The Great Cuticle Debate: Is It Better to Trim or Push?

Next time your manicurist asks you which one you prefer, you'll be ready with a definitive answer.

To trim or not to trim… that is the question.

Okay, it may not be exactly what Hamlet said, but if you’re the type who gets regular manicures, you’ve definitely wondered whether to enthusiastically affirm or politely demure when your manicurist asks if you'd like your cuticles trimmed.

The answer is (excuse the pun) pretty cut-and-dry.

“In general, you shouldn't trim cuticles,” says New Orleans dermatologist Mary Lupo, M.D. “If they’re too short or lifted away from the nail, it allows bacteria, yeast and fungus to infect the nail bed.” What’s more, too much trimming actually makes cuticles look worse in the long run. “If you cut off too much of the cuticle, they’ll look good for one or two days, but then they’ll peel and get ragged again,” says New York City manicurist Jin Soon Choi.

No trimming is all well and good—hey, we’re all about healthy beauty—but let’s face it, everyone’s cuticles can look a little rough from time to time. And if you’re splurging on a mani, you don’t want janky cuticles ruining the effect, right? “The most important part of a manicure is making sure the nail plate is clean,” notes Elissa Schell, a manicurist at Paintbox in New York City. “Polish and gel won’t adhere to the nail unless it’s completely free of any oils or dead skin.”

Fortunately, it’s possible to get cuticles mani-ready sans trimming. Follow these three easy steps to neaten up cuticles and get rid of any annoying dead skin safely:
One more thing to note: Unlike cuticles, hangnails should always be nipped in the bud. “A hangnail is really just a loose or already-torn cuticle,” says Dr. Lupo. “They should always be trimmed to prevent from being torn further and causing bleeding or infection.”

Of course, it’s even better to prevent hangnails in the first place—and you can do that by applying oil or hand lotion regularly. “I know manicurists say it all the time, but that's because it's true!” says Schell. “Along with helping prevent dry cuticles, it helps tremendously with hangnails.” Try keeping a bottle of oil on your desk and rubbing it onto cuticles every once in a while.

You’ll love the instantly-neatened-up effect it has on your mani—and your cuticles will thank you.

Call and schedule your manicure today!  831.373.2273 or book on line at www.montereydayspa.com


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9 Important Things to Know Before Your Next Manicure & Pedicure

Tips to Avoid the Health Dangers of Nail Salons

We love a nice manicure and pedicure, but nail salons can be a jungle of bacteria, viruses and fungus all waiting to infiltrate your nails, hands and feet. And there are countless horror stories to prove it. Even if you’ve never gotten a skin or nail infection from a salon, don’t let your guard down because you’re certainly not in the clear forever. We’ve compiled our experts’ tips so that you know what to watch out for at the nail salon to ensure that you’re getting a safe, sanitary manicure and pedicure.  

So take note—or you might leave your next salon visit with a colorful skin infection to go with that shiny, fresh coat of polish.    


Proper Instrument Cleaning
Research has shown that serious infections including hepatitis and E. coli bacteria have been transmitted between clients from improperly sanitized nail salon tools.  

When you call to make your appointment or when you arrive, ask about the salon’s sanitary practices. “Inquire about how the salon cleans their instruments,” recommends dermatologist Dr. Debra Price. “The safest nail salons steam autoclave their instruments and open the packets in your presence.”  

If the salon is not using an autoclave, make sure they are using a UV sterilizer (keeping instruments in the machine for five minutes) or, at the very least, are soaking instruments (10-minute minimum) in a disinfecting solution such as Barbicide.  

Also pay attention to if your nail tech washes their hands between clients, and don’t be afraid to speak up if you sense something fishy—the slight awkwardness of saying something is not nearly as bad as a persisting infection.    


Nail Files Should Be New
All the tools your nail tech uses can be sanitized except one crucial mani-pedi instrument: the nail file. Because of this, a new nail file should be used on each client. If the nail file that your technician presents to you looks worn or used, be sure to ask for a new one before they begin your treatment.    


You Can Bring Your Own Supplies
To thwart any uneasy feelings about the sanitary conditions of your salon, you can actually bring your own manicuring tools and polish.  

Make sure that you thoroughly clean your tools before and after they get used because even your own germs aren’t safe for you to be re-contaminated with.  

