A perfect manicure is able to give you a distinct and refined look, and you can also do it at home if you don't want to spend a fortune going to the beautician. Pushing back your cuticles is one of the necessary steps to get a professional result, so take your time. When finished, the nails will appear longer and the hands more elegant and feminine. Remember that cuticles should never be cut to avoid the risk of a dangerous (and painful) infection developing.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Soften the Cuticles
Step 1. Remove old nail polish with acetone-free solvent
Pour it on a cotton ball, without saturating it, then rub it gently on your nails until the old nail polish has completely come off. It is best to remove the nail polish before treating the cuticles, as pushing them back may cause them to become inflamed and therefore you may feel burning when using the solvent.
- Also, if you leave old nail polish on your hands, you run the risk that some fragments can end up inside the nail bed as you push back the cuticles. If this happens, an infection could develop.
- Use an acetone-free solvent as it dries out your nails and cuticles as well. Acetone can be used if you have done a particular manicure, for example the reconstruction of acrylic nails.
Step 2. Soak your nails in hot water for 5-10 minutes
The heat will soften the skin of the cuticles, so you will be able to push them back more easily and feel less discomfort. If you want, you can add a few drops of an emollient oil, such as jojoba or coconut oil, to the water to hydrate them and make them even softer.
You can also take a long hot shower. The heat will soften all the skin on the body, even that of the cuticles
Step 3. Dry your hands with a clean towel
After soaking your fingers in hot water, shake your hands lightly and then pat them gently with a soft, clean towel. The moisturizer will adhere better to dry skin.
Using a clean towel will help prevent bacteria from getting onto your hands and causing an infection after pushing back the cuticles
Step 4. Massage a few drops of oil into your cuticles and let the skin absorb it
The cuticles will already have softened after soaking your fingers in hot water, but you can make them even softer and more flexible by applying a moisturizing cream or oil or a specific product that melts and removes them. If you decide to use a natural oil, for example coconut oil, or a moisturizer you can leave them on for as long as you want.
- If, on the other hand, you have purchased a product formulated to dissolve cuticles, read the directions on the package carefully, as it most likely contains chemicals that if left on for too long can damage the skin and nails.
- You can purchase a cuticle-dissolving oil or lotion online or at a perfumery.
Part 2 of 3: Push the Cuticles Back
Step 1. Purchase cuticle sticks made of orange wood to avoid damaging them
They are small cylindrical sticks with a flat, oblique end, ideal for gently pushing cuticles. You can easily find them in any perfumery and in the most well-stocked supermarkets.
- If you have very sensitive skin, wrap the oblique tip of the stick with some cotton before using it to push back the cuticles. You can cut a cotton ball or pad into pieces or alternatively you can use a piece of gauze.
- You can also push back the cuticles with a soft cloth, a cotton swab or more simply with your fingers, but using an orange wood stick you will get a more accurate result.
Step 2. Place your hand on a flat surface to make it stable
If you try to push the cuticles back with your hand raised, you will find it harder to control the pressure you are applying with the stick. Placing your hand on a table or other flat surface will make you less likely to accidentally scratch or tear the skin around your nails.
Step 3. Push the cuticles back following the outline of the nail
Hold the stick at an angle and gently push it towards the outside of the nail, starting at the base and working up the sides. In this way you will be able to eliminate any impurities and prevent the nails from becoming ingrown. You will have better control of the stick by making small circular movements along the profile of the nail.
Don't push too hard and don't scratch your nails with the stick
Step 4. Gently scrub your cuticles with a cloth moistened with warm water
There may be small pieces of excess skin left at the base of the nails after pushing back the cuticles. Do not tear or cut them, as it is easy to take the risk of removing too much, leaving the nail bed uncovered and exposed to the risk of infection. The best thing to do is to gently exfoliate the part using a clean cloth after wetting it with warm water.
- By the end of this step, the cuticles should have molded into a fine, regular line that runs along the base of the nails.
- If there are any hard cuticles, take the cuticle cutter and cut off only the end. Do not use common scissors: the cuticle cutter has been specifically designed to minimize damage to the skin around the nails. Be careful to cut only the hard, transparent, or dead skin. Don't cut that along the base.
Step 5. Remove the cuticles if necessary
Generally the cuticle cutter is only used to accomplish its main purpose, cutting the cuticles, but the long pointed blades also make it perfect for taking care of the cuticles. Tilt it to get as close as possible to the base of the torn skin, then trim the cuticles in a single gradual cut.
- Cuticles are flaps of skin or cuticles that have torn or torn. They generally form in the hollow next to the nails or under the base of the cuticles.
- If not cut, the skin can tear further, causing more pain and increasing the risk of developing an infection.
Step 6. Wash your hands with soap and warm water when you're done
There may be residues of the cuticle-dissolving product or small pieces of skin left over after exfoliation. Either way they will come off easily by washing your hands.
Before applying the new polish on your nails, let them dry completely and make sure there is no oil residue. You can scrub them with a cotton swab moistened with nail polish remover to make sure they are perfectly clean and dry
Part 3 of 3: Taking Care of Your Cuticles
Step 1. Moisturize your cuticles every day
To keep them healthy, you should soften and feed them daily. You can use the same moisturizer you use for your hands, your favorite body oil, or plain petroleum jelly, depending on your habits. Apply the product on the cuticles and then massage them gently, so that they absorb the moisturizing substances.
When the skin around the nails is dry, cuticles are more likely to form and the cuticles to be damaged. In both cases, you may feel pain and an infection may develop. As if that weren't enough, the cuticles could thicken
Step 2. Push the cuticles back once a week
Over time you will be able to do this more and more rarely, but it is still better to keep them under control and make adjustments if necessary. Keep an orange stick in the same place you store the hand cream and take a few minutes to moisturize and push back your cuticles about once a week after taking a shower.
Step 3. Don't bite your nails and cuticles
In the first case you can irreparably damage the nail bed, while in the second you can cause the onset of a dangerous infection. In addition, the cuticles may start to grow thicker, so you will have a harder time pushing them back with the orange stick.
Instead of biting your nails, file them back to regular if they break or flake
Step 4. Use a new orange stick every week
Wood is porous, so it is difficult to sanitize it effectively. It is best to throw away used sticks to avoid contaminating your nails with dangerous bacteria the next time you do your manicure.
