How to care for your cuticle to make it look perfect

In the article you will learn:

Cuticle removal. 4 different ways. Their advantages and disadvantages
How to properly care for your cuticles at home
The best care products and procedures
6 life hacks that will help you avoid hangnails and other problems with the butt.

To keep the cuticle healthy and well-groomed, you need to constantly monitor it. Even the best manicurist will not be able to immediately make your nails beautiful if you care for your cuticles irregularly and without love.

As you probably already know, the cuticle was not created by nature to spoil your manicure. It reliably protects the base of the nail from the penetration of various types of bacteria and infections. The beauty and health of your nails depends on how you care for this seemingly insignificant piece of skin.

It is necessary to get rid of not the entire cuticle, but only the dead cells. The overgrown cuticle dries, begins to crack, burrs appear, over time the nails begin to grow more slowly, their shape changes, longitudinal stripes appear, which significantly spoil the appearance. Regular removal and daily care of the cuticle protects against all these problems.

There are 4 types of manicure:

Classic or edged
European or unedged
Brazilian
Hardware

Now about the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Should I trim my cuticles or not?

Until recently, only the classic manicure was in use - edged, when the cuticle was completely removed from the nail.
Nowadays, European manicure – unedged – is gaining more and more popularity. The advantages of trimmed, American manicure are obvious:

nails visually become longer, this gives them a beautiful, well-groomed appearance;
Trimming manicure is recommended if the nail is damaged or growing in some way incorrectly.

Minuses:

removing cuticles with scissors has long been recognized as unsafe: if some kind of infection or dirt gets inside during or after the procedure, you can get inflammation;
with inept work it is easy to cut yourself until you bleed;
you can also scratch the nail plate itself;
The more often and more thoroughly we remove the cuticle, the faster it grows back and the denser and tougher it becomes.

Advantages of the European manicure:

it’s simple, you can do it at home without the help of a manicurist;
it is safe, because during such an operation the cuticle is not damaged;
accordingly, such care for the cuticle helps it perform its main function, and the nails remain protected from external irritants and bacteria;
keratinized, old skin cells still die and gradually separate from the nail.

There are practically no disadvantages to European manicure:

The only thing is that you won’t be able to switch to an unedged manicure immediately after a trimmed one; you will have to go through several sessions of a European manicure until the cuticle begins to look neat and aesthetically pleasing.

Hydration and nutrition

Part of the cuticle grows back already dry, as these are dead skin cells. Additionally, due to insufficient hydration, constant contact with detergents, dust, weather conditions, the skin of the hands dries out, and the cuticle can crack, tear and become inflamed when pathogenic microorganisms enter.

To avoid this, you need to take care of your nails and cuticles, constant hydration and nutrition, both with improvised and special cosmetics.

To do this, after each hand washing and contact with an aggressive environment, it is necessary to apply a moisturizing or nourishing cream. The choice of product depends on the season and the initial condition of the skin.

You can use a moisturizer during the day, as it has a lighter texture, and at night be sure to apply a nourishing one, or make a mask under plastic. It is better to choose products that are recommended for caring for the skin of your hands and nails at the same time.
The second option is cuticle oil. The oils, vitamins, minerals and active additives it contains provide multidirectional effects that combine hydration and nutrition at the same time. It is recommended to apply the oil 1-3 times a day after cleansing. 1 drop of the product is placed at the base of the nail, and then distributed with your finger along the entire perimeter of the cuticle.

Video: saving dry hand skin

Everyday household chores are a number of serious tests for the skin of the hands and nails: washing dishes, laundry, cleaning the apartment certainly does not make our hands more tender and well-groomed. The most suitable means of protection during household chores is to use rubber gloves. It takes a while to get used to them, but it's worth it. However, when using rubber household gloves, you also need to follow a number of rules. Hands must be clean and completely dry; dust your hands with talcum powder or powder before putting on gloves. Wash your hands after work. After rinsing the gloves, give them time to dry, then sprinkle with talcum powder. So, rubber gloves should be a woman’s favorite means of protecting her hands, but to keep her hands beautiful and with delicate skin, daily care is also necessary.

