Shortened cuticles and neatly trimmed nails are an important element of the look. Damaged or overgrown cuticles give your hands an unkempt appearance. It can also cause discomfort, irritation and infection. You can cut it manually using sharp mechanical nippers, special trimmers or tongs. But it can be a little painful and carries the risk of injury or nail fungus. The best option is a remover.
Cuticle removers contain active ingredients that soften the eponychia and chemically exfoliate the layer of dead skin cells around the nails. They can also remove overgrown nails or hangnails in minutes. The products are gentle on the skin and contain natural ingredients that soothe and moisturize the dry epidermis around the nails.
Removers can be used at home without any professional help. They remove dead skin cells, hangnails and torn skin around the nails, dissolving it without the use of mechanical tearing or pressure. Products promote healthy nail beds.
What is a remover?
The cuticle is located right at the base of the nail bed. The eponychium is part of human skin, and it protects the nails from infections and pathogenic bacteria. Taking care of the delicate stratum corneum is a ritual to keep your nails healthy and looking their best. The cuticle can become rough, ragged, or even damaged without proper care.
The remover is designed to care for the eponychium, removing rough, dead skin and providing a softer, smoother, healthier epidermis. Removers in most cases do not remove the cuticle completely, but at the same time provide the nails with the necessary protection to keep them healthy. These products simply remove rough, dead skin, much like body exfoliators (scrubs, peels, rollers, etc.).
What are the benefits of using the remover? Proper nail care is concerned with softening the eponychium, and removing rough, dead, dry skin is essential for good health. Nails will look great if a woman properly cares for the skin around them, and regular and high-quality procedures help prevent serious infections, the treatment of which often involves surgical procedures. Nail bed conditions can be very difficult to treat, can cause permanent damage, and can even be deadly.
Removers are essential for healthy nails and are similar to cosmetics used in spas and professional nail salons.
Nail care at home and in the salon
Procedures at home
Taking care of your nails is not particularly difficult. You need to adapt to doing procedures regularly, taking care of your hands, protecting them in windy and frosty weather, wearing gloves when washing dishes.
Important! Each girl can experimentally choose more suitable means for herself.
Nail care at home:
- For healthy nails and the whole body, you need to eat right. If your nails begin to peel, then you need to add vegetables, fruits, and dairy products to your diet. A varied diet improves the appearance of your skin and hair and improves your overall health.
- To process your nails, you need to choose the right and suitable file. This tool can be made of glass, cardboard, ceramic, or metal. The labels indicate the degree of “graininess”. The highest number indicates greater smoothness. To prevent nails from peeling, you should select a tool with a smoother and not very rough surface.
- You can use salt and oil baths to care for your hands. Such procedures help strengthen nails, provide vitamins and microelements, and help cure problems in some areas. Baths with a spa effect can be made by adding lemon juice, a little essential oil, and vitamin complexes.
- You need to take care of your cuticle every day. To do this, rub in cuticle moisturizer, massaging the nail plate. To remove rough skin, you can use removers, special sticks or metal and plastic pushers. Unedged manicure is considered more harmless.
- To strengthen the nail plate and saturate it with useful substances, you can periodically rub special wax into it.
- To preserve the nail plate, before applying a color layer, you need to cover the oil-free nail with a strengthening, protective or base varnish.
Be sure to moisturize your hands throughout the day by applying cream, preferably after each washing of your palms.
Nail care in the salon
Hand care procedures in a salon differ from those at home in that they use professional equipment and cosmetics that only specialists can use.
Nail care in the salon
Important! In the salon, procedures are more effective: exfoliation, cleansing, application of protective creams, massages, masks.
Salon care:
- Deep cleansing using hand scrubs and massage. It helps remove the stratum corneum, improve the penetration of nutrients, relieve tension, and improve blood circulation.
- Massage is done classic and acupressure.
- Then the procedures are continued, adding cream and putting on cellophane gloves. To keep your hands warm, wear terry mittens. This procedure better nourishes and softens the skin. For damaged, chapped and rough hands, restoration creams with special additives are used that have softening, healing and whitening effects.
