How to Use Cuticle Clippers

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Learn the safe and proper way to use cuticle trimmers
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Cuticles are essential for your nail's health and safety, but they can sometimes build up dead skin. A cuticle cutter is a handy device you can use to snip unwanted dead skin off your cuticles. To use a cuticle cutter, sanitize the cutter first and then soften your nails. Gently pull away any dead skin and then moisturize your nail bed.

Cutting Cuticles with Trimmers

  • Wash and sanitize the trimmers with rubbing alcohol. Soak your hands or toes in warm water for 5-10 minutes to soften the skin.
  • Push your cuticles back to the bed of your nail using a cuticle pusher.
  • Use the trimmers to cut the cuticle along the arch of your nail. Wash your hands and moisturize afterward.
Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Ensuring a Clean and Easy Clipping

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  1. Use warm water and antibacterial soap to gently swab down your cuticle clipper. You can apply the soap with your hands or use something like a cotton ball to the clean the clipper. [1]
    • If you use your hands to clean the clipper, wash them thoroughly first.
  2. Use rubbing alcohol or an iodine solution on the tips. Either dip the tips in the solution or dab it on using a cotton swab. Sanitizing the tips helps prevent your nails from becoming infected. [2]
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  3. Fill a bowl with warm water and submerge your fingertips or toes. This will soften your nails so the cuticles will clip off easier. [3] There is no precise amount of time you need to soak your nails, but about 10 to 15 minutes is probably enough.
    • You can also simply clip your cuticles after getting out of the shower.
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Part 2
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Pushing and Cutting Your Cuticles

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  1. In addition to a cuticle clipper, you need a cuticle pusher. This is a small device you use to push your cuticles back into the nail bed. This will raise the cuticles slightly, making them easier to clip. [4]
  2. Focus on the dead skin on the end of the cuticle. Face the tip of the blades towards your nails and make tiny snips across the cuticle. [5]
  3. Gently pull upward after making your snips. This will pull any dead skin away from the cuticle. Keep pulling away the dead skin until you've trimmed the full cuticle. [6]
  4. The skin under the cuticle and near the nail bed may become irritated as you remove the cuticle. To counteract this, dab on some hydrating lotion or cuticle oil near the nail bed and the surrounding skin. This should soothe your skin, reducing the likelihood of complications from cutting your cuticles. [7]
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Part 3
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Taking Safety Precautions

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  1. Diabetes can make finger and toenails more subject to infection. If you have diabetes, or a health condition that decreases your immune system, refrain from cutting your cuticles. Cuticles are there to protect your fingernails and skin. [8]
  2. Cuticle clipping is not something you should do every day. Most experts recommend clipping your cuticles in moderation. Stick to clipping your cuticles once every couple of weeks to prevent infections, and soreness near your nail bed. [9]
  3. Do not clip off your entire cuticle. The cuticle is a necessary component of the nails that protects them from germs. Only clip off the tips of the cuticles that are comprised of dead skin. Leave the rest intact. [10]
    Doug Schoon, Nail Care Expert

    Improper use of cuticle nippers is a common cause of nail damage. Never cut skin or eponychium with nippers, as this causes intense pain and invites infection. Only target loose, detached cuticle tissue with nippers.

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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I trim my cuticles without nippers?
    Kristin Pulaski
    Salon Owner & Nail Specialist
    Kristin Pulaski is a Professional Nail Artist and the Founder of Paintbucket, a self-owned and operated nail salon based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She has over five years of experience running Paintbucket and is licensed as a nail technician. Paintbucket offers nail art manicures, pedicures, and soft gel extensions along with customized packages for wedding and bridal parties. She holds a BA in Managerial Science from Manhattan College.
    Kristin Pulaski
    Salon Owner & Nail Specialist
    Expert Answer
    You can manage your cuticles by pushing them up towards the skin of the finger and then removing the cuticle. Afterward, make sure to apply a moisturizer or cuticle oil to keep the area hydrated and healthy.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Cuticle cutter
      • Rubbing alcohol or an iodine solution
      • Antibacterial soap
      • Cotton ball or cotton swab
      • Moisturizer

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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.ebay.com.au/gds/How-to-Use-a-Cuticle-Trimmer-/10000000178371720/g.html
      2. ↑ http://www.ebay.com.au/gds/How-to-Use-a-Cuticle-Trimmer-/10000000178371720/g.html
      3. ↑ http://www.ebay.com.au/gds/How-to-Use-a-Cuticle-Trimmer-/10000000178371720/g.html
      4. ↑ Kristin Pulaski. Salon Owner & Nail Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.
      5. ↑ http://www.ebay.com.au/gds/How-to-Use-a-Cuticle-Trimmer-/10000000178371720/g.html
      6. ↑ Kristin Pulaski. Salon Owner & Nail Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.
      7. ↑ Kristin Pulaski. Salon Owner & Nail Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.
      8. ↑ http://www.ebay.com.au/gds/How-to-Use-a-Cuticle-Trimmer-/10000000178371720/g.html
      9. ↑ http://www.instah.com/beauty-tips/how-to-use-a-cuticle-trimmer/
      1. ↑ http://www.instah.com/beauty-tips/how-to-use-a-cuticle-trimmer/

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