By the way... Problems with dry hand skin also lead to problems with nails: slow growth, weak and brittle, thin nails. That is why, for example, a shellac nail manicure (a gentle and caring, easy-to-apply varnish that has protective properties and a wonderful effect for up to three weeks) is, of course, a wise decision. Another advantage of a beautiful manicure is that it makes it much easier to wean yourself from the habit of biting your nails or the skin around your nails, and in general, you will be much less likely to neglect hand care at home.

Carry cuticle oil with you everywhere

Cuticle oil will help keep your manicure in good condition. It nourishes, softens and slows down its growth. Therefore, you need to carry the oil with you and use it at every opportunity. For example, in public transport or at your desk.

The oil is usually sold in small bottles and is inconvenient to use on the road. That's why there are packages in the form of pens with a cap. You can apply it anywhere and not be afraid that it will leak. A good option is oil in a pen, which is sold in stores.

If you want to save money, stores selling supplies for manicurists sell empty pens into which you can pour any oil and use it for its intended purpose.

How to do edged and unedged manicure

If you still opt for a trimmed manicure, it is better to have it done in a professional salon. Although many can do it at home.

Recommendations for removing cuticles:

Step 1. First, treat your hands and all used manicure tools with a disinfectant, remember: trimmed manicure is really dangerous and can cause infection.
Step 2. Shape your nails: it is very important to do this before working with the cuticle, because a softened nail cannot be processed with a file, it will begin to flake and break.
Step 3. Make a softening bath, immerse your fingers in it for 10-15 minutes, and then apply a special cuticle softener.
Step 4. When the cuticle has become soft and ready for further procedure, carefully push it away with a pusher, being careful not to scratch the nail.
Step 5. Cut the cuticle with scissors or special tweezers.
Step 6. At the end, be sure to treat the nail and skin around it with some nourishing oil or regular fatty cream.

How to choose a product for home use

Today you can find a huge range of products for working with cuticles on sale. They can be professional or for home use, and also have various properties.

When choosing a product, you should be guided by the following rules:

All products are divided into care compositions and removers . The latter are presented in the form of varnish or pencil and are suitable for instantly removing the stratum corneum of the skin;
for home use, it is advisable to purchase products without strong alkali or acid in the composition . The best option is fruit acids, which are gentle on the skin;
Before first use, an allergy test should be performed . To do this, apply a drop of the product to the skin of the elbow and wait 5 minutes; if there are no side effects, the composition is suitable for use;
The form of release depends on the condition of the nails, as well as the goals of the procedure . For regular care, improving skin condition and softening excessively hard cuticles, oils or creams are best suited.

The best option for softening cuticles is cream or oil, which contains a large number of natural ingredients and vitamins.

But what is the name of the cuticle removal liquid and which is the best, you can see in the article at the link.

Cuticle softeners allow you to give your nails a well-groomed and attractive appearance. Today, the market offers a large number of cosmetics for working with fingers and nails, among which creams, gels, pencils and oils are very popular. Traditional baths are also suitable for home use, but they are low in efficiency. When choosing a product, you should carefully read the composition. It is advisable to purchase removers only in specialized salons.

The video shows the rules for selecting a product:

Compresses

This method will help if you don’t know how to quickly soften a large toenail.

It has many advantages:

Stronger and faster effect.
Long-term exposure to the affected area.
Any suitable solution or ointment can be used.

The compress is usually applied overnight. A cotton pad with medicine is placed on the nail, a film is secured on top and wrapped with a bandage. There are several compress options.

With aloe leaf

The most convenient way. A peeled aloe leaf is applied to the nail, covered with a film and secured with a bandage. The compress remains on the finger until the morning. In the morning, the softened nail is cut off.

We recommend reading:

Another option: peel the aloe leaf and grind it with 20 g of softened butter. The mixture is also applied at night using a compress. You will need 3 or 4 such procedures, after which the nail can be easily cut off.

With vinegar

A compress with vinegar softens well. But, it cannot be used on scratches and wounds. The procedure requires a 9% solution of ordinary table vinegar (can be replaced with apple cider vinegar).

Soak a napkin with the liquid and apply it to the problematic nail. Cover the top with film and wrap it with a bandage.

It is convenient to use a plaster instead of a bandage. The compress can be kept for no more than 3 hours. Afterwards, try to trim the nail with scissors.

If the above methods do not help, then you need to use ointments.

