of dust from acrylics or poly gel nails etc.
The quality is good, the price is fair and it’s very easy to operate.
It’s a little bit on the loud side, but it’s affordable and efficient.
It’s also really easy to clean and sanitize the whole thing which is a nice plus.
Pros:
- Does the job well
- Easy to use
- Good customer service
- Easy to remove and clean the filter
- Good value for money
Cons:
- Short chord
- A little loud
Final thoughts and a few tips
So that’s it!
I hope that you found this guide to nail dust collectors useful and that I could help you out!
Wait! I have a couple more tips before you go.
If the dust collector you like best doesn’t have an armrest – don’t worry.
You can use a rolled-up towel or a small pillow to create a nice comfortable place to rest your hands.
Also, keep acetone away from your dust collector – 9 times out of 10 it will ruin the plastic and look awful!
You really can’t go wrong with any of the above dust collectors, so scroll back up and choose your fav!
you also might be interested in why won’t my gel polish stay on
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