Orange sticks are one of the lesser known nail tools within the nail industry. Often used by manicurists in place of a cuticle knife, they actually have a wide variety of uses. So how could you use them and what are they actually designed for?
What Are Orange Sticks?
Orange sticks come in different sizes and they are angled at one end with a point at the other end. They are disposable and ideally you should only ever use each one once.
There are some manicurists who use the sticks instead of a cuticle knife. However the main problem with this is that they are not really sharp enough to be used in this way. When you are removing the cuticle, it is essential that the object you are using is sharp. It needs to pull the cuticle away from the nail carefully and easily, otherwise damage can be caused. So if you are using an orange stick for this purpose, it can potentially cause damage and discomfort to the client.
However they can be used for pushing back the cuticles. They are also commonly used by nail technicians to clean under the nails. There are other more qualified tools that can do this too, but orange sticks tend to be cheaper. That is why many nail technicians do choose to use them.
The Most Common Orange Stick Uses
Orange sticks are most commonly used for a variety of different jobs. They are effective at removing nail polish from the skin if you accidentally get some there during a treatment. It is not always easy to paint a client’s nails and avoid the skin completely. So the orange stick will enable you to remove any unwanted polish.
Sticking with the topic of nail polish treatments, you can also use the sticks to apply polish secures. You can use the orange stick to pick up the secure and then place it onto the nail accurately.
However as mentioned earlier, the most common use for the orange sticks is to clean under the nails. Often clients can have very dirty nails and by cleaning underneath them with the stick, it gives a more appealing appearance and keeps the hands and nails more hygienic. Just remember to throw the orange stick away after it has been used for this purpose!
Overall orange sticks do have many different purposes. However, they are not sharp enough to be used for cutting and so they should never really be used as a cuticle remover. They can push back the cuticle if it becomes too long, but they should never be used to fully remove it.
