A neat look to a manicure is given not only by the shape of the nails, the artificial coating, but also by a neat, moisturized cuticle. Unfortunately, to keep her healthy and well-groomed, it is not enough to visit a manicurist once a month. It is necessary to care for it daily at home.
In this article we will look at why it is so important to monitor the condition of the cuticle and what cuticle care products to use so that it looks healthy and does not spoil the appearance of your manicure and nail plate. Yes! The health of your nails depends on its condition.
What is a cuticle and why should you care for it?
The cuticle is a leathery roller that frames the matrix (the base of the nail plate). It performs a protective function, preventing the penetration of bacteria, infection, and dirt into the growth zone.
The cuticle consists of two parts. The upper part is called the eponychium. It is visible to the naked eye, and this is what we are used to calling the cuticle. The lower part is the pterygium. This is the keratinized layer of the cuticle, which also performs a protective function. It grows along with the nail plate and consists of whitish plates, films that are located under the cuticle and lateral sinuses. Partial renewal of the cuticle occurs in 14 days, complete renewal in 21 days.
The main principle of cuticle care is: “Remove dead cells and moisturize living ones.”
Why is regular care so important? The overgrown cuticle begins to dry, tear, and crack. All this causes the appearance of burrs. And they not only spoil the appearance of the manicure, but also cause pain. In addition, pathogenic bacteria and infection can get into the wounds, and then inflammation will begin.
In this case, the visit to the manicurist will have to be postponed and the treatment performed first, since:
- It will be difficult for both the master and the client to perform a manicure procedure on reddened, painful areas;
- If the inflamed cuticle is regularly injured, suppuration may begin, and then medical attention will be required.
If wounds do appear on the cuticle and they bleed, then it is necessary to use hydrogen peroxide, baneocin or a disinfectant hemostatic agent. And then use healing drugs. This is necessary in order to avoid inflammation.
As mentioned above, the health of your nails depends on the condition of the cuticle. As it grows, the growth of the nail plate slows down, and grooves and other irregularities may appear on it.
In addition to the lack of regular care, there are several other factors that negatively affect the condition of the cuticle and can lead to its damage:
- Incorrect use of the tool during manicure can lead to injury to the cuticle. To avoid mistakes, we recommend taking a manicure course;
- working with someone else’s tools that have not been disinfected;
- allergic reaction;
- habit of biting nails;
- work in an aggressive environment: in water, with chemicals.
The best nippers: how to buy and choose a tool
When choosing a tool, give preference only to world-famous companies: look at the names of the tweezers (who the manufacturer is), what steel they are made from. It is best if the nippers are made of surgical steel, since it is resistant to thermal and chemical sterilization, the blades retain their sharpness longer. Branded nail tools are not much more expensive, but their quality will delight you for many years.
If you have never used manicure cuticle nippers, choose a high-quality tool with a short blade length (no more than 5 mm). A longer blade of wire cutters is only suitable for experienced craftsmen. If you use nippers with long blades, there is a chance that you will bite extra pieces of skin with the heel of the nippers and injure it.
Take the tweezers in your hands, close and open them. There should be no squeaks, clicks, resistance or jamming. The smooth movement of the tool guarantees excellent adjustment, no looseness of the hinge joint and a high-quality cut.
You should be able to hold the pliers comfortably in both your right and left hands to remove cuticle skin from all fingers.
The joint of the blades with incomplete compression may have a small gap at the heels of the tool, but no more than 1/3 mm - then this is not critical. The blades must be the same width and length, and the tips of the blades must be smooth, uniform, sharp, without bends or damage. This is very important because the main work is done by the tips of the tool.
Review of companies producing wire cutters
Zinger
Zinger wire cutters are just that. The elastic mechanism of their compression/release does not require adjustment for a long time. Nippers are sold with manual sharpening, and our store’s craftsmen additionally check the quality of sharpening of all tools before sale. Only if they work well and do not jam are the tongs put up for sale.
