Cuticle nippers are cosmetology tool used for removing and shaping cuticles. Using a cuticle nipper is not the most widely used tool for home manicures, but it does come with benefits verses using a nail cutter or cuticle knife.
One of the advantages of using this tool is that it is much sharper and therefore more effective since cuticle skin can be thick and difficult to cut through. Because of the sharper blades, one much use extreme caution as you can easily cut through living skin. Another advantage is the shape of a cuticle nipper; it is designed to fit the fingernail, making it safer and easier to use.
When shopping or browsing for cuticle nippers, you will see that there are different options available. First you have the three sizes of blades to chose from; full jaw, half and quarter. The smaller the fingers, the smaller the blade size you should select. Then you will see that cuticle nippers will either have lap hinges or box hinges. While the box hinge is more expensive, it works best because they will last you longer and will not loosen.
Now that you have selected the cuticle nipper that you want, you can now learn how to use them. The process is fairly simple especially if you have ever used cuticle scissor or knife - the nippers use the exact same mechanism. First use an orange stick to gently push back the cuticles; this should be done over a period of several days. Once you begin to see dead skin forming around the base of your nail, then you can starting trimming your cuticles. Prior to trimming, it's a good idea to sterilize the cuticle nippers and clean the nails with rubbing alcohol; this will add preventive measures against infections.
You will find many, including experts, who will say that you should never cut your cuticles. This is why is it is best to use an orange stick to push back the skin and then trim the cuticles. Just make sure that you don't overdo the trimming. While it may look nice, it isn't a necessity and you always run the risk of injuring yourself if you cut your skin.
For continued and safe use of cuticle nippers, make sure they that are always sharp and clean. A nipper is supposed to cut through skin in just one cut, without any pulling or tearing. If you notice the blades becoming dull, there are places that offer services to where they will sharpen your blades. Keep your cuticle nipper sharp and you won't have to purchase a new one for many years to come.