Baths

Baths with liquid soap, salt and moisturizers are necessary in order to prepare for processing with instruments. To make a bath, you need to pour warm water into a small container and add a softener.

You can use bath salts or shower gel if the skin is intact. For cracked, unmoisturized skin, it is best to use oils and infusions. To steam the skin and prepare it for further care, just hold your hands in water for five minutes.

Immediately after the bath, when the skin is soft, you need to remove the excess layer. It is not recommended to trim it. Such manipulations lead to the skin near the nail becoming dry and growths appearing. The best way is to push away the dead skin using a wooden or rubber stick.

An orange wood stick will do. The cuticle is carefully pushed back towards the nail, avoiding strong pressure.

After the bath, you can make a scrub with salt crystals, after which a moisturizing or nourishing cream is applied to the skin.

Oak baths are good for inflammation. First, make an infusion of oak bark, pass it through cheesecloth, and then put your hands in the bath, after adding warm water. 3-5 procedures are enough for complete healing.

How to slow down cuticle growth

For slow cuticle growth, the European method of manicure is preferable: a pushed back cuticle slows down in growth, while a cuticle trimmed in the American style, on the contrary, tends to grow faster.

There are specialized means to slow down the growth of the skin fold. Most often these are gels or oils. Usually they need to be rubbed into the cuticle before going to bed. If you follow this advice, you will soon notice that the cuticle really does not grow so quickly.

These products have other advantages: they usually contain various nutrients and vitamins that help nails stay healthy and strong.

Care products

If you want to take care of your hands yourself without visiting a beauty salon, you can purchase any softener or prepare it yourself.

Creams and gels are most often intended to soften the skin and further remove it.
Oil emulsions and oils are used for regular softening. They have a positive effect not only on the skin, but also on the nail plate itself.
Baths are also good for softening the cuticle.
Hand and cuticle creams should be used as daily care. They contain substances that support skin health.
To wash your hands, you need to purchase soap with caring substances (oils, herbs, minerals).

Nail and cuticle care tools

Many modern women prefer a professional, salon manicure to a home manicure, because it is of better quality and more reliable, but there is not always time and money for this. In addition, sometimes a nail can break, bend, and your favorite nail technician won’t be around, so it’s a good idea to be able to take care of your own manicure yourself.

Basic manicure tools:

Manicure scissors for trimming cuticles. Before purchasing, be sure to take a closer look at your nails: if your cuticle is poorly defined, thin and transparent, your option is needle scissors, but if it is quite dense and hard, classic manicure scissors.
A cuticle pencil is a kind of “two in one” system: first, a special cream or gel is applied with a pencil to soften the cuticle, then the cuticle is moved back with it.
A cuticle pusher is a professional manicure tool for pushing back and cutting cuticles. Use it yourself very carefully: the blade of the device is quite sharp and can damage the surface of the nail.
Trimmer: has properties similar to a pusher.
Cuticle file: With its help, the nail plate can be polished to a shine. These files are made from different materials, but the best ones are glass.
Nippers, manicure tweezers . When choosing these tools, it is important to ensure that they fit comfortably in both hands - right and left.
Orange stick : sold in special sets for European manicure.
Europumza : used for complete cuticle removal.
Also remember that you should have a remover, products to slow down cuticle growth, nourishing oils and creams.

We advise you to read: Oil for nails and cuticles: rules of use, which oil to choose

Hardware manicure

Currently, a new manicure method has emerged that is convenient for home use. It is usually called hardware. It has become widespread just recently. Many women take only the first steps in mastering it. Semi-professional and professional devices can be seen on sale in many household appliance stores. The contents of the sets may vary. However, the device has a cone-shaped cuticle cutter. Before starting work, the skin is slightly pushed back and degreased. And then they are treated with a special nozzle in two directions: down and up.

The cuticle cutter does the job perfectly. During operation, you only need to lightly press the device onto the skin so as not to injure it. The set also includes spherical and rectangular attachments for treating nails. The most advanced devices include a felt attachment for final polishing. Similar products are available in every beauty salon. But you can also purchase the simplest option for yourself, which runs on batteries.

Pharmacy drugs

Pharmaceuticals are more effective. Pharmacies sell creams and ointments that can not only soften, but also cure a diseased nail. They are available without a prescription and are available at any pharmacy.