Singer offers not only functional, but also very beautiful steel tongs: silver- and gold-plated, with grooved handles for ease of use. In our catalog you will find both individual professional tongs and manicure sets, which include nippers and other tools. If this option seems too expensive to you, think about this: cheap manicure accessories will have to be constantly sharpened or purchased new ones. Zinger products will serve you for years; surgical steel can be sharpened less often - this also saves money.
Mertz
The company offers good pedicure clippers, which have a shortened and specially curved blade that can be used to trim ingrown nail edges. You can't do this with ordinary tweezers. If you have this problem, be sure to purchase one of the Mertz tweezers. Surgical steel is used to make them.
"Staleks"
A good option . The company produces only a few types of cuticle nippers, but each tool has a comfortable anatomical handle shape and a well-thought-out blade angle. Nippers are convenient for treating hard-to-reach places and cutting off the thinnest cuticle. The instruments are made of surgical steel.
All manicure tools are sharpened by hand by masters. And even if the manufacturer guarantees their excellent quality, we still check each product individually, sharpening and adjustment are brought to perfect condition.
You can buy all goods and remove them from the company’s warehouses yourself if you live in Moscow and St. Petersburg. You can also make a purchase with delivery to any city in Russia by mail. Call +7 (812) 309-53-28.
Recommendations for cuticle care
To avoid problems with the cuticle, you need to regularly care for it: nourish and moisturize the skin, remove the stratum corneum. Are you visiting a manicurist? Great! But, unfortunately, this is not enough for complete care. Between visits to the master, the cuticle needs to be constantly given attention. Let's figure out what procedures and means will help achieve her healthy state at home.
Take baths and push back cuticles
Baths are necessary to soften the cuticle and prepare it for subsequent processing. Pour water at a comfortable temperature into a small container. You can add sea salt, a drop of essential oil or herbal infusion to it. After taking a bath, it would be a good idea to use a scrub to remove dead skin cells.
Then you need to use a metal pusher or an orange stick to push back the cuticle. Do this with light movements, avoid strong pressure, otherwise you may accidentally injure the cuticle or nail plate. You need to push back the cuticle about once a week.
Important!
For those who communicate with manicure tools on a first-name basis, it is better to use an orange stick. If you lack the skills, using a metal pusher can inadvertently injure your nail plate or cuticle. Do you want to master all the subtleties of manicure? Then sign up for courses at ParisNail school
Don't forget about hand massage
Hand massage:
- improves blood circulation;
- softens the skin, makes it firm and elastic;
- has a beneficial effect on the condition of the cuticle;
- slows down the growth of skin around the nail plate;
- accelerates nail growth;
Hand massage is very simple. Every girl can handle this.
- Apply a small amount of oil or cream to your hands;
- Rub the product in a circular motion with light pressure until it is completely absorbed.
Use cuticle oil
Cuticle oil is a must have for every girl! The oil perfectly moisturizes the skin and saturates it with vitamins. Use it daily, for example before bed. Place a drop of oil on the cuticle of each nail and massage well.
Please note that there are mineral and natural oils. Mineral oil forms an invisible film on the surface of the cuticle. If you use this oil every day, you will get the opposite effect - the cuticle will begin to dry out. This oil is more suitable for masters - the client comes for a manicure once every 3-4 weeks, and mineral oil is ideal for single use. At home, on a daily basis, it is better to use natural oil, such as Dadi Oil nail oil.
Olive, apricot or almond oils are also suitable for cuticle care. If desired, you can even make an oil blend and/or add a couple drops of essential oils.
Use hand cream
Such a simple recommendation that girls sometimes forget about. The cream must be present in daily care. In summer it will protect the skin from the scorching sun, in winter from frost, in autumn and spring from wind.
It can be moisturizing, nourishing, protective, restorative. Choose a cream based on your skin's needs and environmental conditions. For example:
- In winter, before going outside, use a protective cream;
- in summer, use a moisturizer containing SPF filters;
- and before going to bed, it is best to smear your hands with nourishing cream.
