No manicure, even with the most stylish design and perfect coverage, will not look neat if the cuticle is dry or damaged. It is she who forms the overall impression of the nails. But besides aesthetics, the cuticle has a very important function. It protects the nail plate from infections, bacteria and external irritants. That is why it needs to be taken care of regularly. And how to do it, we will tell you below.
What is cuticle
The cuticle is a thin roll of skin that surrounds the base of the nail plate. It performs an essential protective function, namely it prevents germs, bacteria and dirt from penetrating into the nail growth zone, where the base of the nail is formed. The cuticle consists of two parts:
- The living tissue (eponychium), which is tightly attached to the nail;
- the keratinized layer that grows back with the nail plate.
If you want your nails to be neat and healthy, it is important to regularly remove dry, dead cells and moisturize the living tissue. Otherwise, the cuticle will grow, crack and form burrs. Through these microcracks can get infections, resulting in inflammation and even suppuration. In addition, the poor condition of the cuticle can slow down the growth of nails, provoke the appearance of bumps and longitudinal strips on their surface.
How to properly care for the cuticle
A beautiful cuticle is not only aesthetic. It is also a guarantee that your nails will be healthy and beautiful. But what steps do you need to follow to care for it? Let's analyze each of them in detail.
Removal
As we said earlier, keratinized cuticle particles need to be removed regularly. However, first you need to choose a method that suits your needs. There are several methods:
- Trimming manicure - the classic variant, when cuticle is cut with special sharp tools.
- Hardware manicure - performed using a cutter with various attachments.
- European (uncut) - uses a special liquid to soften the cuticle, after the action of which it is easily removed with an orange stick.
If you have a difficult cuticle (dry, thin, irritated), it is better to entrust the manicure to a professional master, who will choose the method for your skin type.
Moisturizing
Moisturizing should be a daily habit, because only then will it bring results. Cuticle oils are best suited for this purpose. They may contain not just one oil, but a whole complex. Vitamins and extracts are also not superfluous.
The oil should be applied to the nail growth area with massage movements. It nourishes the skin and softens it, so your manicure will always look fresh. In addition to oils, you should regularly use nourishing hand creams, especially in the cold season. If you need intensive care, you can do paraffin therapy or SPA-procedures for hands.
Massage
A light massage while applying cream or oil is an easy way to improve blood circulation, speed up nail growth and make your hands look better groomed. This routine takes a few minutes, but its effects are impossible not to notice.
Professional care products
On the shelves of cosmetic stores you can find a lot of products for the care of cuticles and hand skin. Let's talk about the most popular of them.
Cuticle Oils
Oil is your main assistant in cuticle care. It nourishes, moisturizes and softens the skin, prevents hangnails and cracks, and stimulates nail growth. It is better to choose products that contain jojoba, almond, argan, avocado, grape seed oils, as well as vitamins A, E and plant extracts. Oil should be applied to the cuticle daily, preferably in the evening.
Creams and gels
Creams and gels are products that deeply moisturize your hands and protect them from external factors. Choose such products depending on the season, for example, light textures for summer and more nourishing ones for winter. If your skin is irritated, you can choose products that contain panthenol, allantoin and hyaluronic acid.
Cuticle softeners
Cuticle softeners (removers) are special formulas that contain alkaline components (e.g. potassium or sodium hydroxide). They help to gently and safely remove keratinized skin around the nail without traumatizing the living tissue.
Remover is applied as follows:
- Apply the remover to the clean skin around the nail.
- Leave it for 1-2 minutes (the exact time is indicated on the package).
- Gently push back cuticles with an orange stick or poucher.
- Remove any residue with a tissue or water.
It is advisable to apply a moisturizing oil or cream to the cuticle after the procedure.
Common cuticle problems
Even a body part as small as the cuticle can cause quite a few problems. The most common of them are:
- Dryness and flaking - occurs due to inadequate moisturizing, as well as exposure to cold air, harsh detergents or frequent hand washing.
- Hangnails - occur when the cuticle is over-dried or improperly removed. They can be painful and cause inflammation.
- Cracks and microtraumas are the result of excessive cutting or careless use of sharp instruments. Infection can easily enter through such injuries.
- Too rapid cuticle growth - may indicate regular errors in its removal or dehydration of the skin.
- Inflammation (redness, swelling, pain) - often occurs due to an allergic reaction to cosmetic products or bacterial damage. In this case, it is worth contacting a specialist.
All these problems are most often the result of improper cuticle care. If you want to avoid them, read our tips in the next section.
Tips for cuticle care and health
We all dream that our hands, nails and cuticles look well-groomed. And it is not so difficult to achieve this if you follow these simple rules and tips:
- Remove cuticle regularly with the method that suits you (trimming, hardware or European).
- If you use cutting tools, make sure they are sharp and disinfected.
- Do not cut the cuticle too deeply and make each cuticle cut as carefully as possible to avoid traumatizing the delicate skin and causing inflammation.
- If burrs appear, do not tear them off, but gently cut them off with a clean tool.
- Moisturize your cuticles and hands daily with oils, creams or nourishing gels.
- Once a week, lightly exfoliate your hands or use a scrub to remove dead skin cells.
- Don't forget to massage your cuticles and hands, as this improves blood circulation and stimulates nail growth.
- Protect your hands with gloves when cleaning, washing dishes or contact with aggressive chemicals.
- Choose natural and high-quality cosmetic care products that do not provoke allergies.
- Drink enough water, because moisturizing starts from within.
- If you have frequent cuticle or skin problems, get tested and consult your doctor. You may be deficient in vitamins.
And most importantly, if you do not manage to take care of cuticles yourself, do not torture yourself and your hands. It is better to book a manicure with a professional master. He will do everything correctly and safely.