How to Nip Hangnails During a Manicure

Hangnails are excess skin around the nail bed caused by dry cuticles. Hangnails should be taken care of promptly, since they can get hooked on a piece of clothing and pulled further down, causing pain and bleeding. You can easily remove hangnails during a manicure and take steps to avoid them in the future.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cuticle remover
• Cuticle stick
• Cuticle nippers
• Cloth
• Cuticle oil

1. Purchase a quality cuticle nipper. A cheap nipper gets dull quickly and can tear cuticles rather than cutting. Professional quality cuticle nippers have a joint underneath that locks into place to give them spring action. They come in several sizes. A popular size is the "1/2 jaw blade," which is a 1/2-inch blade surface.

2. Apply cuticle remover to your cuticles. Wait a few minutes, then scrape away the cuticles using small circular motions with a wood cuticle stick. Push back remaining cuticles with the cuticle stick. Rinse your hands.

3. Rub cuticles with a damp, warm cloth in a gentle circular motion to wipe away dead cuticle skin.

4. Nip hangnails and pieces of cuticle that stick up. Nip close to the skin, but not so close that you cut the skin and cause it to bleed. Nip quickly and firmly and don't pull on the hangnail.

5. Prevent future hangnails by using cuticle oil and moisturizer daily. Massage cuticle oil into the nail bed. Apply moisturizing cream to your hands and fingers.

Tips & Warnings

• Cutting live cuticles makes them grow back thicker and can cause infection and further problems if you don't do it correctly.
• Cuticles are important--they form a barrier that keeps bacteria from getting into your skin. Cuticles should be kept neat but not cut excessively.