by Paisley Parmer

Created on: April 29, 2009

The perfect manicure starts with the right tools! Knowing which tools you should use and how to use them when giving a manicure is essential for a job well done. There are six basic implements used in giving a manicure that are suitable for the professional and home manicurist, orangewood sticks, nail file, cuticle pusher, cuticle nippers or scissors, nail brush and emery boards.

Orangewood Sticks

Orangewood sticks have a variety of uses from loosing the cuticle to applying solvents. When loosening cuticles, the cuticle should remain moist at all times and you hold the stick in a flat position while gently pushing back the cuticles. To use an orangewood stick as an applicator for oil, cream, bleach or solvent for the cuticle or nail simply wrap a small amount of cotton around the tip.

Nail File

The nail file is used on the free edge of the nail to smooth and shape it. Nail files are usually long, thin and flexible made of metal and around seven or eight inches in length. You should keep the nail file at a slight tilt while filing so that the underside of the nail has the most contact with the file. Always file from the corners near the cuticles towards the center of the nail and according to the way the nail grows. Two short quick stokes than one long sweeping strokes on each side of the nail is the suggested manner.

Cuticle Pusher

Use the cuticle pusher for loosening and pushing back the cuticles and is usually metal with one of the tips resembling that of flathead screwdriver. The spoon edge of the cuticle pusher is used to loosen the cuticles by gentle working them while moist. The flat edged side of the cuticle pusher is used to push cuticles back and to remove dead cuticle that may adhere to the nail.

Cuticle Nippers or Cuticle Scissors

When cuticles need dead cuticles need to be removed or uneven cuticles and hangnails need to be trimmed you used cuticle nippers or scissors. The tool is small and resembles scissors only with a small amount blade used for cutting to make for easy maneuvering of the small areas around the nails. When cutting cuticles they should only be removed in single segments so that, you avoid any damage to the cuticle.

Nail Brush

The nail brush is a small clean soft bristled brush that aids in the cleansing of the nails and fingertips in warm soapy water by loosening up any debris. Simply stroke the nails in a downward motion with the brush while they are in a bowl of warm soapy water.

Emery Boards

The emery board is used exactly the same as the nail file but it is not made of metal and has a coarse side and a fine side. The coarse side of the emery board shapes the nails and the fine side smoothes them out.

Learn more about this author, Paisley Parmer.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.