You can even use several creams at once: one in the morning and another in the evening.
Spa treatments
Oils and creams are not everything.
Once every 1-2 weeks, scrub and perform paraffin therapy. Do you think that only a professional manicurist can handle this procedure? You are deeply mistaken! Because paraffin cream was invented a long time ago, which is simply ideal for use at home.
Let's look at the technology for using such a cream.
- Thoroughly scrub your hands to remove dead skin cells.
- Apply a moisturizing or nourishing cream and rub it in well.
- Apply a thick layer of paraffin cream.
- We put on plastic gloves and do not take them off for 15-20 minutes.
- After the specified time has passed, remove the gloves and wipe off the remaining paraffin cream with a paper towel.
After the procedure, it is advisable not to wet your hands for two hours.
You can also use various hand masks and make wraps. Such procedures will not only improve the condition of the skin, but also lift your spirits.
Drink water
Don’t forget the well-known phrase: “A person is 80% water” and be sure to follow a drinking regime so that your skin, and therefore the cuticle, does not experience a lack of fluid. The daily water consumption rate is calculated using a very simple formula: 30 ml of water per 1 kg of weight.
Use gloves
To protect your skin from the aggressive effects of chemicals and water when cleaning the house, washing dishes, or working, be sure to wear household gloves. Going outside in cold, windy, frosty weather? Again, don’t forget about gloves, but regular ones.
So, the main rule of cuticle care is: “Remove, protect, moisturize.” Remember that the cuticle needs daily care. Only in this case will your hands have a well-groomed and attractive appearance!
How to choose
Let's find out what points it is important to pay attention to when choosing suitable nail clippers.
Material
The highest quality nail clippers are made of medical grade steel. This is exactly the kind of tool you need if you want a truly professional manicure.
Density
It is important to pay attention to the density markings of the product. This information is always available on the packaging and looks approximately like this: 45x15. Keep in mind that the first number here should not be less than 40 - otherwise the cutters will not have sufficient density and will quickly become dull and fail.
Fitment of parts
Take the nippers in your hands and look at them carefully, move your hands. Check that all parts of the tool fit tightly to each other, otherwise the pliers will quickly become loose and fail. Pay special attention to the tips where the blades are located.
Video shows how to choose tongs:
Pens
High-quality tongs should be equipped with smooth, comfortable handles. The latter should move freely during operation, without getting stuck or jammed. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to get a high-quality and neat manicure. You should choose a tool that can be easily operated with one hand. Tight nippers will require too much effort when working, and your hand will get tired faster than the manicure is finished.
Squeeze the tongs in your hand and make several cutting movements in the air. It is important that the tool fits comfortably in your hand - using such nippers will be comfortable.
Presence of springs
The highest quality cutters are those equipped with a double-spring mechanism. Such a tool will be a reliable purchase and will last a long time without failures or breakdowns.
Blades
The cutting part of the tool must be sharpened - this is the main guarantee of a quality manicure. You can try cutting a plastic bag with wire cutters in a store: a sharp tool will cut it effortlessly and immediately. Make sure that there is no gap between the blades - if there is even a tiny gap, getting a neat manicure will be problematic. It is better if the tool is sharpened by hand - such nippers will remain sharp longer and will not tear or “shag” the cuticle.
Blade length can be different, selected individually
Also, consider the length of the blades. For beginners, it is better to prefer a product with short blades and a beveled “heel” - in this case, you can do without cutting the skin around the nails. And experienced craftsmen can purchase both long blades and straight ones - their skill will allow them to deftly wield professional tools.
But what professional cuticle nippers exist and how to use them are detailed here.
How to save money on manicure?
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Course bonuses:
We give all students a 15% discount on ready-made manicure starter kits, as well as a 5% discount on purchases at ParisNail and 15% on any other online course. Upon completion of the training, you will be issued an electronic certificate of completion of the course.