- Washable and non-washable protective masks are used.
- Paraffin therapy is performed in the salon. Paraffin, which is beneficial for nails, is melted in a special electric heater. Before the procedure, hands are cleaned and dipped in a warm solution. Keep the mixture in your hands for up to 20 minutes. After this, the paraffin film is removed and the skin is moisturized with cream. The procedure helps strengthen nails and gives them beauty. Done once a month.
- Sealing the nail plate is done to strengthen thin and fragile nails. The duration of the procedure is half an hour. Clean the nail, rub in vitamin cream, gel, and apply special oil for gloss. The effect lasts 3 weeks. You can use varnishes on top.
- Manicure, trimmed and untrimmed. The cuticle is cut or removed with a softening agent.
- Applying design to nails. They use painting chosen in the salon or invented independently.
- Nail extension. Lengthening the plate with special gels or tips.
How to trim cuticles safely?
Many people are afraid to trim the eponychium themselves. You can safely remove it at home, but you should not do it often. Experts recommend using a stick called an “orange stick” every few days. By pushing the cuticle back, you can minimize the amount of work done.
However, sometimes a woman needs to trim her cuticles or remove hangnails. Before manipulation, use a soft sponge to exfoliate the desired area. Then you need to carefully cut off the excess. You should always make small cuts and not overdo it.
One must be careful when cutting the eponychium. If possible, stick to liquid nail bed degreasers and cuticle sticks. If a woman feels that she has excess skin that needs to be trimmed carefully, she should seek professional treatment to avoid harming herself.
Required tools for removal
In order to give your nails and hands a well-groomed look, you cannot do without removing the cuticle. The skin in this area tends to grow, which looks completely unattractive in appearance. In addition, too much accumulation of dead epidermal particles on the nail will slow down its growth, and this can also lead to deformation of the entire plate and inflammatory processes.
Before using manicure tools, it is imperative to soften dry, live and keratinized skin. For these purposes, the classic version of manicure uses a warm bath with the addition of emollients.
There are several options for performing this procedure.
- The composition of the nourishing bath will include a few drops of vegetable oil, a pinch of cinnamon, and part of a lemon or orange. These ingredients are mixed until smooth in a blender, and then the nails are kept in a fresh citrus bath before manicure for a quarter of an hour.
- You can also use an herbal infusion, such as calendula or chamomile. Before manicure, you should soak your fingers in this product for about 5-10 minutes.
- A simple version of a softening bath is a soda composition with the addition of almond oil or any other essential oil.
- Most often, a cuticle softening bath is made with the addition of regular liquid soap.
Scissors
The most necessary tool for properly cutting the cuticle is scissors. However, such a tool, if selected or used incorrectly, can cause harm to the skin. Typically, cuticle scissors are selected with the thinnest ends possible. But for thick and too rough epidermis, you should give preference to classic scissors-tweezers.
Pencil
You can also take care of your cuticles using a special manicure pencil. Today, many manufacturers offer similar products, so choosing the right option will depend on personal preferences. The most in demand are pencils, which are not only a stick with which you can lift the skin, but also a tool containing an additional nutrient, most often a cream or gel, which helps in working with the epidermis. The product is very easy to use and will help you get rid of dead skin in just a few minutes. Among the popular brands offering such products are: Eveline, Flexitol, Faberlic.
Pusher
This device is included in the list of professional hand care tools. The pusher is a stick, which at its end contains two elongated metal edges. The first helps to lift the cuticle, and the second helps to remove it carefully. However, caring for your hands using such a tool requires some skill.
Trimer
This tool will externally resemble a spatula with a forked end. A good trimer will allow you to quickly and painlessly remove dead parts, but for effective care you need to ensure that the tool is as sharp as possible, otherwise there is a risk that the trimer will tear the skin, which will cause a lot of pain.
