How To Care For Your Cuticles
Updated 2024.10.03 and just as an FYI, this page contains affiliate links, this site earns from qualifying purchases made through these sponsored links.
Cuticles are defined as the outer edge of skin surrounding your nail bed. They frame the nail, creating a perfect foundation for your manicure, and when they are healthy, they form a complete seal around the nail bed.
When cuticles are intact they serve an important purpose by keeping bacteria and vectors out of the blood stream, protecting the finger tips from infection.
However, cuticles can become broken due to harsh cleansers, dry skin, over cutting, nail biting or simply just genetics.
You can save your cuticles from all of this and reverse any cuticle damage you are experiencing, and the pain that may have come with that damage, by adopting a cuticle care routine.
With a cuticle care routine that works for you, you can have a beautiful nail bed and nail line, giving you the perfect surface and frame for your manicures.
You will also be more confident in showing off your nails when introducing yourself to others, or when using your hands in a professional setting.
To begin developing a cuticle care routine, you will need these tools in your cuticle care kit -
1 reliable nail pusher, ideally wooden, as it is more gentle, but metal works too and can be sterilized
1 cuticle nipper, like this one
Once you have assembled your items, below are three easy steps for a cuticle care routine where you’ll see results -
Step 1 - Moisturize your cuticles every day.
Rain, snow, wind, or sun, moisturize your cuticles every day. The best way to do this is by using an oil dropper or roller, and specifically dropping oil right along your cuticle line and then rubbing it in.
You can use creams, butters, salves or oils to moisturize your cuticles, but keep in mind that most creams are infused with at least some water or alcohol, so they can be drying. If you have it, use a butter, salve or straight oil, as the moisture is more concentrated.
Some of the best straight cuticle oils are very similar to what you would see in a spa or even your kitchen, and have an oil base of grapeseed, hemp, olive, argan, or almond.
Experiment and see what texture you like the best and then keep your choice nail moisturizer where you do your morning tea or evening skincare, and commit to adding your cuticle line into your self-care every day.
If you are wondering -
What is the best cuticle oil?
The only rule on cuticle oil is to make sure to use a non-pore clogging skincare oil (you can check how much an oil clogs pores on sites like COSDNA.com).
Other than that, this one is personal preference and will depend on how thick you like your oils and what you have on hand.
If you already have a skincare oil you like and use, some people just prefer to double dip and use their skincare oil on their cuticles as well.
This is a perfectly fine and practical way to do things especially if you are limited on cabinet or shelf space. Just simply moisturizing your cuticles with a rich oil or salve is enough to start the healing process for your cuticles overnight.
Step 2 - Push back your cuticles every week.
Once a week, push back your cuticles using a wooden nail stick. These are the most gentle on the nails.
To push back your cuticles, wash your hands, remove any nail polish if you were wearing it, and then moisturize the cuticle.
After you have prepared the cuticle, taking the rounded edge of a nail stick, often called an orange stick, gently push up on the edges of the cuticle, all around the nail. Working at a 45 degree angle on the nail’s surface, go over every nail and gently push back the sides and edges of the cuticle.
If any debris or old skin particles come off the nail as you do this, it is normal. Simply wash your hands, and re-moisturize when done.
Why push back cuticles?
This process prevents the cuticle from stretching and ripping in the future, it also elongates the nail bed, creating more space for nail paint and art to shine.
Step 3 - Trim your cuticle each week (only when necessary).
After pushing up your cuticles, look at your nail bed.
Snip any remaining hangnails. If you have any loose skin that is free from both the surface of the finger and the nail, and it is causing irritation, gently snip it using metal snippers.
How to trim cuticles
Using metal snippers that have been sanitized with an alcohol spray or wipe, gently snip any loose edges along the cuticle line.
Do not snip the entire cuticle, just any loose edges.
You may not have them every time you do this, as loose edges, sometimes called hangnails are more common in colder and drier weather.
Snipping these hangnails prevents further ripping of the skin and can stop damage in its tracks. Be very careful not to over snip.
Do not bite your cuticles in lieu of snipping with a tool.
You may be tempted, especially if there’s a hangnail, but try to avoid biting off any loose skin around your cuticles. This tends to encourage further ripping.
If a cuticle needs to be snipped and you are away from home, protect it as best you can, then use a sterilized snipper as soon as you get to it.
Wash your hands and re-moisturize when done.
Step 4 - Keep your cuticles covered when using harsh chemicals.
Gloves can protect your cuticles from drying out or experiencing irritation from household cleaners, which can damage your hands and in turn, your cuticles. This step also will keep your manicured nails lasting longer if you currently paint your nails.
Now for a few common concerns about cuticle care -
Vertical photo of person holding pot of cream by cottonbro from Pexels with text overlay How To Care For Your Cuticles
How to heal cuticles overnight
If you are looking for a quick fix to cuticle healing, start with Step 1 above and then move through Step 4. Do the entire cuticle care routine above. This will begin the healing process and you can often see a difference in as little as 24 hours.
Then, to keep up the good work, commit to a cuticle care practice where, at least once a week, perhaps when you do your manicure, you care for the cuticle bed using the steps above.
This will keep your cuticles strong, healthy and intact for many years to come.
Do cuticles grow back?
Yes! Cuticles are living tissue and they grow every single day.
Even if your cuticles are damaged due to years of neglect, harsh soaps or climates, nail biting or simply not having a cuticle care routine, you can restore them to a healthy and beautiful state in as little as one week with the healing beginning as soon as you start the process above.
To recap, to keep your cuticles healthy:
Every day:
Once a week:
Moisturize, push back, and then snip only when needed and if there are loose edges.
Protect your cuticles by using gloves when cleaning with household solutions.
Add these steps when you do your skincare, when painting your nails for the week, and into your chore routine, and you will see results of healed cuticles in as little as a week.
In the end, having strong, healthy cuticles is a highly achievable goal with a little self care cuticle routine added once per day, and then again once per week.
Caring for your cuticle bed creates the perfect base for your manicures, and the practice is enjoyable, meaning that maintaining your cuticle care routine is usually a habit that’s easy to keep especially once you see results.
After you’ve chosen your cuticle moisturizer, have your tools for your cuticle care kit, and developed your cuticle care routine, you are now ready to add paint.
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