Cuticle Care – Tips to Safely Push Back and Trim Cuticles

Tips to Safely Push Back and Trim Cuticles

Are you suffering from pain around your nails or from pus-filled blisters around your nails? If yes, you are most likely suffering from an infection of the skin around the cuticles which is also known as “paronychia”.

What is Paronychia?

This condition is caused mostly due to cutting off of cuticles or when they are badly damaged. So, what is a cuticle? A cuticle is an outer layer of skin found on the edges or sides of your fingernails and toenails. Their main function is to protect the new nails from any infections and to keep your nails neat always.

However, cuticles are very fragile and soft and if they are not taken care of properly, they can easily be damaged.

Some of the nail salons prefer to cut your cuticles under the assumption that it helps the polish to go on better and stays longer.

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However, this is not the case. Cutting your cuticles will merely lead to white spots, white lines and infection as cutting them will allow easy entry of germs and bacteria. So ladies, next time you visit a beauty salon ask them not to cut off your cuticles but to either trim them or push them back a little. These two methods will help the polish to stay on longer and help to give your nail a neat look without even damaging your cuticle.

It is recommended to avoid any nail technician that pushes back cuticles vigorously or practices bad nail salon hygiene. We have jotted down some of the tips to safely push back and trim cuticles for your nail technician or for you if you are doing a manicure yourself.

Ways to Trim Cuticles

  • Use a Cuticle Remover

The first step towards a successful manicure is to get your nails trimmed and filled to have your desired nail shape. You can for a fact push back your cuticles in a shower as the water also softens your nail area but this process has proved to be less effective. My opinion will be to invest in a cuticle remover! It will be a game changer for sure! A cuticle remover moistens and softens your cuticle area. This helps to loosen the cuticle off from the nail and helps you to determine which part is to be trimmed or pushed back. This will prevent you from cutting your whole cuticle off which makes the nail susceptible to more infections.

  • Invest in a Metal Pusher

This tool basically makes the whole process of pushing back the cuticles very easy. Once the cuticle is moistened because of the cuticle remover, gently push back the cuticle to the end of the nail with the help of the metal pusher. Then wash off your nail with soap and mild water to remove the cuticle remover. Trim any lose hangings precisely by making sure that you only cut the dead excess skin and not the whole cuticle!

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  • You can also Use Cuticle Nippers

Cuticle nippers basically help to do the trimming off excess dead skin easily with precision. They prevent you from pulling the nail hangings with your hands that can rip extra skin on your finger which can ultimately provide more damage. Just place the cuticle nipper onto the skin that has to be trimmed and then close the jaws. In this way, you won’t have to pull and the hangings will easily be trimmed to give your nails a neat look!

  • Apply Cuticle Oil

Cuticle oil is a multi-purpose oil. It can either be applied before you push back your cuticles or after trimming and pushing them. It is a magical oil, indeed! When you are applying it before you push back your cuticles, it helps soften your cuticle area which makes it easier to push back it. Applying oil after you’ve trimmed them works like a hydrator for your nail and gives it much needed nourishment. You can get this oil at every drugstore or can easily make it at home with organic ingredients. Quick and inexpensive!

  • Use a Buffer!

Buffer is again one of those tools that you should always have when you are planning to do a manicure. Pushing and trimming cuticles can be very tricky processes and sometimes they might not work. Here, you should consider buffing them! A buffer helps to remove/buff any excess cuticle on your nail. It is so easy to use too as you just have to gently glide it onto your nail edges and move it back and forth until all the dry skin has been removed. This small tool works wonders surely!

  • Soak your Nails in Apple Cider Vinegar

Another hack that makes pushing back your cuticles easy is to soak your nails in apple cider vinegar for about 10 minutes until your cuticle area is softened and ready to be pushed back. In addition to moistening the cuticles, apple cider vinegar also provides a lot of nourishment to the nails to make sure they grow healthy and quickly.

  • Use a Hydrating Serum

This whole process of trimming and pushing back your cuticles can also lead to unnecessary dryness around your nails. An important step to avoid that is to use a hydrating serum on your nails. This will also be helpful next time when you’ll be pushing back your cuticles and will prevent any dead skin from coming in the first place!

Final Words

You may not be able to head to your favourite salons because of these covid times but this shouldn’t stop you from taking care of your nails and cuticles. You may not be able to apply nail paint as smoothly and neatly as they do in salons and an important reason behind this is because you not taking care of your cuticles. Do not forget about your cuticle and follow these tips and processes diligently to push back and trim your cuticles safely to get your desired nail looks without even paying a visit to your salon!

Filed under: Tips and Myths


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