File
You can also remove cuticles using nail files, which are produced by modern manufacturers. As a rule, such a product is made of glass, plastic, textile or metal. You can also find laser files in the assortment of many well-known brands. These tools have an abrasive surface that allows you to remove excess growths on the nail from dead cells. Files belong to manicure products, thanks to which you can quickly give your hands a well-groomed look on your own and even while away from home. After such a manicure, the nail becomes shiny and does not hurt at all.
Nippers and tweezers
After scissors, these tools are among the most commonly used for cutting cuticles. Tweezers and nippers can be different in their configuration - contain one or more springs, have a handle, look like scissors, etc. For high-quality manicure, you should give preference to products made of steel, since such a tool will be more durable
It is important to test the cutters and tweezers before purchasing, as the tool must be easy to use.
What types of removers are there?
Before purchasing this product, it is important to know what types there are. There are several types in different price categories. Some of them are easy to use, and some are designed for professional use. If you want to buy a product that is best suited for your own purposes, the first step is to know the differences between types of removers.
Liquid removers
These products are applied directly to the cuticles to remove dead and dry skin, leaving your nails looking better and healthier. These are the easiest and safest removers to use, and are also usually the least expensive.
Sticks
They are used to push back eponychium that has protruded beyond the nail bed, ideal for ragged, uneven cuticles. The tools are gentle and safe when used correctly and can be used in conjunction with a liquid product to achieve noticeable results.
Cuticle remover blade
The tool is shaped like tiny scissors and is used to cut the eponychium and remove it completely. It is usually avoided in professional salons as it can cause cuticle damage and serious infections.
Removers are safer to use than metal scissors or wire cutters, which increase the chance of injury or infection. Most do not contain harsh chemicals that can damage your skin.
Operating principle
The cuticle consists of living and dead cells. Chemical removal involves getting rid of dead skin particles around the nail plate and hydrating healthy cells. Dead cells are removed by dissolution under the influence of an alkaline or acidic composition.
The greatest effect is obtained when using a product that is alkaline in nature. These medications use potassium or sodium hydroxide. They have a high pH and are designed to destroy dead areas of skin adjacent to the nail. Both components have an irritating effect on the skin and dry it out, so you cannot leave the alkaline preparation on the skin of the nail fold for a long time. In order to avoid burns, the duration of action of such a product should be from 3 to 15 minutes.
Preparations based on aggressive acids are a thick liquid, because they additionally contain a large amount of nutritional components for healthy cells and are used only by professional craftsmen; they are not commercially available. This product is mainly used for pedicures, as it has a very strong effect.
A convenient option for home use are preparations containing mild oils with a high content of fruit acids and mineral components. They saturate the cells of the nail fold with moisturizing and nutrients and gradually destroy the keratinized areas. These are the safest drugs that can be used for a longer time and without fear of skin burns and damage to the nail plate.
What to look for when choosing a remover?
When a woman understands what effect this product has and makes a choice in favor of purchasing it, it’s time to start making the final choice. However, before spending money on the first product you see, it's important to know exactly what to look for so you don't end up regretting buying something you'll never use. It is easier to choose for those who have already used a similar product before and approximately know its specifics. But if this is your first time purchasing such cosmetic products, then there are four aspects that you should pay attention to before making a choice.
- Price
Luckily, these beauty products are extremely affordable when purchased from a variety of brands. But you should expect that a basic cuticle remover that works well costs from 350 rubles. While you can pay 1,500 rubles or more for a salon-quality product that not only removes eponychia, but also softens the skin and helps keep nails healthy and strong.
- Packing size
To keep your nails healthy, you should buy a bottle large enough for multiple uses. If a woman buys a product for her salon and will use it a large number of times a day, then she needs to buy bottles of 500 milliliters or more. You should calculate the cost of the product based on current prices, as well as various discounts, to ensure that you are making a smart purchase.
- Added Ingredients
If a person has allergies or a skin condition, they should avoid products that contain large amounts of chemicals that can cause a reaction and stick to removers with natural ingredients. You should also look for products that contain ingredients like green tea or aloe, which keep your skin soft, smooth, and elastic.