To clean, wash supplies with warm water and soap and then soak in rubbing alcohol to kill off bacteria predators. Also be mindful of cleaning the bag you’re storing your supplies in. To be safe, you might want to opt for disposable plastic bags that you can toss after each use.    


Stand-Alone Basin Pedicures & Sanitation
It is absolutely critical that you take note that the basin is sanitized between clients.  

“Outbreaks of serious skin infections on the legs and feet following spa pedicures have occurred from contaminated footbaths that were not properly cleaned and disinfected,” explains Dr. Price. “In choosing a nail salon, make sure that the foot spa is cleaned and disinfected after each use.”  

Newer salons should have pedicure chairs with detachable basins and filtration systems. This prevents debris that could get caught in the filter from seeping back into the water essentially creating a cesspool during your pedicure.  

If your salon does not have a detachable basin with running water and a filtration system, ask if they provide pedicures in a stand-alone basin (properly sanitized before you use it, of course). You won’t have the whirlpool like effects, but you will be protecting yourself from infections.  

No matter what type of tub the salon uses, you can ensure an extra level of protection by using a tub liner (they’re super cheap) to help prevent your skin from coming in contact with the tub walls.    


Shaving and Pedicures
“You should not get a spa pedicure if you have areas of broken skin from cuts or abrasions, and should not shave within 24 hours of a spa pedicure,” recommends Dr. Price.  

If you have broken areas of skin—this includes bug bites—on your legs or feet, it makes you more susceptible to contracting an infection. So you’ll definitely want to avoid shaving within the day prior to a pedicure as shaving causes tiny nicks and cuts (you may not even notice them), which can be gateways for infections to more easily enter your body.  


Shellac Manicures & UV Damage Many worry about shellac manicures because the strong bond they form with the nail, but what they really should be worried about is the UV exposure they’re getting during the manicure.

Those little UV drying machines you slip your hands into multiple times throughout a shellac manicure might as well be mini hand tanning beds. We don’t need to tell you how dangerous tanning beds are for your skin and cancer risk.  

While the exposure level is relatively low at about 10 minutes, if you are predisposed to skin cancer or frequently get gel or shellac manicures, seek out a salon that uses a UV-free or UV-alternative lamp to cure the polish. If that’s not an option, you can also try applying a broadband sunscreen onto your hands before putting them into the UV drying machine (have your technician apply it for you—your nails are wet).  

Trust us, your hands will thank you from saving them from wrinkles and premature aging.


Shaving Calluses Is Illegal Do not let anyone shave your calluses (that sentence sounds so weird). Shaving calluses—the process of removing the dead skin from your feet with a razor blade—is actually illegal in salons in most U.S. states. This treatment is dangerous because there’s a high risk your skin may get cut, plus the instruments (if not properly sanitized) could have traces of previous clients’ blood on them. So dangerous; so gross.  

In addition, shaving off calluses may cause thicker, rougher patches of callused skin to develop.  

Instead, calluses should be treated with a scrub or clean pumice stone. You can help loosen them up beforehand using a heel or foot cream.    


Keep Your Cuticles During your manicure and pedicure if you’re asked if you want your cuticles cut, politely decline. “It’s best not to cut cuticles as they protect the nail from infection,” explains dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman.  

Instead of cutting, Dr. Jaliman recommends asking to have your cuticles gently pushed back using an orange stick wrapped in cotton.    


Reconsider Fish Pedicures
Fish pedicures, where you soak your feet in a tank of water filled with tiny fish that nibble away the dry, dead skin on your feet, are an unexpectedly trendy practice in the pedicure business. Think of the fish as doing the job of the callous removers the nail tech normally would use.  

While the procedure’s gross factor may be enough to cause you to shy away, you should also be aware of its unsanitary nature. “Soaking your feet in non-chlorinated fresh water with a dense amount of fish can possibly lead to bacterial and viral infections,” explains podiatrist Dr. Joseph Borden.  

Several salons stress that the procedure does not result in adverse health consequences, but as Borden adds, “Salons use the same fish to exfoliate the skin of many customers; these fish cannot be sanitized or sterilized and their droppings can also carry disease.”    

Book your next manicure/pedicure with a day spa that you can trust!  Call 831-373-2273 to schedule your appointment or book online at www.montereydayspa.com

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