cuticle knife

A cuticle knife – also called a nail knife – loosens cuticle that has grown onto the nail and lifts off the dead skin cleanly, without tearing it. It works more finely than a nipper and more precisely than scissors, but it does take some practice.

Instructions: How to use a cuticle knife and nail knife correctly – which blade shape suits which job and how to keep it flat.

More detail: blade shapes, use and differences

Which blade shape?

  • Wide blade – for loosening the cuticle across the full width of the nail.
  • Slim blade – for the nail fold and the corners, where the wide blade cannot reach.
  • V-shaped blade – sits around the nail edge and works both sides at once.
  • Combination tools – a nail knife at one end and a comedone extractor or nail cleaner at the other. Useful if you would rather not carry a separate instrument for every step.

Knife, pusher, nipper or scissors?

The four instruments do different jobs, even though they are often confused:

  • The cuticle pusher pushes the skin back – the gentlest option and the right one for most people.
  • The cuticle knife loosens skin stuck to the nail before it is pushed back or cut.
  • The cuticle nipper removes loose skin firmly.
  • Cuticle scissors work more finely than the nipper and feel more comfortable on delicate cuticles.

How to use it

  • Soak hands or feet first – dry cuticle tears, softened cuticle lifts away.
  • Keep the blade flat, almost parallel to the nail, and work with light traction rather than pressure.
  • Remove only the dead, whitish skin. The living cuticle stays – it protects the nail bed from germs.
  • Do not work on reddened or inflamed skin.

Material and care

Stainless steel, reusable and sterilisable. Clean after use, dry completely and store dry. Blunt blades can be resharpened – a blunt nail knife slips and is far more dangerous than a sharp one.

Related guides: How to use a cuticle knife and nail knife correctly · Cut the cuticle or push it back? · Nail cleaner: getting the nail fold clean

Related categories: Cuticle pushers, Cuticle nippers, Cuticle scissors, Nail instruments