- Number of care steps
If a woman carries out her skincare procedures slowly, then she can easily afford to buy a multi-stage remover. But there are many products on the market that work in seconds. You need to make sure you read the instructions completely to understand how the cuticle remover works. Sometimes several steps are required, and if there is not enough time, then there will be no point in such procedures. If a woman is short on time, then she should look for a one-step product that works in just a few minutes.
Voting for the best cuticle remover
Which cuticle remover would you choose or recommend?
"Be Natural Cuticle Eliminator"
25.00 % ( 1 )
"ORLY"
25.00 % ( 1 )
"ARABIA"
25.00 % ( 1 )
"Sophin" pencil
0.00 % ( 0 )
"Sophin with honey"
0.00 % ( 0 )
"Mavala"
0.00 % ( 0 )
"Solomeya"
0.00 % ( 0 )
"Sally Hansen"
25.00 % ( 1 )
"PRO Manicure"
0.00 % ( 0 )
"Cuticle remover" ("Smart enamel")
0.00 % ( 0 )
"ZingerNC10"
0.00 % ( 0 )
"Novosvit" softening gel
0.00 % ( 0 )
For European manicure
Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover
Sally Hansen's Instant Remover targets rough eponychium. Its revolutionary gel formula contains aloe vera and chamomile extracts to soothe and condition skin. This intense gel gets rid of dead cuticles within 15 seconds. It is skin safe and easy to use. Wash off quickly with soap and water.
Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover
Advantages:
- safe gel formula;
- works in 15 seconds;
- easy to use;
- softens calluses;
- moisturizes;
- soothes the skin.
Flaws:
- very thick consistency.
Cost: 500 rubles.
Butter London Melt Away Cuticle Exfoliator
Butter London exfoliator softens and removes eponychium. It works quickly, and its constant use leads to healthier skin around the nail. The product gently removes dry, overgrown and thick cuticles in minutes. The procedure helps clean the nail bed area without tearing or pain. This is one of the best cuticle treatments available today. It does not contain harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, toluene and xylene.
Butter London Melt Away Cuticle Exfoliator
Advantages:
- works quickly
- forms softer and healthier cuticle;
- no need to cut the cuticle;
- without harmful substances.
Flaws:
- high price.
Cost: 50o rub.
How to properly clean and remove cuticles at home in different ways
How to remove cuticles using cuticle cutters at home (step by step with photos)
High-quality and well-sharpened tools are the key to a neat manicure. Old scissors or wire cutters with dull blades can tear the skin. After work, tools are disinfected.
You will need:
- pusher spatula or wooden stick;
- spatula hatchet;
- thin scissors or nippers;
- hand container.
For the softening bath:
- sea salt – 1 tbsp. spoon;
- oil-based vitamin A or E – 2-3 drops (can be replaced with aromatic oil – 4-6 drops);
- water temperature no higher than 36 degrees.
Operating procedure:
Pour water into the bath. Add salt and oil or vitamin.
Dip your fingers into warm water and hold for 3-5 minutes. You should not keep your fingers in water to such an extent that the skin becomes completely limp. Then it will be impossible to remove it carefully.
Using a spatula, begin to peel off the leathery roller with soft springy movements from the edge of the nail to the base of the nail hole.
Pay attention to the angle of the spatula. It should practically lie on the surface of the nail plate, otherwise the nail can be injured
The spatula moves from the edge of the nail to the center, completely lifting the overgrown edge.
Using a spatula with a hatchet (sharp end), you need to walk under the edge of the overgrown bead, removing small keratinized particles. The movements go from the center of the hole to the outer edge. Before using the nippers, you can dip your fingers in water for a few more minutes.
You need to trim the thin skin with one thin thread. Only in this case will it grow evenly and beautifully. The blades of the scissors must be placed under the pulled back cuticle so that the blades are perpendicular to the area being trimmed. Using small biting movements, you should walk along the entire length of the nail hole. The length of one cut should not exceed 2 mm. If the skin is slightly dry, you can lightly moisten it with a damp cloth as you work. The cut edge of the skin can be additionally pushed with a wooden stick.
