When it comes to cuticle care, people face the common misconception: what is a cuticle? Sometimes, even nail technicians identify the wrong part of the nail. The cuticle is the non-living tissue that adheres to the nail plate and has a special purpose for keeping your claws healthy and strong. That’s why cuticle care is important element of any nail service, but it can only be helpful if it’s done right.
The purpose of the cuticle is to protect and shield your nails from bacteria, so you shouldn’t peel it entirely off your nails. However, you may clip the excess dry, dead skin hanging off your cuticles. When nail masters use professional cuticle nippers, they are nipping that extra dry skin.
A nail technician removes a dead skin tag using nippers with a sharp blade and cuts the dead skin above the level of living skin. The cut should be clean, so never grab and pull the dead skin tag. Otherwise, they can harm the surrounding skin.
Cuticle Care at Home
If you are not experienced in cuticle cutting, the risk of nipping too far into the necessary seal of skin is high. Much better is to take steps of keeping your cuticles hydrated and healthy — and prevent them from fraying. Here are some tips for everyday cuticle care:
- Add cuticle oil to your everyday routine. Fatty acids and vitamins nourish the nails and keep the cuticles moisturized.
- Gently push cuticles back with a cuticle pusher every couple of days after taking a shower.
- Invest in a set of gloves for manual labor or housework and protect your cuticle from overdrying, which can cause cracked and scaly cuticles.
- Give preference to cuticle removing creams instead of cuticle remover liquids. While liquid remover can damage tissue around the nail if left on for longer than instructed, the cream is safe to be left on all day.
How to Use Cuticle Nipper?
A fingernail skin nipper is a small tool used to trim or cut back the earth around the fingernail skin. These steps will help you to minimize your chances of accidentally cutting yourself or causing an infection:
- Soften your nails by letting your hands soak in a warm tub of water.
- Apply some moisturizer.
- Gently push the cuticle back using a pusher or orangewood stick.
- Take your cuticle nipper and nip the tiny piece of dead skin.
- Apply some cuticle oil and massage your nails and cuticle with it.
How to Use Nail Cuticle Cutter?
Strong and sharp nail cutters can also be used to clip the dead skin of your cuticle. The steps of using cuticle cutters during a manicure are quite similar to the cuticle nippers. Just remember that it’s important to use your cuticle cutters with caution as damaging living tissue can lead to injury and infection.
If you don’t know how to use nail clippers or cutters, it’s wise to have an experienced manicure master do it for you. Experts suggest opting for two salon manicures a month to trim the excess skin so cuticles stay healthy.
