The Journey
Earlier this year, our Managing Director and Head Educator travelled to Italy to attend the world renowned Cosmoprof Exhibition, one of the beauty industry's leading international events. During the trip, they had the opportunity to meet with many of our trusted suppliers, some of whom we have proudly partnered with for almost 10 years.
The exhibition also provided a valuable chance to explore the latest innovations, technologies, and product developments from manufacturers across the globe. At Willow, we are committed to staying at the forefront of the industry. Discovering new advancements and maintaining strong relationships with our suppliers ensures that we can continue to bring the very latest technology, exceptional quality, and innovative products to our Willow customers.
The Collector
As an e-file brand, searching for the perfect dust collector has been a journey we’ve been on since launching our very first e-file machine in 2020.
To say we’re picky would be an understatement. For us, performance is non-negotiable, and transparency is just as important. We weren’t willing to put our name to a product unless we knew it met the high standards that both we and our customers expect.
After years of searching, testing, and refining our ideas, we’re excited to say we’ve finally found “the one.”
From the initial design process to the finishing touches, we’ve loved being involved in every stage of development. Every detail has been carefully considered to ensure we’re creating a product that truly delivers.
We’re often one of the first brands to bring new e-file innovations to market, but being one of the last to launch a dust collector has actually worked in our favour. It has given us the opportunity to learn exactly what nail technicians need from their dust collector, identify the features and details that are missing from existing options, and ensure we’ve created something that genuinely ticks all the boxes.
And trust us, it has been worth the wait.
Solving The Problem
Every nail technician knows the battle. Dust - it’s everywhere.
By the end of a treatment, you’ll often find it on your hands, arms, clothing, desk and equipment. It settles on product bottles, lamps and surrounding surfaces, and somehow even finds its way across the room. No matter how often you wipe down your workspace, the dust keeps coming.
While there are invisible airborne particles produced during filing, the dust that technicians and clients notice most is the visible dust that settles everywhere throughout the treatment. Keeping that under control isn’t just about appearance, it’s about creating a cleaner, more professional workspace.
Understand The Difference
A dust collector and a dust extractor are designed for different purposes.
A dust extractor is designed to remove airborne particles from the breathing zone and typically uses high-efficiency filtration as part of a health and safety strategy. These units aren’t table top, they are much larger & require a large volume of pull to be able to successfully drag the air through the tiny holes within the filter to be able to capture the invisible particles.
A dust collector, on the other hand, is designed to capture the heavier dust created during filing before it has the chance to settle over you, your client and your workspace.
That’s exactly what the Willow Pro Collect has been designed to do. Where as the Willow Pro Extract is designed for the airborne invisible dust.
The Willow Pro Collect captures dust at the source, helping to reduce the amount that lands on your hands, arms, clothing, desk and equipment during every treatment.
The result is a cleaner workstation, less time spent wiping away dust between clients, and a more enjoyable experience for both you and your client.
It’s not about making unrealistic promises - it’s about solving one of the biggest everyday frustrations nail technicians face.
The Grate Design
The grate design took a little longer to get right. We knew we didn’t want to settle for a standard white-label design, but equally, we didn’t want to create something different simply for the sake of being different. It still had to feel unmistakably Willow.
We explored patterns traditionally associated with premium design, including herringbone and textures inspired by knitwear. As the sharper, more geometric shapes never quite felt like us. Our machines have always been characterised by soft forms, curved edges and an organic aesthetic.
There’s a juxtaposition we’ve always loved within Willow: the technical, almost industrial nature of e-file bits and professional machinery, softened by the botanical influence that runs throughout our brand.
Eventually, we began experimenting with traditional Aran knit patterns. Within them, we found these beautiful, soft, almost leaf-like forms, and everything started to fall into place. The pattern felt organic without being overly decorative, distinctive without feeling forced, and completely different from the more geometric grate designs we’d seen elsewhere.
In essence, it felt like Willow.
The Grate
The Pro Collect is equipped with 3 different options of high-quality metal grate dust cover. Each colour option adopts three different finishes each using high-end surface processes: vacuum electroplating, baking varnish and sandblasting.
