7 Ways to Care for Your Cuticles At Home

If you’re working on improving your DIY mani skills, you may notice that, no matter how much you master painting within the lines, it never looks quite as good as a salon-quality paint job. We feel your pain. But we also have a way to remedy it! Chances are, you’re forgetting one very important part of picture-perfect nail look: your cuticles, of course. 

Think about it: Whenever you go to the nail salon, your manicurist takes time to clean up your nails before applying any polish. While this includes removing all trace amounts of lacquer, it also includes dissolving and pushing cuticles back so that each nail bed is clean and even. After all, you don’t want to apply your polish only to realize that the base of each nail is wavy due to the varying degrees of your cuticles. 

While you might not be able to head to a salon anytime you want, you can absolutely care for your cuticles wherever, whenever. To help you do just that, we explain seven DIY cuticle remover methods you can try at home.

1. Try Pushing Back Your Cuticles in the Shower

Many people think that one of the best ways to get rid of stubborn cuticles is to cut them, but manicurists ask that you please don’t. Trimming can create more hangnails, jagged edges, and even cause infection. Instead, when you’re in the shower or bath let the warmth naturally soften your cuticles and then push them back gently with your thumbnail. If you feel like you absolutely must trim, she says to only clip what’s hanging, not the cuticle itself.

2. Use a Cuticle-Remover Pen to Melt Them Away

Since cutting cuticles can get tricky fast, leave the cutting to the professionals and use a cuticle remover instead. Fortunately, there is such a thing as a Cuticle Remover Pen, which makes the dissolving process easy as can be. After applying the pen, use a stainless steel pusher to gently ease cuticles back.

3. Do Some Damage Control With Cuticle Nippers

Just as you should try to never cut your cuticles, you should never pull them either. 

If you have a little piece of skin hanging—just barely attached, use your cuticle nippers. Eyeball that piece of skin. Place the head of your nipper at the base of the hanging skin. Close and open the jaw in the same spot but do not pull, simply place the cuticle nippers on the extra skin and open and close. If you’re curious as to why, hear us out: When you pull your cuticles, it can cause the tiny piece of hanging skin to rip centimeters down your finger, which will ultimately cause more harm than good.

4. Try a DIY Cuticle Oil With Jojoba and Almond Oils

Mixing up a blend of jojoba and almond oil can do your cuticles a world of good—especially when you’re trying to push them back. 

You’ll need:

2 ml sweet almond oil

2 ml jojoba oil

1 ml rice bran oil

2 drops vitamin E oil

1 drop lavender essential oil

1 drop chamomile essential oil

Instructions: 

Combine all ingredients into a glass dropper bottle. Shake well and use it as you please. After applying the oil, allow it to sink in for a few minutes before trying to push your cuticles back. 

5. Get Hands-On With Apple Cider Vinegar

In addition to strengthening nails, apple cider vinegar can help loosen cuticles so that they’re easier to push back. All you have to do is soak your fingers in a bowl of ACV for five to 10 minutes and push back accordingly. 

6. Use a Buffer to Remove Unruly Cuticles

If dissolving your cuticles doesn’t seem to be working, consider buffing them. Use a nail buffer on dry skin to gently buff away any excess cuticles as needed. Gently glide the buffer cube back and forth along the edge of the cuticle to erase dry skin and smooth things out.

7. Prevent Stubborn Cuticles in the First Place With a Hydrating Serum

One of the biggest and best things you can do for cuticles is to keep them hydrated. The more hydrated they are, the easier they’ll be to shape and push back. Dryness causes damages. Applying a daily Cuticle Serum is our number one tip to encourage healthy cuticles and nail growth.

Bottom Line

Keeping up your nail care at home between manicures is very important – for the health of your cuticles. Try to enter it into your regular routine and promote less extra skin around your nails (which also happens when you pick at your nails). Then, when it’s time for your manicure, call Botanica Day Spa at 727-441-1711 and see the long-lasting results of our Russian manicure! You’ll never go back to a regular manicure after you have one!

Love,

Gen