Get a safe manicure - Beauty Q&A

Shape, April, 2002 by Beth Janes, Geri Bird

Is it OK to have my cuticles trimmed? ... and more of your questions answered here.

(Q) Should I have my cuticles cut when getting a manicure?

(A) Although many of us think cutting our cuticles is an essential part of nail care, experts disagree. "No matter how ugly you think cuticles look, you should never cut them or dissolve them with products," says Paul Kechijian, M.D., chief of the nail section at New York University's dermatology department. An integral part of the hand's anatomy, the cuticle (the thin, soft tissue around the nail's base) protects the matrix (where the nail grows) from bacteria. Infections can cause redness, pain or nail deformity, Kechijian says. (Some manicurists' tools may not be sterilized properly, contributing to the problem.) Instead of getting them cut, have your fingers soaked in soap and water before having moisturizer applied to them. The manicurist can then gently push the cuticles back with her finger or a towel. (Follow these steps for home manicures too.) Applying moisturizing creams (with ingredients like jojoba oil, aloe and vitamin E) daily will help prevent dryness and cracks, keeping cuticles looking neat and making cutting unnecessary. Use Sally Hansen Advanced Cuticle Repair with vitamins A and E ($5; at drugstores) or OPI Avoplex Nail and Cuticle Replenishing Oil with avocado oil ($7; 800-341-9999).

Q How can I tell what shampoo is best for my hair?

A First, examine your strands. Then follow this guide - compiled with the help of Gary Howse, co-owner of the Gary Manuel Salon in Seattle.

* To boost limp strands, try shampoos labeled "volumizing" or "for body" like Pantene Pro-V Sheer Volume Shampoo ($4.30; at drugstores). These cleanse and don't contain added conditioners, which can weigh hair down.

* Have frizzy or curly hair? Look for "smoothing" (if you want to blow-dry it straight) or "curl-enhancing" (to define curls) shampoos. These contain silicone, which bonds to hair, adding weight and making it shinier and more manageable. Try Back to Basics So Straight Smoothing & Anti-Frizz Shampoo ($9; backobasics.com) and L'Oreal CurlVIVE Curl-Moisture Shampoo $3.69; at drugstores).

* If your hair is color-treated, Howse suggests using color-depositing shampoos like Redken Shades EQ Color-Enhancing Shampoo ($8; redken. corn), which add temporary color to the hair to prevent it from fading (and contain added moisturizers to keep it from drying out). Or use shampoos containing antioxidants (like ICE Cream Shampoo, $8; 800-445-6426), which also can help prevent fading, says Philip Kingsley, director of the Philip Kingsley Trichnology Centre in New York City.

* For oily hair and scalp, look for shampoos like Aussie Citrifier Shampoo ($4; at drugstores) or Biolage Normalizing Shampoo ($6; matrixbeautiful .com), which contain more citric acid and detergents and fewer moisturizers than other shampoos to help clear the scalp and hair of excess oil.

* If hair is overly dry, give it a moisture surge with products containing natural humectants like jojoba oil or aloe. Try Bioelements Spa Shampoo ($28.50; bioelements.com).