With different manicure and pedicure tools there's sometimes confusion on what ARE clippers. So let's clarify...

A pair of clippers is made up of two metal strips, each one with a sharp blade on the end, facing each other. A third one is attached to them by a small metal post and acts as a lever that pushes the blades together to clip whatever has been placed between the blades. So "at rest" these blades are open.

Though the original construction is fairly simple with time they've been re-designed and are now manufactured in different shapes and from the finest materials, in our case highest quality steel in Solingen, Germany.

Clippers are usually used to trim nails on the fingers and toes. For additional convenience the lever of the clippers is sometimes made into a small file and may also be used for cleaning under the nails. Clippers come in different sizes from very large ones for very tough toenails, to very small, pocket clippers. Depending on the intended use clippers are designed in different shapes and forms. For example clippers for pets have smaller and more curved blades to accommodate the different shape of the animal's nails.

As with any other tool, clippers will work well, only when they are in a good condition (clean and sharp) and are properly used for purpose they were designed for (don't use pet clippers on your own nails, they have a different curve).

Whether you choose to use large or small clippers you should follow these simple tips:

• Do not cut the nails too closely, this may cause tears in the skin under the nail. Leave nails extending just a bit over the nail bed. In addition this could cause ingrown nails, where the nail grows directly into the skin causing a lot of pain and discomfort.
• Do not try to cut nails on the sides with clippers. Clippers are too large to get into those tight spaces and will cause damage to the skin around the sides of the nail.
• To clip nails carefully position the clipper over the nail and press the lever to cut. If the nail doesn't cut through right away do not try to pull it. Position the clippers over the cut line and try again. Your clipper might need to be sharpened, or you may consider a larger, more powerful clipper to cut thicker nails.
• To prevent painful bending and breaking of the nails perform the cuts straight across in steps, start from one the side of the nail and continue to clipping in one direction until you reach the other side of the nail.
• When trimming hangnails, which is not really advisable to do with clippers, do not pull on the skin, if the clippers are not cutting as fast or as well as you'd like, try sharpening the clippers or using a different instrument.

Care & Cleaning:

Care and cleaning of your nail clippers might change depending on the material you choose, here are some basic tips that should keep most steel instruments in good shape.

• Don't soak your clippers in detergents or in plain water.
• Always disinfect clippers with alcohol before and after each use.
• Even though clippers are a common household item and may even come with your keychain, though it might be convenient, if you use them for personal grooming they should not be used for any other purposes and should be kept separately from other household instruments.
• If you carry your clippers together with other items consider using a case for them, so that the clippers do not get damaged or dulled by interaction with other items and do not damage the surrounding objects.
• Clean and disinfect whatever additional instrument is attached to your clippers so that dirt is not transferred over.