Q&A for How to Push Back Your Cuticles

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  • Question
    How can I keep my cuticles moisturized?
    Mia Rubie
    Nail Artist
    Mia Rubie is a Nail Artist and the Owner of Sparkle San Francisco, a nail studio based in San Francisco, California. She has over eight years of nail artist and management experience and is known for her push-the-envelope designs and artistic eye for colors. Her clients include Sephora, Target, and Vogue. Her work has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and StyleCaster. She holds a BBA focusing on Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from San Francisco State University. You can find her work on her Instagram account @superflynails.
    Nail Artist
    Expert Answer
    There's actually a specialized product out there called cuticle oil, and it's designed specifically for this. You can pick it up at any beauty supply store, and you just work it into your cuticles the same way you'd work a regular moisturizer into your skin.
  • Question
    How can I get rid of my cuticles naturally?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    You need cuticles; they protect your nail. You can push them back but do not try to completely remove them, as doing so can cause infections and damage to the nail bed.
  • Question
    How can I push my cuticles back naturally?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    Soak your cuticles in warm water to soften them. Then use an orangewood stick to gently push them back.
  • Question
    How do you push cuticles back without a cuticle pusher?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    You can use a cotton-tipped swab or even a towel. If you soak your cuticles first, they should be easy to push back.
  • Question
    Why do you need to push back your cuticles?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    You can push back cuticles with an orangewood stick or a specially designed cuticle pusher. Do this gently to avoid damaging the cuticles.
  • Question
    How long do you leave cuticle oil on?
    Mia Rubie
    Nail Artist
    Mia Rubie is a Nail Artist and the Owner of Sparkle San Francisco, a nail studio based in San Francisco, California. She has over eight years of nail artist and management experience and is known for her push-the-envelope designs and artistic eye for colors. Her clients include Sephora, Target, and Vogue. Her work has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and StyleCaster. She holds a BBA focusing on Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from San Francisco State University. You can find her work on her Instagram account @superflynails.
    Nail Artist
    Expert Answer
    When using oil on your nails, whether it's cuticle oil or a natural oil like coconut oil, you can leave it on as long as you like.
  • Question
    Can I use the same process for cuticles on my toes?
    Community Answer
    Yes.
  • Question
    What can I do if I don't have an orange stick?
    Community Answer
    Sometimes you can use your other nails instead, but make sure your hands are clean.
  • Question
    Is a cuticle nail pusher a tool to push back the cuticles?
    Community Answer
    Yes but it's called an orange stick, it's basically a stick with a slated tip designed for your nails.
  • Question
    How do I push back my cuticles without it burning?
    Community Answer
    If it burns stop, and soak. An alternative is to use finger nails or to slightly push back with toothpicks. Soaking your nails helps you push them back.
  • Question
    If cutting my cuticles could lead to infection, can't pushing them back do the same?
    Community Answer
    Cutting cuticles can lead to infection because they protect your nails from infection. Pushing back helps the nail bed and it's still attached and can slither back, as said. They will still protect the nail.
  • Question
    Another source on wikiHow says that you shouldn't push them back at all, so which is correct?
    Community Answer
    It's fine to push them back, because they're there to protect your nails, and if you push them back they're still stuck on your nails. As long as you don't rip them you'll be fine.
  • Question
    Should I cut my cuticles instead of pushing them back?
    Community Answer
    If you cut your cuticles you could get infected because they protect your nails from infection, but if you push them back they just help the nail beds. Pushing them back would be better.
  • Question
    Can I just pushed my cuticles back with my thumb?
    Community Answer
    You can definitely use your nails to push back your cuticles if you don't have a tool for it.
  • Question
    What is an orange stick?
    Community Answer
    An orange stick is a cuticle pusher with a slated tip to slightly push back your cuticles.
  • Question
    What type of stick should I use to push back my cuticles?
    Community Answer
    The most common things to use are a cuticle pusher or an orange stick, but you can use other items as well.
  • Question
    Why should I push back my cuticles?
    Community Answer
    Because they have grown too long. If they are allowed to grow long, they stick to your nail and in time can rip, resulting in painful hangnails. It shouldn't need to be done too often.
  • Question
    Could I use a flat head screwdriver instead of the orange stick?
    Community Answer
    No, steel is not the same thing at all and may damage your cuticles.
  • Question
    How do I use cuticle oil?
    Katyyyy
    Community Answer
    You put it around your nails, massage it in, and let it sit for a few minutes.
  • Question
    Why are my nails flaking?
    Community Answer
    Your nails could be unhealthy, especially if you bite them. I suggest that you use a strengthening powder or cream and rub it on your nails once every day.
  • Question
    Where did I find an orange stick?
    Community Answer
    You can find them at drug stores, beauty stores, or grocery stores in the beauty section.
  • Question
    Are nail strengtheners better than just creams and oils, so I'm not using acetone based removers?
    Community Answer
    No, jojoba oil would be the best. You can mix it with other oils and vitamins like vitamin E to create a gel.
  • Question
    I have cut my cuticles back to far that my nails have wave lines horizontally. If I started to manicure properly, would these waves go away?
    Cecilia Flores
    Top Answerer
    If the lines are scratches of marks in the nails, you could use a ridge-filling base coat and it should be fine. If the lines have a visible color, use a regular base coat and a pigmented polish to cover the mark.
  • Question
    Where are my cuticles located?
    Community Answer
    Your cuticles are the thin section of skin between the nail and your actual finger.
  • Question
    What should I do if the manicurist trimmed my cuticles and I did not realize what she was doing?
    Community Answer
    It shouldn't be a problem. Just ask her not to the next time.
  • Question
    My nails can look lovely after pushing back the cuticles and putting on nail polish. But I find the next day, my cuticles will be pushing against my nail polish and lifting it. What do I do for that?
    Cecilia Flores
    Top Answerer
    I would recommend using a metal tool instead of wood or silicone.
  • Question
    Does cuticle remover work?
    Cecilia Flores
    Top Answerer
    If you rub some on your cuticles, it doesn't make them disappear or peel off. You have to rub a bit on your cuticles and then use a tool to push them back.
  • Question
    Why do my cuticles keep coming back every time I push them back?
    Community Answer
    Because they are part of your body. Just like if you cut your hair, it comes back.
  • Question
    How do I determine what to push back and what to leave alone?
    Community Answer
    The best thing to do would be to search online for an image that labels the parts of the nail so that you can ensure you're only pushing back your cuticles.
  • Question
    What do I do if my cuticles keep bouncing back onto my nails?
    Community Answer
    You could try a cuticle remover, or just push them back every day.
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