Today, among the numerous manicure accessories, there is a special tool - an orange stick, the uniqueness of which lies in its versatility. It can be used to perform various procedures. Orange sticks are used both by professional nail technicians in salons and by lovers of self-manicures done at home. Using the device does not require any special skills, but the result is well-groomed and beautiful nails.
What is an orange stick
An orange stick is a thin stick made of wood. It is pointed at one end and beveled and flat at the other. The length ranges from 9 to 18 centimeters, and the thickness ranges from 3 to 5 millimeters. Its use helps to create a neat and gentle manicure.
Photo: What an orange manicure stick looks like.
If desired, you can give it the desired shape with a coarse abrasive nail file.
What is it for?
Orange sticks are an indispensable item in almost any area of manicure, from processing to design. With its help, the following procedures are performed:
- Cleaning your nails.
- Pushing back the cuticle.
- Cuticle removal.
- Removing gel polish.
- Extension.
- Design and decoration.
- Adjustment of coverage line, etc.
What are orange sticks made from?
The basis for orange sticks is the wood of the orange tree.
Its choice for the manufacture of these manicure tools is due to several important advantages:
- the wood is very dense and strong, it is unlikely that during work it will delaminate, crack or break;
- at the same time, the material is quite soft, there is no risk of injuring or damaging the nails when used carefully, especially at the sensitive base;
- has antibacterial properties.
Photo: Colored orange sticks
How to use
When caring for nails, an orange stick is used in almost every procedure. The exception is hardware manicure - where a special tool with a milling attachment is used to remove the cuticle.
To clean the inner surface of the nail plate, carefully rub the pointed end of the stick under the nail. If a tool is used for this purpose, it must be regularly washed to remove accumulated dirt or replaced with a new one more often.
To remove the cuticle from the nail plate, it is first softened with a special gel (remover), then carefully, without unnecessary pressure, moved with the beveled side of the tool to the base of the nail. Thanks to the material from which it is made, the stick does not tear the cuticle and does not damage the nail plate even in the thinnest and most sensitive area.
Using an orange tool you can remove gel polish . To do this, a special softening agent is applied to it. Then use the flat end to pry up a corner of the loose gel polish and carefully remove it from the nail. Unlike metal tools, after using a wooden stick, there are no scratches or damage to the nail.
nail extensions using a wooden tool. With its help, tips are glued, a mold is laid out from acrylic and biogel. In addition, the device is used to remove artificial nails: soften the acrylic, pry it off with the beveled end and carefully remove it.
In decoration and design, a wooden stick is indispensable: it is easy and convenient to apply small objects to the nail: rhinestones, sparkles, appliqués, stickers, sequins, beads, etc. With the sharp end you can paint your nails with varnish in various techniques: draw lines, patterns, put dots, etc.
In addition, it can be used to correct minor defects when performing a manicure. For example, to straighten the line of varnish, remove varnish that has got on the skin. To do this, wrap the sharp end with a small piece of cotton pad, dip it in nail polish remover and remove excess or correct an uneven line.
How to remove cuticle
Removing cuticles with an orange stick is a simple procedure. It is carried out in several simple steps:
- You need to take a warm bath and hold your hands in it for several minutes. This will soften the skin.
- Use the beveled end of the tool to carefully move the skin to the base of the nail.
- Apply a special liquid to soften the cuticle - remover.
- After 5 minutes, the product is washed off.
- Use the pointed end of the stick to remove the cuticle, gently moving it along the nail growth line.
- As soon as the stick becomes dirty, it should be replaced with a new one.
- After completing the procedure, nourishing cream is applied to your hands.
- As soon as the cream is absorbed a little, the nails are degreased and varnished.
Do we remove or push back the cuticle? Which is more correct?
Manicure can be trimmed or untrimmed. Nail service professionals consider untrimmed manicure a more gentle way to care for nails. There are several good reasons for this:
- Cuticle growth slows down significantly if it is pushed back without mechanical removal. Also, by using special oil, you can make it thinner and softer. With a trimmed manicure, the cuticle is provoked to grow faster
- The integrity of the skin is preserved and the risk of various infections is significantly reduced.
- Sharp and cutting tools are not used, which means the risk of other possible injuries is reduced.
- By preserving the cuticle, the manicurist maintains the natural protective barrier of the nail, as the cuticle nourishes and moisturizes the nail plate.
But, despite all the advantages of unedged manicure, it also has its disadvantages. Therefore, each representative of the fair sex herself chooses a more preferable and convenient way for her to care for her nails.
It is also worth noting that removing cuticles at home yourself can be completely unsafe. Firstly, you can completely accidentally damage the growth zone located at the base of the nail, which will lead to further delamination and uneven growth of the nail. Secondly, to create the perfect manicure, you need a certain angle for cutting the cuticle, which is also quite difficult to do at home.
But, if, despite all the difficulties, the desire to remove the cuticle on your own remains, then you should carefully prepare for this. First, get the necessary tools (scissors for cutting cuticles, special moisturizing and softening products, a nail file, a deep plate with hot water). Secondly, disinfect all instruments, wipe with alcohol or boil for 10 minutes. Thirdly, steam the cuticle by making a hot bath, first for one hand for 5 minutes, then for the other. After the manipulations, the cuticle can be carefully trimmed and a nourishing softening cream oil can be applied to the nails.
How much do orange manicure sticks cost?
Everyone who does manicures should always have orange sticks in sufficient quantities, so it is more profitable and convenient to buy them not individually, but in a whole package. The cost ranges from 19 to 350 rubles depending on the length and number of pieces. This manicure tool is sold in almost all stores, including large chain supermarkets. You can also purchase it in online stores, often at a very attractive price.
What can you replace an orange stick with?
An orange stick is a convenient tool and is perfect for most manicure jobs. But if for some reason it is not at hand, you can use other devices. It all depends on the type of procedure ahead:
- To push back the cuticle, use a metal manicure shovel - a pusher.
- It is recommended to remove the skin with small sharp scissors or tweezers.
- For extensions, you can use thin nail tweezers or a pusher.
- A special wax pencil will help you decorate your nails with beads, sequins or rhinestones. It is considered even the best decoration device.
- The design can be easily done with a needle, thin brush or dots.
- To clean the inner surface of the nail from dirt, you can use a regular nail file, a metal spatula (its reverse side) or a special pencil with a whitening effect.
Using a durable and convenient orange stick for manicure is easy. The versatility of the tool allows it to be used in various procedures, from cleansing to design and decoration. Manicure tools made of wood are absolutely safe for health, do not injure or damage the nail plate and skin, and are suitable for both professional and home manicure. The low cost, especially if you buy a whole package, allows you to easily purchase them as needed and always have them on hand.
Pusher for manicure
Also very popular tools for manicure among women and girls are a metal stick, a pusher and a scraper. A pusher or scraper is a tool designed to move regrown skin at the base of the nail, that is, the cuticle. Pusher for manicure can be different; its edges can be made in the form of a spatula, spear or hatchet. Thanks to the many varieties of this tool, every girl can choose her own, which will be convenient to use only for her. High-quality instruments are made from medical steel. Their blades are quite sharp and do not require additional sharpening. But there are also plastic or wooden pushers on sale, which professional craftsmen use extremely rarely due to their fragility. It is worth paying attention to the fact that the pusher or scraper fits well in the hand and does not slip. This tool is also good because it is very easy to disinfect after each use, which is very much appreciated among manicurists. A metal stick can also perform the functions of an orange stick, but you should use it very carefully, as it can damage the nail plate. Therefore, in order not to damage your nails, you should use scraper models with a rubber tip.
