A hydro dermabrasion machine is only as good as the tip screwed onto its handpiece. The pump can be perfect, the solutions premium, and the therapist experienced. With a worn, clogged, or wrong-sized tip, suction drops, serum leaks, and the client gets an uneven facial they can feel. For clinics running multiple sessions a day, tips aren't an afterthought order; they're a treatment-quality control item.
This guide covers the range: which color does what, how facial and body tips differ, when tips get replaced, and how much stock a busy salon actually burns through.
Compatibility: Check This Before Anything Else
Tips are not universal across machines. The spec that matters is the handpiece mount diameter:
- Outer diameter: 19mm
- Inner diameter: 16mm
Measure your machine's handpiece opening before ordering. If the numbers don't match, the tip won't seal. You get serum leakage around the base and weak suction that looks like a machine fault but is a tip fault. Machines such as our 9-in-1 aqua dermabrasion machine use this standard mount. Unsure of your model? Send the machine model before ordering and get compatibility confirmed.
Color Coding: Which Tip Does What
Color variants correspond to different tip formulations and intended uses:
- Teal (15pcs): facial; standard exfoliation and serum infusion, the default workhorse
- Blue (15pcs): facial; gentler passes for sensitive skin
- Clear (15pcs): facial; general-purpose cleansing and extraction
- Purple (15pcs): facial; deeper exfoliation for congested, thick skin
- Orange (15pcs): facial; brightening and renewal protocols
- Blue body (10pcs): body; larger contact surface for arms, legs, back, and décolleté
If your machine already uses a color system, match it to your existing protocol. Starting fresh? Open with Teal or Clear for standard facials, add specialist colors as your menu expands.
Facial Tips vs. Body Tips
| Facial tips | Body tips | |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | 15 pcs | 10 pcs |
| Contact surface | Smaller, for precision coverage | Larger, for fast area coverage |
| Typical areas | Face, neck, décolleté | Arms, legs, back, abdomen |
| Use per session | 1 tip per facial | 1-2 tips depending on area size |
When Tips Get Replaced
Professional hygiene standard for clinics: tips are single-use per client. Discard after the session. This removes cross-contamination risk entirely, keeps suction identical for every client, and eliminates the sterilization step between facials. Over a week of bookings, that time saving alone is worth more than the tip.
Signals that a tip (or its seating) needs attention even within its session:
- Suction drops or the handpiece loses seal against the skin
- Serum leaking around the tip base. The seal is compromised; reseat or replace
- Visible residue that rinsing doesn't clear
- Uneven extraction across the skin, usually partial blockage
- Client discomfort or scratchiness. The tip surface is damaged
How Much Stock a Salon Actually Burns
A single facial session = one facial tip. The arithmetic is simple but consistently underestimated at ordering time:
- 5 sessions/day: one 15-pack every ~3 days; keep 5-7 packs minimum
- 10 sessions/day: one pack every ~1.5 days; keep 10-14 packs minimum
- 20+ sessions/day: 1-2 packs daily; keep 20-30 packs minimum
Recommended floor: 2-3 weeks of supply across every color in your menu. Body tips stock separately against your body-treatment volume at 1-2 per session. The most common avoidable service failure in hydro rooms is running out of tips on a Saturday, not a machine breakdown.
Fitting and Removing Tips
- Power off the handpiece before changing tips
- Align with the mount and press until it clicks. The snap-fit needs no tools; a loose tip leaks and loses suction
- After the session, pull the tip straight out (twist gently if seated firmly) and discard
- Rinse the handpiece mount under warm water to clear serum residue before fitting the next tip
FAQ
Are tips really one-time use, or can they be sterilized?
The tips are designed and sold as single-use disposables. That's the professional hygiene position and the one insurers and health inspectors expect in a multi-client clinic. The reusable parts of the system are the handpiece, heads, and nozzles, which get disinfected between clients.
Will these fit a machine I bought from another supplier?
They fit hydro dermabrasion handpieces with a 19mm outer / 16mm inner mount diameter, the standard size across many machines on the market. Measure your mount; if it matches, the tips fit. If it doesn't, don't force it. Send your machine model and get it checked before ordering.
Which color should a new salon order first?
Teal (standard) and Clear (general purpose) cover most of a starter menu, with Blue for sensitive-skin clients. Add Purple once congestion facials are booking, Orange when brightening joins the menu, and body tips only when body treatments actually sell.
Why does the same tip feel different between clients?
Usually it's not the tip. It's skin thickness, sebum level, and suction setting. But if multiple clients report weak or uneven feel, check the tip seating first (a half-clicked tip leaks), then the mount for residue, then assume a worn batch.
Do expired or old tips degrade?
Stored dry and sealed, tips have a long shelf life, but opened packs left in humid treatment rooms can warp or collect dust. Reseal opened packs, store off the counter, and don't mix loose tips into a fresh pack. For hands-on technique from setup to aftercare, our hydra dermabrasion deep clean guide walks through a full session.
The full range (five facial colors and body variants, with wholesale and bulk pricing for salons and distributors) is on the Hydra Dermabrasion Replacement Tips product page.
Disclaimer: All brand names and trademarks mentioned in this article are the property of their respective owners and are referenced for identification and educational purposes only. The seller is an independent aesthetic product supplier and is not the manufacturer of the products discussed. This content is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always follow the applicable product instructions and discontinue use if irritation occurs.
Originally published by iTech Aesthetics — professional aesthetic and physiotherapy equipment for clinics and studios worldwide.