How to remove cuticles at home – 5 tips and detailed instructions

Neat, well-groomed hands are a distinctive feature of the appearance of a woman who looks after herself. However, even if you trimmed your nails and applied varnish, but did not take care of removing the cuticles, you can consider that the manicure was done in vain. Removing the film at the base of the nail plate is the first and very important stage of hygienic nail care. But not all women know how to do it correctly, accurately, without pain and damage to the nails. Therefore, journalists have compiled step-by-step instructions for the readers of our online publication on how to remove cuticles in different ways. The list of necessary instruments, accessories, preparations, detailed descriptions of the techniques can be found in this article.

What is a cuticle and what is its function

To understand what a cuticle is, look at your nails. At the very base, where the nail plate comes out from under the skin, it is covered with a thin translucent film, tightly adhering to the surface. This film is the outer edge of the cuticle, which consists of dead cells. It must be removed during hygienic or decorative manicure.

The function of the living part of the cuticle is that it is a kind of barrier that prevents dirt, bacteria and microbes from entering the base of the nail plates. It is recommended to remove dead skin because it gives the nails an untidy look. In addition, under certain conditions, she can begin to wrinkle. As a result, barbs appear that make the hands even more unkempt and cause pain and discomfort.

Preparation for the procedure – drugs and accessories

The list of cosmetic products that you may need if you are going to remove the film at home can vary. It all depends on which manicure technique you prefer. Below we list these techniques with detailed descriptions and step-by-step instructions. You just have to decide on the best option and prepare the necessary accessories for the procedure.

Tools, accessories and auxiliary items that you may need if you intend to remove cuticles yourself:

1. Pusher or as it is called in a simple way – pusher. This is a special double-sided manicure tool. It has a small spatula at one end that helps push the film back and forth. The second tip is sharp, it can lightly pick up the skin in a hard-to-reach place or where it is difficult to separate from the nail plate.

2. The orange stick is a tool that allows you to remove the cuticle in the least traumatic way. The orange tree is very soft and the stick is not capable of scratching or damaging fabrics.

3. Manicure scissors or tweezers that can be used to remove the film. These tools are used in case you intend to apply the techniques of a trim manicure. It is not recommended to use scissors for this purpose, as they can injure tissue if you move it carelessly. They can easily cut off the excess, so that blood comes out. This is fraught with infection and the development of inflammation. It is safer to remove cuticles with tweezers, but not everyone is comfortable using them. However, experts still recommend training and gaining experience in handling this instrument.

4. A small container, preferably ceramic, because this material retains heat well. You will need a bowl at the stage of preparation for the procedure. Then, when, before removing the film, you will soften it to facilitate the manicure process.

5. One of the preparations for softening the cuticle is cream, wax or vegetable oil, a special agent for softening the skin.

6. Means for inhibiting cuticle growth – having bought such a drug, you will have to remove the film as rarely as possible.

7. Medical glue BF-6 – this tool will help stop the blood if you break the integrity of the skin during the procedure. The purchase of the drug is especially relevant if you are just learning how to remove the cuticle yourself at home.

8. Cotton buds and pads – they will never be superfluous, as they help to apply and remove cosmetics.

9. Hand towel or paper towels.

10. The roller on which the hand is placed – it allows the procedure to be carried out in a more comfortable environment. The roller can be rolled up from a regular towel or bought ready-made in a beauty supply store.

11. Pharmacy preparations or alcohol for disinfecting hands and instruments. Since the cuticle is the dried edge of the roller that protects the nail plates from the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms, it must be removed only with sterile devices. You can use a 70-90% alcohol solution, Chlorhexidine, or special disinfectants. Metal instruments can be additionally sterilized in an oven preheated to 250 degrees for 20 minutes.

After you finish removing the film, you can continue with the manicure to tidy up the nail plates. To do this, you need nail files to shorten the length and shape the nails. And also buffs – special tools that are used to polish the surface of the nail plates.