The most common and cheapest remedy is Vishnevsky ointment. It should be applied overnight as a compress. It softens and heals well. Ichthyol or salicylic ointments are also used.

There are modern and more effective drugs. With their help, sore nails soften in a short time. These are ointments called “Uroderm”, “Nogtevit” and “Scholl”.

If the nail has changed under the influence of a fungus, then use products with an antifungal effect.

There are many such drugs in pharmacies. But the best of them are the following:

Exoderil ointment,
medicinal nail polish "Loceril"
"Canespor" set
5% salicylic ointment.

The method of use of each drug can be read in the instructions. With their help, we quickly soften and treat problem nails.

After treatment, a healthy nail grows in place of the damaged plate.

To prevent unpleasant symptoms from returning, you need to watch your diet and follow the usual rules of hygiene:

Wash your feet before going to bed.
Wear rubber slippers on the beach and in public baths.
Wear shoes made from natural materials.
Do not wear synthetic socks.
Use only your own shoes and clothes.

Prevention is not at all difficult, but as a result you will avoid new problems. Healthy, beautiful nails make your hands graceful and your feet neat. Therefore, take care of the health of your nails to look attractive.

Prevention and treatment of hangnails

Preventing hangnails is better than treating them. How to do it:

It is necessary to regularly use the cream after contact with water, and use cuticle oil in the morning and evening. This will keep the skin moisturized, it will not crack, and the risk of injury will be minimized.
The second prevention option is regular European, unedged manicure. It consists of applying an emollient or remover to the cuticle, removing or pushing back the cuticle with an orange stick or pusher, and then applying oil or nourishing cream. If you perform this procedure 2 times a week, you will no longer need a trimmed manicure.
The third prevention option is systemic dry treatment of the skin around the nail with a cuticle file. After the procedure, apply oil or nourishing cream.

If the cuticle is in a state of disrepair, then before the European manicure it is necessary to perform a hardware or trimmed manicure, and then move on to an untrimmed one.

What to do if hangnails appear on the skin, and even become inflamed due to bacteria or microbes getting into the wound? In this case, it is necessary to carefully cut the skin with scissors or forceps and apply antiseptic oil.

Instead of oil, you can use Sudocrem, ointment with silver, Rescue balm, tea tree oil. It is necessary to nourish and moisturize the skin in the wound area every day until the inflammation goes away and everything heals.

How to get rid of hangnails - remedies and procedures

How can you soften the cuticle?

Softening the cuticle is an important stage in manicure, both trimmed and untrimmed. A cuticle softening bath is a classic and win-win option.

Several simple and effective bath recipes:

Take a third of a lemon, an orange and a grapefruit, add a little vegetable oil, ground cinnamon, and mix in a blender. Fingers need to be dipped in the resulting mixture for 10 minutes.
Take a third of calendula officinalis, chamomile and lemon balm or mint, pour boiling water over it, brew for about half an hour. Make sure the bath is warm. Fingers should be kept in the herbal decoction for 20 minutes.
Add ordinary soda to the water at the rate of 100 grams of soda per liter of water, add a few drops of some essential oil. Keep your fingers in the composition for 10 minutes.
A very unusual method: mix half a liter of beer, 5 drops of iodine and 40 grams of table salt. When the mixture becomes homogeneous, lower your fingers for 15 minutes.
Any oil for softening is very suitable: for example, mix a third of corn, vegetable and sea buckthorn oil, heat the mixture - the bath is ready for 15 minutes!

How to protect your cuticle

Manicure is, in any case, a traumatic process for the cuticle, and the modern external environment is quite aggressive: chlorinated water, for example, is very harmful to the cuticle and the nail plate in general.

Steps to take to protect your cuticles and nails from damage and keep them healthy:

Even if you prefer a home manicure, you should entrust your nails to the masters once every two months: a salon manicure is comprehensive care, it is high-quality and professional, it promotes nail growth and the correct formation of the cuticle.
Avoid the formation of burrs; if they appear, carefully cut with scissors, do not tear off under any circumstances.
Use only high-quality manicure cosmetics; your health and beauty are not something you can skimp on. Protecting the cuticle from varnish, especially cheap and low-quality ones, is especially important.
When working with household chemicals, detergents and cleaners, as well as when washing and mopping floors, use protective gloves.

