Cuticle Pushers

Cuticle pushers come in many different forms.Different shaped tips on cuticle pushers or cuticle sticks perform different tasks. From metal to plastic, these instruments also have many styles that can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.These tools normally have different tips on the different ends.

Ends that are blade like are used more for removing forward cuticle growth close to the nail base, acrylics, nail glue and also very stubborn excess cuticle. Use with caution though, and only if you know what you are doing as removal of too much cuticle skin may damage the cuticle and allow germs to reach your nail bed.

Sharp, pointy ends are more for scraping the nail plate free of excess cuticle skin and other materials such as acrylic or nail glue. Pointy ends can also be used for cleaning under nails - but be careful!

Spoon like ends can be used for removing excess tissue once it has been removed. Nail tools with spoon like ends are often referred to by the surgical term for instruments resembling spoons - curettes.

All blunt ends, including curette, spoon like ends can be safely used for manipulating the cuticle. This is because blunt ends are less likely to damage the delicate cuticle skin. Blunt ends that have edges that have not been rounded can also be used to scrape light excess cuticle skin from the nail plate.

Curved ends that are rounded on the edges are used more to push back the cuticle after the excess has been scraped off as they reduce the chances of scraping the nail plate. Finer tipped blunt ended tools can be used to clean underneath nails as they can reach into tight spaces under and around the nail plate.

The selection of which to use depends upon the extent and thickness of the cuticle growth. One person could use a blunt ended instrument that still has an edge to it to remove just about all their excess cuticle growth and push back the remaining cuticle, whereas another person may need to use a blade like instrument to remove excess cuticle and then a blunt ended tool to push the cuticle back.

Probably the most well known form of cuticle pusher would have to be the orangewood stick, commonly referred to as an orange stick as well. These implements usually made of the wood from orange trees are normally rounded on one end and pointed on the other. The tips of these are frequently wrapped in cotton by users to make them less abrasive.

Orangewood sticks are also used on electronics and certain machinery because they are not prone to the build up of static electricity and are soft enough to not scar or damage equipment.

Ekal have developed cuticle pushers in many other materials. The usual types have plastic handles with metal tips, sometimes stainless steel. Some versions you will find will be full plastic.

Full stainless steel versions of cuticle pushers have been developed with exchangeable heads, carved, checkered, high-grip handles and leather carrying cases. These high quality implements resemble the precision tools of fine craftsmen!

You will find an abundance of cuticle manipulators on Ekal Professionals. Just be aware of the shapes and what they should be used for so as not to cause damage to your cuticles.