By the M1 Nail & Beauty Supply team, Markham ON · Last updated: September 2026
STALEKS PRO is a Ukrainian maker of professional manicure and pedicure tools. Every STALEKS tool carries a short model code, such as NS-10-5 or TE-40/7. The code tells you the tool type, the product line, the model and the size. This guide explains how to read these codes, how the Smart, Expert and Classic lines differ, and what the colour marks on STALEKS drill bits mean.
How to read a STALEKS model code (e.g. NS-10-5)
A STALEKS code has four parts: a letter for the tool type, a letter for the line, the model number, and the size or variant. For example, NS-10-5 is a Nipper from the Smart line, model 10, with a 5 mm cutting edge.
| Part of the code | What it means | Examples at M1 |
|---|---|---|
| 1st letter: tool type | N = nippers, S = scissors, T = tweezers, P = pushers and curettes | NS-10-5, SE-50/1, TE-10/4, PE-30/3 |
| 2nd letter: line | S = Smart, E = Expert, C = Classic, P = Podo | NS-31-7 (Smart), NE-90-7 (Expert), NC-10-8 (Classic), NP-30-18 (Podo) |
| First number: model | The shape of the handles, the spring and the blades | NS-10 (two spring plates), NS-30 (removable coil spring) |
| After the dash (nippers) | Length of the cutting edge in millimetres | NS-10-3 = 3 mm, NS-10-7 = 7 mm, NE-61-16 = 16 mm |
| After the slash (scissors, tweezers, pushers) | Type (variant) within the model, such as the blade or tip shape | TE-10/4 = slanted tip, TE-10/5 = pointed tip |
STALEKS does not publish an official key to its letters. The pattern above is how the codes read across all 130+ STALEKS items we stock. Our shop titles use the same numbers in words. "Smart 10 - 5" is NS-10-5 and "Expert 40 - 7" is TE-40/7.
Smart vs Expert vs Classic: which STALEKS line?
Smart and Expert are both professional lines. According to STALEKS, both use 40X13 medical stainless steel (the equivalent of AISI 420) and are sharpened by hand. They differ in finish and range. Classic is STALEKS' line for home use.
| Line | Who it is for | Finish | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart | New and experienced nail techs | Matte, sandblasted | Cuticle nippers with 3–8 mm edges, ingrown-nail nippers, scissors |
| Expert | STALEKS' widest professional line | Mirror-polished with GOI paste | Nippers with 3–16 mm edges, scissors, tweezers, pushers, drill bits, papmAm file bases |
| Classic | Home manicure | n/a | Nippers and tweezers |
| Podo | Pedicure and podology | n/a | Ingrown toenail nippers, curettes, Pododisc pedicure discs |
| Beauty & Care | Home and travel | Matte handles | Nail clippers (KBC-50 mini, KBC-51 large, KBC-11 maxi) |
Choosing a nipper: cuticle vs nail, and edge length
- Cuticle (skin) nippers remove cuticle and trim the skin along the side folds. At M1 their edges run from 3 to 8 mm. A shorter edge takes smaller, more controlled cuts. A 7–8 mm "full jaw" edge cuts more with each stroke. STALEKS' US listings call a 5 mm edge a "1/2 jaw" (0.2 in) and a 7 mm edge a "full jaw" (0.27 in).
- Nail nippers shorten and shape the nail plate. They are heavier, with longer edges (12–18 mm), and always use a double leaf spring. Examples include the Expert 60 and 61 and the Podo 30 for ingrown toenails.
- Spring type: Smart 10 nippers have two spring plates. Smart 30 nippers have a removable coil spring, for techs who are used to working with one.
What do the colours on STALEKS drill bits mean?
STALEKS marks each bit with a coloured ring that shows how coarse it is. The same three colours are used on diamond and carbide bits.
| Colour | Diamond bits (grit) | Carbide bits (cut) |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Fine: gentle work on the skin and natural nail, cuticle area | Soft notch |
| Blue | Medium: smooths thickened or hard skin and nails, lifts and removes cuticle | Medium notch |
| Green | Coarse: fast work on hard skin, thickenings and corns | Coarse cross-cut |
Diamond bits are sized as head diameter / working length. A 2.1/8 mm flame has a 2.1 mm head and an 8 mm working part. Carbide bits are mainly for correcting and removing gel or acrylic and for hard skin on the feet. All STALEKS PRO bits can be disinfected and sterilized.
papmAm and Pododisc: reusable bases with disposable files
- papmAm is a system of a stainless steel file base plus disposable adhesive files. The MBE-20 base takes DFE-20, DFE-21, DFE-22 and DFE-51 files. ATSC white abrasive tape is a refill roll of the same abrasive, sold without the plastic case. The base can go in an autoclave or hot-air sterilizer, and the files are used once and thrown away.
- Pododisc is a steel pedicure disc for an e-file. The disc comes in sizes S (15 mm), M (20 mm) and L (25 mm), and each size takes its own disposable refill pads (PDF-15, PDF-20, PDF-25) in 80–320 grit. Match the pad size to the disc: PDF-25 pads fit the PD-25 disc.
STALEKS FAQ
What does NS-10-5 mean on STALEKS nippers?
NS-10-5 is a STALEKS PRO Smart 10 cuticle nipper with a 5 mm cutting edge. N stands for nippers, S for the Smart line, 10 is the model (straight, shortened handles and two spring plates) and 5 is the edge length in millimetres. The same model also comes with 3, 4 and 7 mm edges.
What is the difference between Smart 10, Smart 30 and Smart 31 nippers?
All three have the Smart line's matte finish, hand sharpening and inclined straight edges with a protruding cutting part. They differ in handles and spring. Smart 10 has straight, shortened handles and two spring plates. Smart 30 and Smart 31 have rounded handles, and Smart 30 adds a removable coil spring. At M1, Smart 10 and Smart 31 come with 3, 4, 5 and 7 mm edges, and Smart 30 with 5 and 7 mm.
Is STALEKS the same as STALEKS PRO?
Yes. STALEKS is the company and STALEKS PRO is its professional brand name. The Smart, Expert and Podo tools are all sold as STALEKS PRO.
Where are STALEKS tools made?
STALEKS makes its tools in Ukraine, in the Kharkiv region. According to the company, it started as a workshop in 1996 and now sells in more than 100 countries.
Can STALEKS nippers and pushers be sterilized?
Yes. STALEKS PRO tools are made to be disinfected and sterilized between clients. Many product pages list autoclave and dry-heat (hot-air) sterilizers.
Can I buy STALEKS in Canada?
Yes. M1 Nail & Beauty Supply stocks more than 130 STALEKS PRO items: nippers, scissors, tweezers, pushers, diamond and carbide bits, papmAm files and Pododisc. You can pick up in store in Markham, Ontario, or have your order shipped across Canada. Shop all STALEKS PRO at M1.
Sources: STALEKS: Smart nippers guide, STALEKS: Expert nippers guide, STALEKS: Nail and skin nippers, STALEKS: Diamond drill bits Expert, STALEKS: About.