Preparing for the procedure – what to do before removing dead skin

Whichever method you choose, before carrying out the procedure, it is advisable to prepare the fabric, that is, slightly soften the dead skin. This can be done in the following ways:

1. Remove varnish, decorative coating from nails, if any. Pour tolerantly hot water into a bowl, add sea salt. You can also add a little natural honey, soda, lemon juice to the solution. These foods will promote tissue health. Dip the hands in a container with water so that the liquid covers the first phalanges of the fingers. You need to keep your hands in the bath for 10-15 minutes.

2. If, after the bath, the cuticle still remains stiff and stubborn, apply a moisturizer or vegetable oil to the base of the nail plate. This can be the usual culinary sunflower, olive oil. Or, a more useful product for nails and skin – almond, coconut, linseed oil.

It is recommended to remove the cuticle immediately after the procedure, before the skin has time to become tough. You need to dry your fingers thoroughly, after which you can start manicure.

How to remove film without cutting

Cuticle removal without circumcision is a method that is suitable only for those girls and women who have a very thin film at the base of the nails. In this case, after steaming the skin, it is enough to work with a pusher or an orange stick, pushing the excess skin towards the root of the nail plate. The pressure should not be strong, as otherwise the nails may become bumpy.

Having freed the nail plate from dead skin, you can apply varnish or other decorative coating without fear that it will quickly crack at the base of the nail.

How to remove film with scissors or tweezers

A trim manicure is not considered the best option for removing cuticles. Experts justify their opinion with the following arguments:

1. There is a possibility of a cut.

2. Violation of the integrity of the tissue is the risk of infection. This sometimes happens to women who get their nails trimmed in the salon. You can even get infected with very dangerous, incurable diseases – HIV or hepatitis. Therefore, if you intend to clean the cuticles in the salon, take a responsible choice of the institution, make sure that the instruments are thoroughly sterilized before the cosmetic procedure. Even if you do the trimming yourself and don't give your tools to other people, remember to sterilize them just in case. And the nails after the completion of the procedures must be treated with an antiseptic.

3. After cutting, the skin becomes thicker, coarser. Each time it becomes more difficult to remove it.

4. Accordingly, if you have not done a trim manicure yet, you should not even start. Better to use safer methods for removing dead skin.

5. And yet, if you only have scissors or special tweezers at your disposal, use them to remove the cuticle in this way:

6. Treat your hands with an antiseptic.

7. Lift the skin on the little finger and push it to the base of the nail with an orange stick. For the same purpose, you can use a pusher spoon.

8. Take scissors or tweezers, position the blades of the tool parallel to the nail plate. Cut off the excess skin, moving from the sides to the middle, being careful not to touch living tissues. Do not grab large pieces of skin with the blades; it is better to make several small cuts. The main condition for using any cutting tools in a manicure is that their blades must be well sharpened. Removing the cuticle with blunt devices is incredibly difficult, painful and dangerous, as the skin stretches and breaks.

9. Perform manipulations on all other fingers.

As you can see, there is nothing difficult in removing the cuticle with cutting tools. The most important thing is to qualitatively raise the skin, separating it from the surface of the nail along its entire length. This is the main problem, since for many women the film is firmly attached to the marigolds, it is separated with difficulty, as if in 'pieces', even after softening.

How to remove cuticles with a remover or similar medication

The safest, simplest and most painless, but costly way to remove the cuticle is to process it with specialized preparations. The following types of cosmetics can be found on sale:

1. Remover is a special gel that is applied directly to the base of the nail plates and washed off along with the cuticle after 10-15 minutes.

2. Pencil remover. Used similarly to the first option, some women find the pencil more convenient to work with.

3. A special oil that dissolves dead skin in 15-20 minutes.

If you are going to buy a tool that allows you to easily remove cuticles at home, pay attention to its composition. The safest for independent use are preparations that do not contain chemical components or in which the amount of chemistry is minimized.

Experts recommend paying attention to the products of such brands that produce cosmetic products for nail care:

1. Bohema – the products of this company are quite cheap. A special pencil with a remover will cost you about 250-300 rubles.

2. INM – this brand produces a softening oil for cuticle removal, which contains caring ingredients, for example, green tea. This tool costs from 300 to 350 rubles.

