Truth about Russian manicure. Danger ahead?

Hi,
Can anyone PLEASE enlighten me?! I've seriously been researching for hours! Many articles that I've read on this topic claim that during a Russian manicure, the live skin of the eponychium is cut. The claim is that this is the one thing that differentiates it, that the point of this technique is to cut or abrade away the eponychium- living tissue. What. . . ????? I'm not so sure. Doesn't all "live" tissue have some amount of nerve endings and blood supply? You would think it would be terribly painful and bleed. I'm a licensed cosmetologist and nail technician, but I have only worked in Aveda salons, which usually don't promote e-filing or acrylics because they aren't "natural". I also went to the Aveda Institute where they did not provide instruction in e filing. I've had an injury that has left me unable to stand for long periods and I cannot do hair anymore, but I'm considering going back to a nails-only salon. I've been practicing all the techniques I didn't master in school on myself and sometimes my daughter, including use of the e-file after watching much accredited (meaning by licensed nail educators) You Tube videos. When I first did a dip manicure and used the efile, I used a cuticle bit and removed all of the non living tissue from around the folds of the nail. Now that I am reading about this, it seems as if what I did would be considered a "Russian" manicure. The tissue I removed did not bleed or cause pain, I thought what I removed was cuticle, and it is what I would have removed with a nippers at my last salon. But a lot of other sources claim that this is the live eponychium. If you watch videos of a Russian manicure, to me it looks like they are filing away the cuticle. I don't understand. Now I have read some cosmetology articles that were written by an "expert" that were just plain scientifically wrong, so I know it happens. I also know that many "experts" have a tendency to overreact, seeing danger absolutely everywhere when the risk is pretty much the same as crossing the street. How many articles have up you seen about the "dangers" of UV lamps or hair waxing, among a lot of other things. Everything can become infected if not properly sanitized, we know this. There are bad techs, but the clients do play a role. I've nipped myself before and I've also gone too close to the skin with the efile and drawn a spot of blood. I've never had an infection, I guess because I regularly wash my hands and keep any cuts clean. So even the times I have knicked myself, it is no disaster. So someone please set me straight! Is this actual live skin that we are taking off, or not. Eponychium, or cuticle? Help! Thank you!

I absolutely love your videos. And I agree with you- theres nothing wrong with e-files but unfortunetly its gotten popular to remove things that shouldnt be or use bits that are innapropriate... and now Russian or e-file manicures have become synonomous with removing skin and everything they can get their bit on.

I’m wondering people talking about danger of Russian manicure, when I see customers coming to my nail salon with destroyed Nail after visit in traditional Vietnamese salon. They remove acrylic with digging under acrylic with nail tip or nippers, pulling out a pieces of natural nail aside with acrylic enhancement. They severely scratch a nail plate removing a gel polish after soaking fingers for 15-20 mins in pure acetone. Nipping cuticles to blood. I think this is more dangerous then professional e-file manicure.
Buffing cuticle and sidewalls is nothing more then removing or buffing callus with foo rasp.
I’m amazing how people are uneducated and I’m in shock of lack of education and experience of editor Doug Schoon. What a shame

So the original article that Doug wrote on Nails Mag is pretty much getting blasted. He doesn't use basic Journalist practice of siting sources to prove his case. Doug does not provide "evidence" of these so-called "educators" who are teaching Russian Manicures. He does not prove to me that Russian manicures is an industry wide problem. So Doug comes off as being a "drama queen". The cosmetology school are big supporters of Doug Schoon but they are blind supporters. I was taught to question everything including my teachers. I find Doug's credibility on the line if he keeps up this topic in this manner. Doug should maybe employ a real world approach and drive around the USA and visit the millions of Vietnamese/Chinese nail salons and see what "dangers" he can find because there are many that are far more dangerous than the "RED SCARE" of a Russian Manicure. LOL!!:smile:

 I like Russian Manicure, i was really fascinated the first time i saw the video on online media. I learned Russian Manicure provided by a proffesional instructor...but still I feel that the course was too basic. Maybe you should have a online Russian Manicure Training... and ill definitely sign up.:v:

Using cuticle nippers, and metal implements and files can be just as dangerous and an e-file, especially if a tech doesn't know how to use them properly. I agree that there is Way Too Much Drama over this issue with Russian Manicures.

Yvette McDaniel
I really appreciate your feedback regarding this new trend. Since seeing the videos on different social media pages, I was fascinated how clean the cuticle area and sidewalls looked after the polished was applied. I do believe that more education is needed because as a nail technician, my clients trust that I am taking care of their nails and not harming them. I am interested in taking a class at Premier Orlando, sad that NSI will not be there this year, so that I can learn more about this technique.

Hi, Why is it called a Russian Manicure? Anyway, I believe that a drill should not be used on the natural nail. Yes, even though a tech can use it the correct way, some can apply to much pressure and damage the natural nail. I think that drills should be used if the person is wearing acrylics or gels. I personally use a drill on acrylics or gels, but only after I have hand filed, do I use the drill as final step to give the enhancement a clean look.

Thanks for the opinion video. I agree with many of your points.

It's also a mistake to simply call it a Russian manicure. Many European manicurists use this method. Furthermore, many of my South American clients desire a fully cleaned & removed cuticle line. Similar to what can happen with an e-file or without; an untrained and unpracticed nail tech can still cut living tissue.

It's similar to many trends that sweep our world, things are bastardized & cheapened and then there's an uproar. Educating consumers & nail techs is key. Then it's practice practice practice.

Hi. I THINK you are great educator and nail tech. All your talk about manicure is correct. We need to be educated and practice a lot before we use electric efile. All in life is a risk if we dont know how to do it. Thats why we need to practice a lot and take seminar to do better and better the manicure and fullset. Bye and thank you for all great information

Although I see the amazing results of the Russian manicure, I do believe that it is dangerous. As a previous healthcare professional, I see the danger in it. Using the e-file on live tissue can cause some unwarranted results. Manicures are supposed to be non-invasive, and using an e-file on living tissue is just the opposite, in my opinion. Sure, cuticle is considered non-living, but what if you go too far? Now your invading the live skin, causing redness, swelling, irritation, and possible infection. We as manicurist are supposed to prevent that at all costs, no expose our clients to the dangers.