What are orange manicure sticks and what are they for?

In addition to having professional skills, manicure requires the use of special tools that allow you to perform the procedure as safely, easily and efficiently as possible. Orange manicure sticks have become a real breakthrough in care - not remarkable in appearance, but very convenient tools for correcting the cuticle and cleansing the nail plate of dirt accumulated under it.

Manicure sticks

Sticks are most often sold in packs of ten pieces in almost all cosmetics stores, they are cheap and enjoy impressive popularity among professionals and those who are used to doing manicures at home.

What are orange sticks?

Orange nail sticks are thin wooden sticks that are used for manicures, pedicures and gel polish removal. They work with nail plates, cuticles and pterygium. The tool is equally suitable for home and professional use.

Why are orange sticks called that and what are they made of?

Everything is very simple! These miracle sticks are made from orange tree bark. Why did they choose this particular wood to create them? The thing is that the orange tree has a unique structure - soft and dense at the same time. That is why the sticks are durable, protected from delamination and cannot injure the nail plate. Citrus bark also has natural antiseptic properties, which makes it even more valuable.

What do orange sticks look like?

Orange sticks have an elongated cylindrical shape, they are thin, their length varies from 8 to 18 cm. One end of the stick is sharp, and the other is beveled flat.

How much do orange sticks cost?

This is a fairly budget product, its cost ranges from 20 to 400 rubles, depending on the length of the tool and the quantity in the package.

Benefits of orange wood manicure sticks

The products have the following advantages:

Availability. The tool is sold everywhere and is inexpensive. Anyone can buy it.
Strength. Orange wood is a durable material that does not flake when performing a manicure. Thanks to this, the master can remove the cuticle without damaging the nail and the skin around it.
Safety of use. The sticks are made of natural wood. The material has a high antiseptic effect, which eliminates the likelihood of developing inflammatory processes.

Products are sold in packages. The approximate cost is 200 rubles for 100 pieces.

What are orange sticks for?

Orange sticks are an almost universal tool, truly necessary for everyone who does manicure: both masters and non-professionals. So, here are the main functions of orange sticks:

Cleaning your nails

The tool can easily remove dirt under the nails: just swipe with a thin pointed tip, which will collect all the dirt.

Pushing back the cuticle

We can say that pushing back the cuticle is one of the main tasks of the orange stick. This is done with a wide beveled end. The stick glides wonderfully over the nail plate and delicately pushes back the softened skin, so it is a must-have in the process of European unedged manicure. Thanks to its texture, it is absolutely safe for the cuticle and side ridges and cannot injure them.

Cleaning off the pterygium

Another important function of the wand is that it can not only push back the cuticle, but also clean off the pterygium with vigorous movements.

Cuticle removal

The sticks are easy to remove cuticles. Thoroughly soften the skin with a remover and then carefully separate the keratinized tissue from the main layer of the cuticle.

Removing gel polish

The sticks also help in the process of removing gel polish by soaking. After the old coating has softened, you can pry it with the beveled end and carefully remove it. In this case, the stick simply cannot scratch the nail plate, unlike metal tools.

During the process of nail extension

Firstly, you can remove softened acrylic with sticks, secondly, you can use them to lay out forms for acrylic modeling, and thirdly, when attaching tips and applying glue to them.

Instead of dots

Don't have a Dots handy? No problem! Orange sticks will come to the rescue - with the sharp end you can pick up the necessary material and work pointwise.

For painting nails

Also, the sharp tip can be used for the finest painting, for example, using the “wet” technique.

For attaching decor

You can use an orange stick to pick up glitter, pick up some small element (rhinestones, pearls) and transfer it to your nails.

Correction of applied gel polish

An orange stick is very convenient to remove the crusty coating from the skin before it polymerizes.

What are manicure sticks for?

Using orange sticks for manicure is very convenient. The main purpose of the tool is to clean the inner surface of the nail from dirt accumulated underneath it and correct the cuticle.

