Do you ever sit down to relax, then notice your hands and wonder, is there a better way to fix cuticles? Imagine a solution that would allow you to have better looking hands. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming! There are so many articles online about how to push back cuticles and clip them.
The funny thing is, so much depends on how you plan to wear your nails. I like the way healthy nails look with a light sheer color. Personally, I love lots of color for my pedicure. But for my hands, I just like them to look finished. Can you relate?
If you are wearing a color that flatters your hands it always looks good. So either way, if you are wearing regular polish, cuticle care can be simple! So let’s talk about a better way to fix cuticles at home.
Recently, we stopped doing manicures at the spa where I work. One day a client came in who really relied on these treatments. For a long time I had been doing a very simple manicure on her. At the same time, giving her ideas of simple nail care that she could do at home. She arrived at her pedicure appointment that day with her hands looking really nice. Wearing a red that was perfect for her, inspired by Bobbi Brown, who recommended wearing red polish during a video makeup class. It was the first time I realized how much I wanted to share more tips for nail and cuticle care at home!
Cuticle Care for Gel Nails
If you are wearing gel polish, the process for cuticle care is different. It is a little less delicate. This is one reason to be selective when you choose a place to go to if you wear gel. The right nail tech will care for your cuticles very carefully. In contrast, when you wear your natural nails or a regular polish, you can be a little more gentle. A regular routine can be simple and will keep your hands looking nice!
Cuticle Care for Natural Nails
You can do gentle cuticle care for regular maintenance or times when you’re wearing a simple manicure. Easy everyday solutions are a light and sheer color or buffing your nails to a shine. Finally, you can add color for occasions if you decide to. All the steps will be very simple and help you achieve better looking nails at home.
Why Do We Have Cuticles?
Cuticles are a protection for the nails. They seal and protect the nail bed and keep dirt and bacteria from getting under the skin. It’s easy to see why gentle cuticle care is important to the health of the nail.
Push Back Cuticles or Clip Cuticles?
Part of your cuticle can be clipped if necessary. It is the dry part that lies dry and white on the nail. Don’t clip the live skin surrounding the nail. You can instead, push that back with a rounded cuticle pusher.
How to I Keep My Cuticles Healthy?
Here are five steps to fix cuticles.
- Soak before pushing back.
- Push back gently with a smooth pusher.
- Clip white dead skin, or just push it back, the cuticle remover will help to exfoliate it.
- If you have a hangnail, clip only the dead skin. Or save this step for your nail technician.
- Use cuticle oil at least three times a week.
How to Fix Cuticles
Soak the nails in warm water. Add in some essential oils like lemon, lavender or rose. For a simple escape, try manicure fizzies. They are available in my Etsy shop! I created them with jojoba oil and essential oils for a relaxing ritual to care for nails. As a way to make your at home manicure special. In addition, the soak makes pushing back your cuticles easier.
Push Back your Cuticles
If you are wearing your nails bare, or wearing regular polish, you can do the most gentle push back. After you soak the next step is to apply cuticle softener or remover. CND’s cuticle eraser is great for exfoliating the dry skin that can build up. It makes the area look fresh and clean. Using a soft tipped pusher, apply a little pressure and gently push the cuticle back using smooth movements.
Use a buffing block to gently file the dead skin that lies on top of the nail. This improves the look of the nails.In addition it gives a clean surface to polish. Each time you do this you only need the file the new dead skin. This way you don’t ruin the nail by making it too thin. So many times a few strokes of the file is all you need. This is also true for shaping. It’s easy to take too much off with the file.
It’s so easy to do too much if you are having a conversation or watching tv! Take a minute to look at the nails. Then go ahead and file as needed.
Safely Clip Hangnails
Using a clean pair of nippers is essential for this step. If you do see a hangnail, take the nipper and clip the very whitest part of it. Leave any part that looks live. If you see that you have a cuticle that looks red, or puffy check with your doctor. Don’t push or clip a red inflamed cuticle.
Use a Cuticle Oil Daily
This step will nourish the nails and surrounding skin! It only takes a minute to do it once a day. Find a formula that is convenient for you. It only works if you use it regularly, so the easier it is for you the better! If your skin feels really dry you might like a brush on oil. If oil isn’t your thing, even the Burt’s Bees cuticle balm gets really great reviews! I have several friends who love it.
What is the Best Cuticle Oil?
A light oil is best for the cuticles since the nutrients can be more easily absorbed. Solar oil from CND is a great option. Apricot oil is great for cuticles and helps dry brittle nails as well. Essie an apricot cuticle oil. JINSoon’s Extract-Honeysuckle + Primrose Cuticle Oil contains 20 nail nourishing ingredients, including apricot oil and evening primrose oil. Pick one that you love and keep it in a really convenient place.
Finally, are you ready to start doing more regular, and maybe a little more gentle cuticle care at home? The best way to fix cuticle is to soak and push back and apply oil and then keep using cuticle oil each day. The skin around our nails can really look better, but it does take time and a routine. So much better than being rough and clipping skin around the nail. If you are nervous about doing it yourself, find a nail tech with a good reputation in a clean, well maintained salon or spa.
What do you struggle most with in your at home manicure routine? Leave a comment below and let me know!
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