Cuticle Remover: Your Questions Answered

Cuticle Remover: Your Questions Answered

The secret to any good manicure is well prepped cuticles, but unless you are a professional nail technician, you may find the thought of clipping away at your cuticles somewhat daunting. In this complete guide to Cuticle Remover, we’ll cover everything you need to know about working on your cuticles and keeping them in perfect condition no matter how many times you change your nail colour.

What Are Cuticles and Why Do We Have Them?

Now we could get technical here and start talking about things such as the eponychium and the nail matrix, but you’re probably reading this during your lunchbreak with a Pret-a-Manger in hand, and well, life is just too short! To keep it simple, cuticles are a protective barrier that sits on top of the nail bed to protect the nails as they grow and keep things like germs and bacteria at bay. They are part of the skin, and while they are made up of non-living tissue, they should be treated with the utmost care if your hands are to remain healthy.

The problem with cuticles is that they tear quite easily, particularly during the colder winter months when are hands are more likely to be dry and damaged. Torn cuticles are not only unattractive to look at, but they can be incredibly painful too, and if you don’t treat them immediately with an antibacterial remedy, you could easily end up with an infection, and believe me, you really don’t want to go there!

How to Care for Your Cuticles

Fortunately, the cuticles are pretty easy to look after and providing you use plenty of hand and nail cream to keep them moisturised, cuticle oil after each manicure, and spotlessly clean tools when pushing back a cuticle during nail prep, you can keep them in perfect condition throughout the seasons.

Good grooming is essential when it comes to caring for the cuticles, and while it is yet to be scientifically proven, good nutrition is thought to help boost healthy skin, cuticles and nails, and so indulge in foods rich in vitamin A, biotin, protein, and Omega-3 fatty acids, and also Champagne. It may not help your nails grow, but who cares?!

When your hands are in good condition, your cuticles will do their job more efficiently and your nails are more likely to strengthen and grow, and so it’s well worth investing in quality hand care products that nourish, moisturise and promote good nail health.

How to Remove a Cuticle Like a Pro

If you would like to remove a cuticle at home, and do so like a professional nail technician, here are our top tips:

1. The number #1 rule here is never cut your cuticles – ever. Even if you’ve seen your nail tech do this, you shouldn’t be tempted to try it at home.
2. Okay, let’s get started. Remove all acrylics, gels and nail polishes with acetone-free nail varnish remover for spotlessly clean nails.
3. Next up, soak your hands in warm soapy water to soften the skin and the cuticles. After a few minutes, use a soft clean towel to dry the hands and nails completely.
4. Apply your chosen cuticle remover liquid or gel to each nail and gently massage in. Leave for 30 seconds (or for the amount of time listed on the bottle) and let it work its magic.
5. You can now start pushing back your cuticles. There are a variety of different metal tools that you can use to do this, but an orangewood stick is perhaps the safest option. Push each cuticle back gently, following the natural curve of your nail. Once you are happy with the results, move on the next nail following the same process.
6. Next remove any hangnails or skintags using a cuticle nipper specifically designed for the job, taking extra care not to tear the skin.
7. At this stage, I like to soak my hands again in water to remove any debris, before drying thoroughly.
8. Finally, apply a good quality cuticle cream to each cuticle and massage in to restore natural moisture levels.

CND SOLAROIL® Perfect for Home Cuticle Care

There are numerous cuticle removers, cuticle creams, and cuticle conditioning treatments out there, but I’ve yet to find anything as good as SOLAROIL® by CND, the makers of Shellac Nail Polish. An award-winning formula enriched with vitamin E and jojoba oil, it hydrates deep within the cuticle to promote strong and healthy nails – and it is one of just a few products that I’ve tried that really does work.

When used repeatedly, SolarOil® can transform dry hands and nails, and so it’s a great investment for DIY enthusiasts and professional nail technicians alike. It smells divine too, and as you only need a tiny bit for each nail, a single bottle could last you for months.

With your cuticles prepared and your hands beautifully moisturised, you can now go on to apply your favourite nail polish colour. What shade will you be going for next?