Metal manicure nipper, isolated on a white background
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Cuticle cutters are sharp instruments that cut smoothly. They are best used to remove hangnails and dead skin. They can also be used to clip nails. It's important to use your cuticle cutters with caution, as damaging living tissue can lead to injury and infection. Here are some guidelines to properly using cuticle cutters during a manicure.

Soak your fingers in a bowl of warm water for several minutes. This will soften the cuticle and prepare it for grooming.

Choose good quality, stainless steel cuticle cutters. This will ensure the cleanest cut and lowest chance of nail damage.

Snip any hangnails as close to the base as possible. Cuticle cutters will allow you to get rid of all of your hangnails, without damaging living tissue.

Cut away any cuticle that is lifting away from the nail bed. Dead, dry skin around the nails can also be removed using the cuticle cutters.

Scrape the edges of your nail bed gently using the cuticle cutters. This will remove any dead cuticle build-up on top of your nails.

Smooth out nails and fine-tune manicures using cuticle cutters to remove rough edges. Clip small sections of your nail at a time when using the cuticle cutter.

Tips

  • Soften your cuticles with cuticle oil before using the cutters.

  • Pushing back the cuticle with an orange stick will help you find areas of dry and dead skin that need to be removed.