Using sticks in manicure

The procedure is effective both on dry nails and on moist ones. Using the tool, you can easily and quickly remove the keratinized layer of skin around the nail. To carry out careful, delicate removal, the skin must be thoroughly steamed by holding your hands in a warm bath for 10-15 minutes.

To improve the effect, add poisonous herbal decoction, flavored oil or sea salt to the water. The cuticle is removed by carefully pushing it away from the surface of the nail with the beveled end of an orange stick. Regardless of the type of manicure, the procedure guarantees safety for the skin, absence of hangnails and inflamed areas.

Wooden sticks in packaging

What can replace orange sticks?

The answer to this question lies the meaning of using orange sticks: in order to replace this one universal tool, you will need many devices! So, the stick can be replaced:

pusher if you push back the cuticle;
nail scissors to remove cuticles if you are doing a trimmed manicure instead of an unedged one with a remover;
wax pencil during the decorating process;
the back of the spatula for cleaning the nail;
with a brush during painting;
dots for design creation.

Is it possible to replace orange sticks with silicone ones?

In addition to orange ones, there are also silicone sticks with a plastic tip. They are usually used by girls with overly sensitive skin. If you have normal skin, it is better to use classic orange sticks, because the plastic does not move well along the surface of the nail plate, as a result of which you can press harder on the tool or make sharper movements, which can ultimately lead to injury to the cuticle or nail.

Where to buy orange sticks?

We strictly recommend buying orange sticks only from trusted stores! Otherwise, there is a risk of buying expired goods in damaged packaging. And we remember about the absorbency of sticks - under inappropriate conditions they can become a source of pathogenic bacteria and infections.

How were orange sticks invented?

The history of orange sticks dates back to 1830, when King Louis Philippe developed a hangnail on his finger. The court doctor was ordered to remove the hangnail, and then the doctor developed a set for hand care. After that, manicure went to the masses, and ready-made manicure sets became very popular. Then they included powder, a suede nail file, a special hand cream and, of course, an orange stick, which is included in all standard sets to this day.

ORANGE STICKS FOR A NAIL ARTIST: TYPES, PURPOSE, ANALOGUES AND USEFUL HACKS

An orange wood wand is every nail technician's favorite budget tool. Despite the fact that the market for accessories for manicure and pedicure annually pleases specialists with interesting new products that make work easier and save precious time, the orange stick does not lose its relevance and relevance. Why is this modest assistant needed by both experienced pros and beginners? How to unlock its potential and use it as efficiently as possible? What types of sticks are there and can they be replaced with something? Today we will reveal all the intricacies of handling these essential companions to the creativity of any manicure fairy!

What is an "orange stick"? Origin and types of tools, pros and cons of use.

Orange sticks are a simple, familiar and irreplaceable “device” in their versatility, which appeared in the very first ready-made manicure kit. The idea of using this universal accessory to give your hands a neat and well-groomed look was born in France and quickly spread throughout the world. Thanks to the ease of handling, always impeccable results, low cost and environmental friendliness of the sticks, they have become a familiar and necessary fixture in the home manicure case and beauty salon desk. What is an outwardly inconspicuous stick and what are the features of its use?

What does an orange stick look like? This is a thin, elongated cylindrical product, the length of which ranges from 8-9 to 18 cm, and the thickness, as a rule, is 3-5 mm. One end of the stick has a flat, beveled edge, and the other resembles the tip of a toothpick. The difference in length is explained by ease of use (some craftswomen find it easier to handle a short stick, while others find it easier to handle a long one), as well as the type of operations that the manicurist performs with a stick. To process the skin and nail plate, there is no need to sharpen or shorten the tool. Whereas with more intensive manipulations, the “spatula” becomes dull and requires updating the cut using an artificial nail file with coarse abrasiveness. The classic orange assistant is not painted as this violates its sanitary and hygienic characteristics.

Photo by: @nurtdinova_nails

In modern nail practice, sticks can be:

with a flat or triangular cut;
entirely wooden and with an abrasive tip.

