Push 'em back or cut 'em off?

[Anonymous]

What are the pros and cons of cutting cuticles versus pushing them back? Every time I get a manicure (all three times a year), the manicurist asks me, and I'm stumped. I tell her to do what she thinks is best. She usually cuts.

Do folks have strong opinions (and REASONS FOR their opinions) on this?

[Anonymous]

I do both. Only cut a little.

[Anonymous]

Phew. Thought you might be talking about boobs.

[Anonymous]

. . .And I first thought bangs

[Anonymous]

Do not cut the cuticles. They are there to protect your nails. After you've had the cuticles cut, they can look great when you come from the salon. But after a week or two, the parts where they cut the cuticles start to look a little rough and you go to the salon to get them cut again. It is a vicious cycle. And you don't want to know about the cuticle cutters (is that what they are called?) unless they come directly from a properly used autoclave.

If the cuticles seem to be out of control, they should be filed (yes, with a little, tiny file) and not cut.

I get manicures every week or every other week. I do not have my cuticles cut EVER. My cuticles look fine.

[Anonymous]

I'm amazed that they ask. Seems like they ALWAYS cut mine without asking.

They always look great at first...and then terrible.