The colored band on a nail drill bit tells you how coarse the bit is. Most makers use the dental bur color code: black is extra coarse, green coarse, blue medium, red fine, yellow extra fine and white ultra fine. The KMIZ diamond bits we stock follow it, so red is fine and blue is medium.
The standard color code (ISO 6360)
Most bit makers follow the dental bur color code (ISO 6360). Not every maker follows it, so check the grit on the product page.
| Band | Grit |
|---|---|
| Black | Extra coarse |
| Green | Coarse |
| Blue | Medium |
| Red | Fine |
| Yellow | Extra fine |
| White | Ultra fine |
Why bits have a band
The band is a ring of color on the bit. It lets you tell bits apart at a glance when several of the same shape sit side by side. A red flame and a blue flame can look alike until you see the band. The shape decides where the bit goes. The band tells you how much it takes off.
When you reorder, match the shape, the head size and the band to the bit you already use. Most KMIZ titles on our site name all three, for example "Blue, Medium, 2.1 x 10 mm" on the Tornado 021.
The bands on the bits we stock
Every bit in our nail drill bits collection is made by KMIZ, and the diamond bits follow the code above.
| Band | Bit type | Grit | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | KMIZ diamond | Fine | Blunt Flame 018, Tornado 021 red, Ball 050 red |
| Blue | KMIZ diamond | Medium | Tornado 021 blue, Cone 040, Drop 040 |
| No band | KMIZ diamond | Coarse or very fine, named in the title | Drop DDT 5.0-12.5C, Cylinder DCS 4.0-9.0VF |
| Varies | KMIZ carbide | Go by the cut named on the page | See the carbide section below |
Fine and medium in practice
A finer grit takes off less with each pass, and a medium grit takes off more. On our KMIZ diamond flames, tornadoes and drops, the red and blue versions do the same jobs: work along the cuticle line and side walls, and prep before gel. The difference is how quickly they take off material.
Many techs keep the same shape in two grits. They use the fine one close to the skin and the medium one where the cuticle is firmer. Two shapes we offer in both bands are the KMIZ Rounded Cone 035 and the KMIZ Flame 023. Both come in blue medium or red fine.
If you are learning, a fine bit gives you more control. Work at a low speed and stay within your e-file's speed range.
Black, green, yellow and white bands
On bits that follow the code, black means extra coarse, green coarse, yellow extra fine and white ultra fine. Our diamond bits come in red and blue bands only. Our coarse and very fine KMIZ diamond bits name the grit in the title instead of carrying a band, such as the KMIZ Drop DDT 5.0-12.5C in coarse grit. If you buy bits from a maker that does not use the code, check the maker's chart.
Carbide bits: go by the cut
Carbide bits have cut teeth instead of diamond grit, so they are sold by cut. Our carbide nail bits come in fine, medium, medium coarse, coarse, double cut and triple cut. Their colors do not follow the diamond code: the KMIZ Cone Tri 060 is purple and medium, and the KMIZ Olive 014 has a blue band with no cut named. Most of our other carbide bits name a cut and have no band. For carbide, go by the cut, not the color.
How to read a bit before you buy
- Check the type: diamond or carbide.
- Read the grit or cut in the title.
- For a diamond bit, match the band to that grit with the code above.
- Check the head diameter and the shank. Most of our KMIZ bits have a 2.35 mm shank.
If the band and the written grit do not match, ask us before you order. Our guide to Russian manicure drill bits covers which shapes to use where.
You can compare grits side by side in our diamond nail bits.
Keeping bands readable
Clean, disinfect and sterilize bits between clients, and store them dry. Sort them by shape and band so the fine and medium versions do not get mixed up. If a band is hard to read, compare the bit with its packaging.