If you work in the nail industry, or if you’re just a serious hobbyist who’s tired of your home office looking like a bakery covered in flour, you know the struggle. It’s the dust. It gets everywhere. It’s in your coffee, it’s on your clothes, and worst of all, it’s in your lungs.
I remember the exact moment I decided my cheap, portable fan wasn’t cutting it anymore. I blew my nose after a long day of filing acrylics, and well… let’s just say the tissue wasn’t clean. That was the wake-up call.
That’s usually the moment people start frantically typing into Google. You’re looking for reviews, for forum posts, for anything that tells you if the big investment is worth it. You are looking for a genuine ervaring met alada afzuigsysteem (experience with Alada extraction system).
Because let’s be real, these things aren’t cheap. You aren’t buying a toaster; you’re buying industrial-grade health equipment disguised as a desk accessory.
I wanted to dive deep into what it’s actually like to live with one of these systems. Not the spec sheet, but the daily reality.
The First Impression: Is It Too Loud?
This is the big one. The dealbreaker.
When you install a professional extraction system, the fear is that it’s going to sound like a jet engine taking off in your living room. You want to chat with your clients, not scream at them.
My experience? It’s… present. But it’s not obnoxious.
The Alada systems generally have a different “hum” than the cheap plastic fans. The cheap ones have that high-pitched whine that drills into your brain. The Alada feels more like a low-end whoosh of air. It’s consistent. After about ten minutes, your brain kind of tunes it out. It becomes white noise.
However, don’t expect total silence. Physics is physics. If you want to move a lot of air very quickly to catch heavy dust particles, you’re going to hear the wind. But compared to the cheaper alternatives I used to buy off random websites? It’s a night and day difference in terms of annoyance levels.
The “Snow” Test (Suction Power)
So, does it work?
Here is the test I use. I take a heavy grit file to a thick layer of gel. Usually, this creates a cloud. A literal mushroom cloud of fine toxic dust.
With the Alada running, the visual is actually satisfying. You can see the dust stream curling downwards. It doesn’t float up. It doesn’t drift toward your coffee cup. It just gets sucked into the abyss of the table.
For anyone concerned about occupational asthma and health hazards in salons, this is the main selling point. It’s not just about keeping the table clean; it’s about not breathing in micro-plastics.
The first time I used it, I wiped my desk at the end of the day and the cloth was almost clean. Usually, it’s grey. That was the moment I felt the money was justified.
Installation and the ” Ugly” Factor
Let’s talk about aesthetics. We work in beauty. We like things to look pretty.
The Alada units are generally built-in. This means you (or a handy friend/carpenter) need to cut a hole in your table. This is terrifying. Taking a jigsaw to a perfectly good manicure table requires a stiff drink and steady hands.
But once it’s in? It looks sleek. It’s flush with the surface. It looks professional. It tells your clients, “I take hygiene seriously.”
However, under the desk is a different story. The motor housing and the filter drawer take up knee space. If you have a shallow desk, you might bang your knees on it. It’s something to measure twice before you buy. You lose a bit of legroom to gain clean lungs. Fair trade? I think so.
Maintenance: The Boring Stuff
You have to clean it. Obviously.
But the ervaring met alada afzuigsysteem isn’t complete without mentioning the filters. You can’t just ignore them. If the filter gets clogged, the suction drops, and the noise increases.
Changing them is easy enough—usually a pull-out drawer mechanism—but you have to remember to do it. And you have to budget for replacement filters. It’s an ongoing cost, like putting gas in a car. Some people try to vacuum out the filters to make them last longer. Does it work? Sort of. But eventually, you just need a fresh one to keep the airflow smooth.
Is It Worth the Money?
Here is the verdict.
If you are doing nails once a month for fun? No. Stick to a portable unit or wear a mask. It’s overkill.
But if you are sitting at that desk for 4, 6, or 8 hours a day? If this is your career? Then yes.
Think of it this way: How much is your back worth? You buy a good chair. How much are your eyes worth? You buy a good lamp. Your lungs are arguably more important than both.
The price tag stings. I won’t lie. When I clicked “buy,” I hesitated. But six months later, when I’m not coughing at night and my workspace isn’t covered in a film of white dust, I don’t regret it.
The search for ervaring met alada afzuigsysteem often leads people to forums full of debates about brands and horsepower. But ultimately, it comes down to health. It’s a piece of safety equipment that happens to make your cleaning routine easier.
If you’re on the fence, look at your current dust collector. Look at the dust on your shirt. If you’re tired of eating acrylic dust, it’s probably time to upgrade.
FAQs
Q: Can I install an Alada system myself?
A: Yes, if you are comfortable using a jigsaw and measuring tools. It involves cutting a precise hole in your desk. If you aren’t handy, hire a carpenter—you don’t want to ruin your table.
Q: How often do I need to change the filter?
A: It depends on how many clients you see. For a busy full-time tech, you should probably clean the filter daily and replace it every few months. If you notice dust blowing back out or suction dropping, it’s time to change it.
Q: Is it loud enough to disturb a conversation?
A: No. It makes a sound, like a strong air purifier or a fan on medium-high, but you can easily talk over it without shouting.
Q: Does it catch the smell of monomer (acrylic liquid)?
A: To an extent. It captures the fumes at the source and pulls them down, which helps, but it is primarily a dust collector. For odors, you really need good room ventilation or a system with an activated carbon filter specifically for fumes.