3. Kinetics is a cosmetic company that produces cuticle softeners and remover oils, which cost an average of 500-600 rubles.

4. Kinetics is a brand that produces quality products that can effectively remove cuticles and at the same time do not contain harmful chemicals.

Experts also praise the products of Trind, which produces entire cosmetic sets for nail care.

How to remove cuticles in no case

On the market you can find a tool that is positioned as a tool that helps you easily and easily remove cuticles in one motion. This device is called a trimmer or 'fork'. One end is bifurcated and has the shape of the letter V. The inner surface of the blades is highly sharpened. It is assumed that the cuticle is grasped by the instrument, trapped between the blades and removed when you slide the instrument from one edge of the base of the nail to the other. Yes, at first glance everything is simple, but in fact, in the process such problems may arise:

1. The skin rim is not cut off, but literally detached from the base of the nail – this is extremely traumatic and dangerous.

2. The skin rim, if tight, is almost impossible to remove. The cuticle gathers in folds, you have to repeat and repeat the cutting procedure, causing damage to the tissues. In addition, pain may still occur.

3. Most of the trimmers are of poor quality, since they are not designed for professional use, but for those who are just starting to learn how to do a manicure. Their blades become dull very quickly, literally after processing 3-4 fingers. And what can be safely and efficiently cut with a blunt tool?

4. As long as the trimmer blades are sharp, use extreme caution with the tool. An error in a millimeter – and a wound appears, blood comes out. In this case, it will take time to restore the skin, the nails during this period look unaesthetic.

5. The main danger of using a 'fork' is the high probability of trauma to the nail plate at the base. As a result, a violation of the growth of the nail may occur, which will be very difficult, if not impossible, to correct. Therefore, you should not be tempted by the fact that the trimmer is inexpensive, it is better to buy normal tools that will serve you for many years and will not harm your health. If you have the financial ability, purchase a professional set for a hygienic manicure, the tools of which are made of quality steel or other materials. If this is not possible, use ordinary tweezers, or better – use unedged methods.

6. Also, some girls somehow manage to remove the cuticle with a regular nail file or buff. Even if the procedure is successful, this method is not correct and safe. As a result, sooner or later, burrs begin to appear, and the nail plate itself is damaged from such mechanical stress.

Are there ways to remove cuticles as little as possible?

There is an opinion that the cuticle can be removed, if not permanently, then for a long time. In a normal situation, the tissue grows back within 2-3 weeks. If an edged manicure is performed – within 10-14 days. But the experts shared with the readers of our online publication a method that will help reduce the rate of tissue growth or even stop this process:

1. The cuticle is trimmed with scissors or nail clippers.

2. The next day and for the next three weeks, you need to push the skin to the base of the nails using a pusher or an orange stick. Not a single day can be missed.

3. After three weeks, you need to contact a manicure master, who must qualitatively remove small pieces of film, if they do arise.

4. Over the next seven days, you need to continue to push the tissue away, treating the base of the nails with a drug that inhibits the growth of the cuticle or vegetable oil.

5. As a result of such manipulations, the leathery edge will become thinner and, in the end, will cease to form. The main thing is to be patient and remember to carry out simple daily procedures.

To remove the cuticle or not – arguments against the procedure

If you are a fan of everything natural and natural, it is not necessary to remove the film at the base of the nail plate. Arguments in defense of this opinion:

1. If you do not paint your nails or remove the cuticle, it becomes completely invisible over time. It is enough just to carefully trim the nail plates and give them the correct shape with a nail file, so that your hands look well-groomed and neat.

2. Still, the cuticle, even its dead edge, is the protection of the health of the nails. Nature has knowingly made sure that this film is present at the base of the nail plates. So why deprive marigolds of this barrier?

3. No matter how experienced the manicurist is, there is a possibility that he could accidentally hurt you. What can we say about situations in which a person without appropriate experience is engaged in removing the cuticle? And if a remover is used, even with the most gentle composition, it also does not benefit the tissues. If the film dissolves, the negative effect is also on the nail plate.

If you consider these arguments weighty, you can safely refuse to remove the cuticle, it is permissible to skip this stage of hygienic manicure.