Each improves the durability, texture and practical performance of the product, with outstanding advantages as follows:
1. Vacuum Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD)
The same process used for our speciality coated E-file bits. The process adopts environmental vacuum electroplating technology, which forms a uniform, dense and smooth metal protective film on the surface of the metal grate. This process features strong adhesion, no peeling and no fading. It effectively isolates air, moisture and dust, greatly improving the product’s anti-oxidation, anti-corrosion and rust-resistant capabilities. The metallic coating enhances durability rather than aesthetically painting. Using PVD enhances the professionalism of the product while maintaining long-term new appearance after long-term use.
2. Baking Varnish Process
Professional high-temperature baking varnish treatment is applied on the surface. The cured varnish layer is firm and wear-resistant, with excellent scratch resistance and stain resistance. It can effectively resist daily friction, tool scratches and dust adhesion during work. The surface is smooth and easy to clean, no oil stains or dust residues remain, which simplifies daily equipment maintenance. At the same time, the varnish has a resistance to cracking or peeling in long-term working environments.
3.Sandblasting Process
The sandblasting process polishes the metal surface, forming a delicate matt textured surface which we have tried to match with our Willow E-file Pause as closely as possible. Unlike other standard silver grates on the market our Sandblasting process helps eliminates the sharp edges usually experienced when wiping or dusting off the grate. To accompany this, the grate is then polished by hand 3 times improving the overall safety. We were also able to upgrade the silver colour to a more premium platinum finish compared to the standard offerings.
The Features
Side Vents
Many dust collectors have their air vents positioned on the top or bottom of the unit. While filters capture the majority of nail dust, some of the finest airborne particles can pass through the filtration system and be expelled through the vents. By positioning the air vents on the sides of the machine instead, any discharged airflow is directed away from the client, helping to create a more comfortable working environment.
The Pause Feature
The Pause feature has been carried over from the Willow E-file Pause & Pro, offering a safe and efficient way to temporarily stop your work without disrupting your workflow. By incorporating this familiar functionality across our products, we’ve created a more consistent and cohesive user experience throughout the Willow range.
Dual Fan
Features dual turbo fans with independent split control. Users can freely switch single-side left fan, single-side right fan or dual-side simultaneous operation according to actual working scenarios, meaning flexible and targeted suction work.
The Filter
Premium Filter Material
The filter is designed to balance airflow and filtration, allowing air to pass through efficiently while capturing and retaining fine nail dust. This helps the dust collector maintain powerful, consistent suction throughout use.
Made from a durable, high-density synthetic fibre, the filter is resistant to moisture and designed to withstand regular cleaning without losing its shape or performance. The fine fibre structure also helps prevent dust from clogging the filter too quickly, allowing airflow to remain consistent for longer.
By combining efficient airflow with effective dust capture, the filter provides reliable, long-lasting performance and helps keep your dust collector working at its best, treatment after treatment.
Scientific Replacement Cycle
To keep your dust collector performing at its best, we recommend replacing the filter every 2-3 months, depending on how frequently it’s used. Regular filter changes help maintain optimal suction, support effective dust capture, and keep your machine running efficiently.
Replacing the filter as recommended also helps prevent excessive dust build-up and keeps your dust collector fresh and hygienic, ensuring reliable performance treatment after treatment.
Washable Filter
Although the filter can technically be washed, we do not recommend doing so. The filter material absorbs water and can take a long time to dry completely. Over time, repeated washing may also make the material more brittle, which can affect its durability.
Washing is also unlikely to remove trapped nail dust effectively, as fine dust particles can become embedded within the filter fibres.
The best way to maintain your filter is to gently tap or shake the dust into a bin after use. If dust build-up can no longer be removed easily, it’s time to replace the filter to keep your dust collector performing at its best.
The Launch
The Willow Pro Collect has been designed to make your space cleaner. Helping you create a comfortable environment for both you and your clients. After months of development, its finally here and we cant wait for you to experience the difference.
Launches Friday 21st August @ 8pm
