While getting a manicure can elevate you sartorially, experts say it can be a controversial proposition, especially when it concerns your health and well-being. Russian manicure is an extremely popular beauty treatment known for its no-soak cuticle removal technique, giving you clean-looking and picture-perfect nails.

However, according to experts, the procedure has also generated negative buzz on social media from dermatologists, who say the treatment comes with dangerous side effects and health risks.

What is Russian manicure?

The Russian manicure, which originally originated in Eastern Europe, uses a completely different method of sculpting your hands and nails. One of the main features of the Russian manicure is that it bypasses the usual step of soaking the nails in water to soften the cuticle – a layer of translucent skin at the base of the nail. Instead, manicurists simply skip filing the cuticles as they dry.

And so, it files your nails aggressively to trim and clean the cuticles, creating a smooth and so-called perfect finish around the nail bed. Russian manicure involves complete removal of the cuticle. After the cuticle is removed, the manicurist will polish the nail bed, a process that will take at least two to three hours to complete.

Extremely popular among celebrities, Russian manicure gives a flawless look.

However, despite looking completely smooth and aesthetic, removing the cuticle has raised eyebrows among experts over its side effects, which lead to many serious health problems like infections. According to doctors, this procedure causes bacteria to accumulate in the cuticles after Russian manicure.

What infections do dandruff manicures cause?,

Doctors say possible infections caused by dandruff manicures include onychomycosis — a fungal nail infection or paronychia — which develops in the skin around the nail.

A 2022 case study highlighted a young woman who got a Russian manicure and then developed paronychia. After visiting the doctor, the woman experienced pain, swelling and pus coming from the area around her nail and after that, she had to be treated with antibiotics.

Doctors also say that infection is not the only concern with Russian manicure, as this technique also damages your nails in the long run. This compromises the structure and integrity of the nail, increasing brittleness and sensitivity. Repeated injuries to the cuticle area lead to chronic inflammation and even scarring, which also affects nail growth.

Precautions to take for strong, healthy nails

To avoid any kind of infection in your nails and cuticles, you need to take some precautions and safety measures:

• Instead of frequent visits to the nail salon, limit your visits to just a few times a year.
• Always choose regular nail polish instead of acrylic
• Always visit a reputable nail salon with a working ventilation system
• Ask about sanitizing and sterilizing protocols before visiting the salon
• Make sure all nail tools are sterilized before use
• Skip visiting your nail if you have any scratches, cuts or wounds on your nail
• Advise your nail technician to never pluck, cut, or push back your cuticles
• Consider bringing your own tools or using the nail salon.

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