The triangular tip allows you to quickly, efficiently and more conveniently open the side ridges of the nail for more thorough treatment before applying the coating. And tools with a finely abrasive tip/tips are used to remove dry and hard excess cuticles, to smooth the skin around the nail plate and to gently polish the corners of nails to prevent ingrown nails.

A small, double-edged accessory can be made from several types of wood (birch, sandalwood, juniper, etc.). However, it is the orange tree bark that meets all the necessary raw material parameters for the manufacture of professional nail tools:

a unique durable structure (at the same time dense and soft) prevents the instrument from delaminating and forming burrs that injure the skin;
the wood is impregnated with natural oils, giving it antibacterial and antiseptic properties necessary for working with the skin and natural nails;
when handled correctly, the stick does not spoil the nail bed and does not provoke the formation of grooves, separations and unwanted pigmentation;
does not pollute the environment when disposed of since it is originally a natural material.

Author of the photo: @_aleksevna_nails_

The disadvantages of sticks include their porosity and hygroscopicity, so reusing accessories is not recommended.
Wood that has absorbed moisture loses optimal hardness and elasticity, becomes a source of bacteria and cannot be disinfected by methods that guarantee absolute safety for reuse (processing in a dry heater, autoclave, glasperlene sterilizer or UV sterilizer). And yet, despite its short life, this inconspicuous object manages to bring a lot of benefits thanks to its wide range of applications. Why do you need wooden manicure sticks in the work of a manicurist?
Orange sticks are a truly necessary accessory that does not require special training or special skills in order to get neat and healthy, beautiful and well-groomed nails as a result of simple procedures. It is pleasant and convenient to use both during a relaxing Spa for hands and nails, and during a home or salon (professional) unedged manicure and pedicure with subsequent creation of a design.

The top functions of the wooden aroma stick include:

Cleansing nail plates from dirt.

The space under the free edge of the nail plate is a vulnerable, sensitive and painful place that requires careful and gentle handling. It is not advisable to treat this area with non-sterile and sharp instruments. The carefully polished beveled tip of an orange stick allows you to quickly and effectively remove dirt from the inner surface of the free edge, without pain and discomfort and the risk of injury to the skin and nails;

Photo by: @katy_nailstylist

Pushing back the cuticle in the European manicure procedure.

A strong and dense stick easily glides over the cuticle area, delicately moving dead skin without scratching the nail with its wide edge - the “spatula”. At the same time, it does not leave cuts on delicate skin and on the upper layers of the nail, which is especially important for those with thin, fragile and allergic nails, as well as when performing children's manicures;

Removal of pterygium.

An aesthetic and high-quality manicure is impossible without removing this thin film of dead particles of the epidermis and nail plate that has grown to the nail. Poorly cleaned pterygium is one of the main causes of gel polish detachments from the cuticle area. In order to prevent this problem, you need to open the subcuticular pocket and vigorously (but without fanaticism!) work with the beveled side of an orange stick;

Softening and removing cuticle.

After the remover chosen by you or the master (or a warm bath with medicinal soaking) softens the keratinized cuticle, dead tissue must be thoroughly cleaned from the main (living) layer. During this operation, you need to work slowly and gently, because if the integrity of the skin is damaged, after a few days terry rags or painful inflammations will appear at the treatment site;

Removing shellac (gel polish).

Not all girls know how and practice changing designs using a router, wire cutters or nail file. If you are outside your usual environment or need to urgently remove the coating, a specialized liquid for removing gel polish (acrylic or biogel), foil, cotton pads or lint-free wipes (or ready-made wrappers) and an orange stick will help you remove the artificial material. Unlike metal tools, this wooden assistant will allow you to carefully pry and clean off swollen material without the risk of tearing off several layers of the nail plate;

Nail extension, extension and repair.

If you don’t have a special brush and spatula on hand for extracting and laying out acrygel, or if you don’t have a brush ready for use for laying out the acrylic mixture on the forms and then on the nail, you can perform all these steps with a manicure stick. It is also convenient to press tips with glue applied to the inner surface onto a previously prepared nail, and also to level the silk patch at the site of the nail crack;

Nail design.

