How to Care for Your Cuticles Properly

• 1. What is the Cuticle and Why is it So Important to Take Care of it?
• 2. Salon Cuticle Care
• 3. Cuticle Treatment At Home
  • 3.1 Hand Baths
  • 3.2 Removers
  • 3.3 Moisturizing and Massaging
• 4. How to Choose Cuticle Care Products
• 5. 10 Tips on Cuticle Care

Well-groomed hands are not only about beautiful nail design and smooth moisturized skin. The beauty and health of your nails greatly depends on the state of your cuticles. In this article, we’ll talk about how to take care of the skin around your nails.

What is the Cuticle and Why is it So Important to Take Care of it?

The cuticle is a thin piece of skin along the bottom edge of your nail. It consists of two layers:

• eponychium ― the upper layer that represents the living tissue of the cuticle
• pterygium ― the thin and dry lower layer growing along with the nail plate.

Dead epithelium must be removed, while living tissue must be taken care of, moisturized, and massaged.

Why is it necessary to take care of your cuticles? It serves as a protective barrier against bacteria that can penetrate through the base of the nail if the skin is dry or damaged. It’s important to use cuticle care products daily to prevent:

• hangnails
• fungal diseases
• cracks
• nail deformities.

Regular cuticle care is the key to the proper growth, health, and beauty of nail plates.

Salon Cuticle Care

You can turn to a nail technician to get initial basic cuticle care. They usually have a variety of special products on hand and know various manicure techniques. There are three classic types of salon nail treatment:

• Basic (classic) manicure. The cuticles are soaked in a warm bath and trimmed with a sharp manicure tool. This method is considered unsafe, as there is a high risk of damaging the skin and getting an infection. In addition, your cuticles become rough faster.
• European manicure. It’s a gentle method that allows you to take care of the cuticles without cutting them. Special products (keratolytics and removers) are applied to the periungual area to soften the rough tissue. Once it softens, the tissue is carefully removed, and the living part of the cuticle is gently pushed back with an orangewood stick.
• Russian (e-file) manicure. The cuticles are carefully removed with an e-file. This type of manicure doesn’t involve soaking the hands or applying softening products.

The procedure wraps up with a hand massage and application of cream and cuticle moisturizer.

Another effective salon care option is paraffin manicure.

Cuticle Treatment At Home

You shouldn’t limit yourself only to visiting a salon to take care of your hands. Simple nail and cuticle treatments can be done at home, moreover, it's better to keep caring for your cuticles after getting a manicure in a salon.

How to achieve a salon effect at home? Consider the following options:

• hand baths
• professional removers
• massages
• moisturizing of nail roots.

Hand Baths

Here’s how to do it:

1. Fill a bowl with warm water and add a few drops of lemon juice and a pinch of sea salt.
2. Put your fingernails in the water.
3. Soak your hands for at least five minutes.

If there are scratches, cracks, or dry peeling areas on your skin, you can replace salt with a camomile concoction.

Removers

Professional removers are used to separate rough and dead skin particles. Removers have a similar effect to peeling products. The scrubbing effect is achieved due to fruit acids or alkalis in their formulas.

A tip. Go for an acid-based remover. Alkaline compounds can make your skin dry if used frequently.

Removers come in the form of lotions, gels, and creams, so choose a consistency that is more pleasant for you.

How to use removers:

1. Clean your nails.
2. Apply remover along the cuticle growth area.
3. Let it sit for a couple of minutes.
4. Remove rough skin and push back the cuticles with an orangewood stick.

Important! When pushing back the skin, try not to press too hard on the base of the nail, otherwise, it may cause irregularities as the nail plate grows.

Moisturizing and Massaging

Moisturizing is the basis of care not only for the cuticles but also for any other skin area. Moisturized skin stays supple and healthy for longer.

Use creams or special oils to moisturize your cuticles. Oil should be applied only to the skin around the nails and rubbed in with massaging movements. Massaging the nail base is a must for your daily cuticle care routine.

A tip. The cream you choose should have fats and waxes in its formula. It’s better to use it every time after your hands come in contact with water.

How to Choose Cuticle Care Products

Cuticle oil is the number one product recommended by nail professionals.

When it comes to choosing cuticle oil, check if there are the following components in its formula:

• aloe vera to eliminate and prevent inflammation
• peach and almond oils for a number of purposes: to accelerate nail growth, nourish, and avoid brittle and splitting nails
• sesame oil to moisturize nail plates
• shea butter or cocoa bean oil to relieve irritation
• tea tree oil to prevent fungal infections
• wheat germ oil for cell regeneration
• vitamins E and C.

How to use cuticle oil:

• Apply the oil to your cuticles.
• Wait a few minutes, then gently massage the treated area.
• Leave the oil for a few more minutes, letting the active ingredients soak in.
• Remove the remains with a cotton pad.

10 Tips on Cuticle Care

If you are serious about making nail and cuticle care your your everyday routine, let us share some tips with you:

1. Treat your cuticles at least once every two weeks: it grows back in 14 days and completely regenerates in 21 days.
2. Apply cuticle oil twice a day, once before bedtime.
3. Wear gloves made of natural materials before going out in the cold.
4. Use alcohol-free hand sanitizers.
5. Wash your hands with warm water. Hot water dries the skin, while cold water makes it peel.
6. Don’t use air hand dryers in public places. It’s better to wipe your hands with paper towels.
7. Put an SPF cream on your hands from the wrist to the cuticle of each finger on sunny days.
8. Wear gloves when doing household chores.
9. Try using cuticle moisturizers more often if you change your nails design frequently.
10. Drink more water.

If you follow these simple recommendations, you can easily maintain the beauty of your hands. And after you take care of your cuticles, check out creative nail designs ideas by nail artists from all over the world in our photo gallery and choose one for you.