Home manicure: How to push back your cuticles

Home manicure: How to push back your cuticles

MANICURES are back on, with nail bars allowed to reopen from July 13. However, many Brits have realised they can do their nails themselves perfectly throughout lockdown. Here’s how to push back your cuticles.

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Don’t fancy spending money on a manicure? You can do it yourself at home. Filing, cutting and painting your nails is easy enough, but what do you do about your cuticles? Here’s how to push back your cuticles.

How to cut your cuticles

Cuticles are the most difficult part of the nail to manage, but it is easy when you know how.

The cuticle is the thin skin growing at the base of your nails, and getting rid of it makes your nails look neater and longer.

Never cut your cuticles, as this will lead you vulnerable to dangerous and painful infections.

Any dermatologist will tell you there is no good reason to cut your cuticles, and neither should your manicurist!

You should only use cuticle cutters to cut painful hangnails along the sides of the nail and below the cuticle.

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Home manicure: Never cut your cuticles, always push them back instead (Image: Getty)

Home manicure: Pushing back your cuticles is good for your nails (Image: Getty)

How to push back your cuticles

You should only ever push back your cuticles, never cut them.

Firstly, remove your nail polish with a non-acetone polish remover (acetone dries out the nails and cuticles).

Always remove your polish before pushing back your cuticles because the cuticle will be tender afterwards and nail polish may sting the skin.

You might also push old polish into the skin and cause an infection.

Next, soak your nails in warm water for five to ten minutes in order to soften the cuticles.

This step is vital and will allow you to push the cuticles back with no pain.
You could even add some coconut oil or jojoba oil to the water to moisturise your fingers.

Home manicure: Cuticle oil or cream should be applied every day (Image: Getty)

If you have cuticle oil, apply this on your nails and leave it on for two to three minutes before soaking your fingers.

Dry your hands completely and apply hand cream or cuticle remover to your nails and let it soak in.

You can leave it on for as long as you like, unless it is a chemical cuticle remover (in which case, read the instructions).

Use a cuticle pusher made of wood and place your hand on a flat surface.

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Use the stick to push back the skin along the bottom of your nail, and work your way up the sides of your nail.

This will get rid of any dirt and prevent ingrown nails. Make sure you don’t push too hard though.

You may be left with excess skin at the base of the nail, but don’t cut or tear these away.

Exfoliate the skin with a clean washcloth dipped in warm water.

Home manicure: Cutting your cuticles could lead to infection (Image: Getty)

Use nippers only to trim hangnails, not your cuticle.

Wash your hands in warm soapy water when you are finished and thoroughly dry them.

Use a hand cream or petroleum jelly to moisturise your cuticles every day to make sure your cuticles don’t split.

Try to push your cuticles back once a week. This can be done after a warm shower if you don’t have time to soak your hands.

Stop biting your nails and never chew hangnails or cuticles.

This could lead to a dangerous infection and will cause them to grow back thicker.