An orange stick that has lost its hygiene will serve you instead of a dot (the sharp tip will help you decorate the image with the chosen decorative material in a dotted technique), a “hair” brush (for designs in the “wet-on-painting” style) or a wax pencil. To make it easier to transfer rhinestones, sparkles or metallic decor, dip the tip of the stick into a transparent base or top (or glue) so that the decoration does not fall during the process of transferring from the jar (palette) to the nail.

The tool also makes it easy to level your favorite slider, decorative tape or colorful sticker over the surface of the nail;

Correction of gel/gel polish streaks.

Cuticle remover sticks allow you to deftly remove any sagging coating or decorative product (for example, gel paint or gel paste) from the sinus of the nail or from the side roller before sending the client’s hand to the lamp for polymerization.

Despite its multifunctionality, the orange tree stick is not always at hand, or can no longer be reused.
Therefore, a manicurist should always have possible adequate substitutes in his arsenal in order to do the job competently and efficiently. How to replace an orange stick: functional analogues

An experienced nail artist is always ready for any surprise during the creative process. And if suddenly there is a need to replace one accessory with another, then in its working tray or case you are ready to take on the role of an orange stick:

Metal pusher (scraper) with “spatula” and “hatchet” tips;
Manicure scissors (for performing trim manicure);
Plastic stack sticks (also known as “hoof” sticks);
Special curettes made of medical steel (will help remove contaminants even from hard-to-reach areas of the periungual skin);
Tweezers (for installing manicure decor or leveling it along the nail).

However, in order for the work process to bring both the client and the master exceptionally positive emotions, it is useful to conduct an audit of your inventory in advance and purchase basic consumables and frequently used accessories for future use. When selecting the number of orange sticks you need (by the piece or in a set), be guided by your customer flow or the ability to properly store these moisture-sensitive tools. Craftswomen who are discovering the field of manicure beauty for the first time should pay attention to those options for completing ready-made kits, which already include a minimum set of sticks from a particular brand.

Photo by: @sova_nogtiko
How to use an orange stick?
Video lessons. We bring to your attention several training videos on the use of an orange stick at the stages of nail and cuticle treatment and when decorating nails using the gel polish technique.
Video author: Nails Video author: MYBEAUTYPRO Video author: ItsMyNail_InnaMaksimova Video author: @actuellenails

What are they used for?

We discussed why tangerine and orange sticks are needed for manicure. Yes, it may sound strange, but all citrus trees are great for making toothpicks, skewers, sticks and bases for cocktail umbrellas.

Orange sticks help in nail care routine. In everyday life, of course, a manicure item is used less often, but enterprising housewives simply do not have a single tool lying around. In any case, a wooden accessory is indispensable:

when removing and covering with shellac;
when preparing nails for trim manicure;
in a skin care procedure with oils;
for pedicure;
when cleaning the free edge;
decorating nails.

The list can be created endlessly, since each girl can name an additional item in which the orange pusher is involved. But there is one recommendation: it is better not to reuse the item, especially if one of the edges has changed its structure and has become less hard or sharp.

Cleansing

When performing the procedure for cleaning the outside of the plate, an orange tool is used. The sharp edge removes dirt under the nail and cleans the smile line. Using a stick, you can remove the pterygia, remove growths on the plate, and push back the cuticle. You can also use them in combination with skincare products, make a European manicure, or use them for a pedicure.

Cuticle removal

You can and should use a wooden stick to remove cuticles. However, it is necessary to use the item in a comprehensive manner so as not to disturb the structure of the plate. When pressed hard, the nail is injured, especially if you start to tear off any growth. It is better to start the procedure after softening baths. The keratinized skin will become very pliable.

To remove dead cells on the side rollers, you additionally need cuticle files. One of the sides of the file should be rough, and act in a similar way as a pumice stone for the heels.

