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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.

Mia Rubie

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.

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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.

Laura Martin

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.

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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.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Soak your cuticles in warm water to soften them. Then use an orangewood stick to gently push them back.

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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.

Laura Martin

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.

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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.

Laura Martin

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.

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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.

Mia Rubie

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.

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Question

Can I use the same process for cuticles on my toes?

Community Answer

Yes.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Question

Where are my cuticles located?

Community Answer

Your cuticles are the thin section of skin between the nail and your actual finger.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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