Your cuticles have an important job; keeping your nails healthy by protecting them from bacterial and fungal infections. If your cuticles becomes dry and cracked, they can’t attach to the nail, leaving it vulnerable to damage and infection. Fortunately, with the right products and a little TLC, taking care of them is all too easy.
Moisturise … moisturise … moisturise
When cuticles dry out your nail plate becomes less flexible and your nails can become more brittle and susceptible to damage. Investing in a good cuticle cream or oil to help prevent this from happening. Ideally, you want your cutcles to be soft enough so that you can push them back. (If you try and push back dry, hard cuticles, this will only end up inflaming them.)
NEVER cut or clip
Not even your nail technician will use clippers on this delicate area. This is because you can easily damage the cuticles, causing them to detach from the nail and leading to nail infections or nail loss. If you prevent dryness and overgrowth in the first place, you won’t feel the urge to clip away your cuticles. Instead, push them back with a special cuticle stick, also referred to as an orange stick. It’s got a perfectly angled tip that you can place flat against the top of the nail bed so as to gently nudge the cuticle back.
Don’t forget about your feet
According to Dana Caruso, Sally Hansen’s nail expert, the cuticles on your toes tends to be thicker and harder to remove than those on your fingernails. ‘To eliminate dry rough cuticles on your toe nails, use an exfoliating cuticle treatment containing alpha hydroxy acids twice a week and cuticles will become almost invisible’, she says.
Nail 911
If you have a badly inflammed cuticle or nail infection, make an appointment with a dermatologist or podiatrist. Chances are they’re prescribe an antifungal or antibacterial cream.
Always make sure that your nail technician is licensed and sterilizes all tools used during a manicure.
If you’ve got consistently dry cuticles or brittle nails that break easily, this could be the sign of a nutritional definciency, so make a point of chatting to your doctor about it.
Once your cuticles are in good nick, why don’t you treat your nails to a Minx Mani? It’s the hottest thing to flaunt on your fingertips…
29 Responses
Luckily for me I have Good strong nails and no problems to date with my cuticles
Think i need to get some cuticle oil
I have to use cuticle oil or cream every single day. I am currently using Sally Hansen Vitamin E Moisturising Nail and Cuticle Oil – wonderful stuff. Also makes my nails grow quicker. I find that a cuticle oil along with a good hand cream does wonders for my hands and nails. I apply cuticle oil in the mornings and evenings.
cuticle oil does make a difference i have been using tip top cuticle oil for a year now and my nails r really strong
My nails is in a terrible condition. Will have to get some
Cuticle oil, cuticle oil, cuticle oil. It work wonders
Shared this with my nail addict friends. lots of cuticle oil for the cold winter.
My cuticles are in need of Nail 911!
I always struggle with dry cuticle’s, especially in winter. Tip Top Nails – Cuticle Oil has been a great help to me.
I find when my cuticle are taken care of them my nails looks good!