Cuticle protection is very important, don't neglect these simple tips and you won't have to worry about the health of your nails.

Cuticle Away by CND

Cuticle gel contains alkali. And aloe extract has a calming effect, softening the effect of active components. The product is suitable for home and salon use.

The cost of the gel is 900 rubles. The drug has a fairly liquid consistency, making it easy to apply. It copes well even with neglected cuticles and at the same time has a gentle effect on the skin and nail plate.

Benefits of the remover

Trimming manicure is associated with many inconveniences. To avoid them, you can use a remover. However, like any cosmetic product, it has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of the product include:

No mechanical damage. They are simply not possible because cuticle tweezers or scissors are not used. This means that the risk of infection is eliminated. The remover cannot cause cuts. After a salon procedure, it is almost impossible to contract any infection.
Simplicity and ease of use. Even the most inexperienced person can do an unedged manicure. The remover eliminates the need to painstakingly cut out the skin for a long time. The whole procedure goes quite quickly. The substance is applied to the cuticle, and you just have to wait a little for it to take effect.
With regular use of removers, the cuticle becomes more well-groomed and grows slower.

Creams

Some hand creams can also be used to moisturize the cuticles. The best nourishing cream can be called Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, Kiehl's, and the restoring cream is Garnier Intensive Care cream. Nutrition".

Garnier cream is perfect for those women who often do housework and come into contact with water. After wet cleaning in the apartment or visiting the pool, you need to apply a small amount of nourishing agent to the cuticle. This cream uses a formula with glycerin and allantoin. These substances give the skin and cuticle softness, restore and nourish it, and provide comfort. It is important to apply the cream correctly - rub it into dry areas of the skin with light massage movements for two to three minutes.

Cuticle care at home: what folk remedies exist?

The Internet is replete with all sorts of folk methods and recipes for home, budget cuticle and nail care.

Let's list some of them:

A massage with a soft brush (or a toothbrush) dipped in olive oil with a drop of lemon is very useful - this makes the cuticle soft, the nail plate strong and shiny, and also polishes the nail perfectly.
Kaolin, allantoin, mallow, cosmetic paraffin are excellent products for nourishing masks. The mixture is applied to the nails, and cotton gloves are put on top.
Add liquid soap , drop any essential oil , and then dip your fingers in the soap mixture for 10-15 minutes.
Take almond, sunflower, lavender and tea tree in proportions 5/5/3/1; the resulting mixture is an excellent basis for a healing mask in case of a traumatic manicure cut.
Castor oil, lemon, rose, ylang-ylang in proportions 7/4/2/2, plus an ampoule of vitamin E - an excellent emollient that is suitable for rough cuticles.
Coconut oil, peach, castor oil, orange in proportions 10/10/5/3 are a great option for accelerating nail growth.
In general , any essential oil is a universal nourishing and moisturizing agent for the cuticle and skin of the hands. Take any, apply and rub into the skin every night before bed. If there is no oil, use hand cream or even regular rich baby cream.
In addition, you can rub in vitamin mixtures purchased at the pharmacy in ampoules.
Hand and cuticle scrubs , there are specialized ones that need to be bought in the store, but you can also make them yourself, for example, from ground coffee or soda.
It is known that citrus fruits have a huge supply of vitamins: lemon, orange, grapefruit , their peel can be rubbed on the cuticle and nail plate, or the juice can be applied with a cotton swab and left for half an hour or an hour.

We advise you to read: How to prepare a hand scrub at home

Tools Overview

If you are thinking about how to remove cuticles at home, then you should purchase a remover. This tool will greatly facilitate and speed up the procedure. You will forever forget about cutting your cuticles. In order to purchase the right product in the store, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the most popular ones.

Beauty Triumph remover pencil is a product of a domestic manufacturer. The cuticle softener looks like a felt-tip pen or marker. With its help, you can apply softening liquid with great precision. The revumer contains oils and vitamin E.

Professionals note that this is one of the best cuticle oils. The pencil is easy to use and has a convenient packaging. The pointed cap makes it easy to push back cuticles without any additional tools. The cost of the product ranges from 500-700 rubles.