Cuticle Health & Safety

You may have noticed a thin layer of clear skin at the base of your nail. This is called your cuticle and it’s an important part of your nail as it protects new growth from bacteria as your nail grows out.

However, this part of your nail is extremely delicate and can get damaged or even infected if not taken proper care of. Today we’ll discuss how to take care of your cuticles to avoid such infections.

The easiest way to take care of your cuticles is to soak your fingertips in warm, soapy water for 10 minutes every few days or so to keep them hydrated, soft, and most importantly: clean. Nail salons and online retailers also have a product called cuticle oil that can be applied to the base of your nail to soften the cuticle. This can also prevent dryness, peeling, and cracking.

Despite the fact that nail salons push back and cut the cuticle when you go in for a manicure, this is actually not recommended. As mentioned previously, the cuticle plays a vital role in keeping bacteria out of the nail bed so when it’s gone, your nail is more prone to infection.

Ask your nail technician if a simple pushing back will do the trick to avoid the actual cutting and leave the cutting to the hangnails. Trimming the cuticles is okay, but completely removing them as most salons do is where the problems start.

To safely trim the cuticles, they need to be softened first. To do this, soak them in warm water or have a bath or shower. Once they’re soft, you can use a cuticle pusher to push the cuticle back against the nail bed. From there, you can safely trim away excess skin and hangnails.

You can find cuticle pushers at most beauty stores and drugstores as well in the cosmetic and beauty aisle. Cuticle oils and moisturizers can be found in the same area.

For your other nail needs, order a bottle of Plei Nail Strengthener to prevent cracks, chips, and peeling of your nails.