After the dead cells have been removed, you can safely push back the cuticle and begin rubbing in the oil. Any care product: emulsion, cream, cuticle oil has a special composition, which makes the periungual skin less noticeable, velvety and elastic.

Before the oil is wiped off, the root skin of the nail must be carefully lifted, as if lifted upward, to open access to completely soften the keratinized edges.

Nail decoration

We can talk endlessly about decorating the plate. The topic is very broad, especially during the period when various materials for nail art appeared. But any coating is short-lived, and a period comes when the surface of the plate needs adjustment or complete removal of the gel polish. Just to perform the correction, sticks are used, of course, complete with a special solution for removing the polymer coating.

First, special products are applied to a cotton pad or lint-free cloth. Then they are pressed tightly to the plate using foil or a clamp. After 10 minutes, the design is removed with a stick or metal tools are used.

Quite often the polymer coating is removed using a machine with a cutter. But even here they use an orange stick as an auxiliary tool, lifting the cuticle and moving the side rollers away from the plate.

The sharp edge of the tool is perfect for laying out stones in a design. It is convenient to take stones, broths, kamifubiks with a wooden object and transfer them to the surface of the nail. Of course, a brush or dots can handle this task, but as an option you can use an orange stick.

Working with chopsticks

The most popular procedure performed using orange sticks is moving and removing the cuticle. This is a fairly simple process, which, however, has a number of nuances and features. Therefore, we will tell you a little more about how to remove cuticles with an orange stick.

Before starting the process, you need to make a hot bath for your hands, which will soften the cuticle and make it easier to move away from the bed. After finishing the bath, dry your hands with a towel and begin treating the cuticle.

Using the pointed end of the stick, begin to move the cuticle in the direction from the free edge of the nail to the pre-nail fold. In this case, the movements should be sliding; there is no need to try to lift the cuticle or put excessive pressure on the nail growth area, as this can damage it. In this case, the direction of movement horizontally of the nail should also be directed in one direction, for example, from left to right.

Don't start pushing the cuticle away from the center. Move from the edge of the nail, from the side pre-nail fold, to the center of the nail, and then from the center to the other edge. After you have pushed back the cuticle in the lunula area in this way, begin to move the excess skin along the edges, near the pre-nail ridges. Then try to clean off the ptegirium where it remains without pressing on the nail.

In order to always have well-groomed hands, every girl or woman puts maximum effort into this; those who have the time and money to regularly use the services of a manicurist, and those who cannot afford such luxury, try to do it themselves.

Features of choice

You need to choose a tool based on your own goals. There are narrow and wide, long and short models on sale. Narrow products are suitable for performing nail art, and wide ones for removing shellac. There are short (9-13 mm) and long (14-18 mm) instruments on sale. By testing different options for sticks, you can understand which ones are more convenient to work with.

Products are often counterfeited, so you need to buy them in trusted stores.

If 100 sticks cost less than 100-150 rubles, you should ask the seller what they are made of.

Manufacturing

Orange sticks appeared in the second half of the 20th century in France and quickly gained popularity due to their high versatility and ease of working with them. An orange manicure stick is a fairly cheap tool compared to others, because the price of a set can range from 20 to 200 rubles. It depends on the number of sticks, their size, length, and decorative elements.

Why did they choose the orange tree to make manicure tools? It combines a number of excellent properties and useful qualities. Its wood is quite dense and strong, which prevents it from breaking or absorbing too much liquid, and the stick does not delaminate when finished. At the same time, the wood is soft, which means it does not injure the nail. The antiseptic properties of this wood reduce the likelihood of inflammation developing at the site of microtraumas.

What should you keep in mind when working with orange sticks?

Sticks made of natural wood absorb moisture along with small particles of dust and dirt. The item is difficult to disinfect. Therefore, they are not suitable for long-term use! The orange stick is considered a disposable tool. And purely individual! It is not recommended to use it for the next procedure!

Sticks are most often sold in packages of several pieces. This allows you to change it in time if necessary, rather than running to the store for a new one.

If there is a need to correct the shape of the stick, you can do this using a file with coarse abrasiveness.