In order for your nails to acquire a beautiful shine, and the skin around them to become soft and neat, you need to use cuticle oil.
In case of a cut, bleeding can be quite intense, because the periungual socket is filled with small capillaries. The bleeding must be stopped by pressing a sterile bandage to the cut site. After this, treat the wound with an antiseptic (hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine solution will do).
How to painlessly remove cuticles at home using a remover (step by step with photos)
Unedged manicure has won the hearts of many women. It is quite safe, fast and requires a minimum of time. —Cuticle remover—can be purchased at any specialty store. How to use it (this applies to a specific brand), it is better to ask a sales consultant. But in general the scheme is simple and accessible.
You will need:
- orange stick or silicone pusher;
- remover;
- cotton pad;
- antiseptic.
Operating procedure:
- Treat your hands with antiseptic.
- Apply a drop of remover to the center of the nail hole and use your fingers to gently spread it over the entire periungual fold. Leave the product on for 1-2 minutes.
- Using a pusher or an orange stick, move the softened skin to the base of the nail.
- Use a fingertip to massage in circular motions over the remaining skin, removing dead particles.
- If after the procedure the side ridges are still not removed, you can cut them off with pliers.
How to remove cuticles with a device
Hardware manicure is good because it can cope with the toughest areas around the nail. Or remove the skin around too thin and sensitive nails. But when performing it, you need to take into account not only the number of the cutter, but also the angle of inclination of the working part.
Hands do not require additional treatment. They need to be treated sparingly with an antiseptic, otherwise wet skin will quickly clog the pores of the cutter.
Operating procedure:
- For the initial stage of working on a natural nail, you need to install a soft corundum cutter into the device.
- The area is worked counterclockwise (the cutter rotates clockwise). At this stage, you need to move the leathery roller as far as possible and lift it from the nail. In principle, it is impossible to make a cut in the nail plate or damage the skin with a soft cylinder. But it should be held correctly - parallel to the surface of the nail plate.
- Using a thin diamond cutter, you should additionally work on the remaining areas of the skin. The work is also carried out parallel to the nail plate.
- Using a diamond ball-shaped cutter, you can remove the remnants of the leathery “skirt” in the periungual space.
- The corundum ball cutter will gently finish sanding the skin around the nail, sealing any hangnails or thin areas.
For hardware manicure
Eveline Cosmetics Nail Therapy Professional
You can purchase a professional product at a low price. This remover was created to maintain cuticle health, just like in specialized salons. This product does more than just remove dead and dry skin from the eponychium. It soothes, hydrates and protects with a unique blend of ingredients including avocado oil.
The remover is easy to use and prevents tearing and damage to the cuticle. It just needs to be used once a week, so it's ideal for those who are short on time. The product works super fast, in just 30 seconds, and is part of an entire line of products designed to give you salon-quality nails.
Eveline Cosmetics Nail Therapy Professional
Advantages:
- contains natural ingredients;
- affordable price;
- helps protect the skin from damage;
- easy to apply and use;
- works very quickly;
- professional quality product.
Flaws:
- Some people may have individual intolerance to the ingredients contained in the composition.
Cost: 250 rubles.
CND Essential Cuticle Eraser
Nail salon owners rely on CND Essential Cuticle Eraser for the fast and noticeable results seen in clients. You can get the same great results at home with this product, which comes in a 1.75-ounce bottle large enough for multiple uses. All a woman has to do is apply it to her nails, remove after 30 seconds, then push back the cuticles with an orange stick to leave the eponychium smooth, moisturized and protected. It is also an excellent remedy for hangnails.
The remover has a gentle formula enhanced with alpha hydroxy acids that gently exfoliate dead skin cells, leaving nails nourished and hydrated. This product is strong enough to work with thick, uneven cuticles, but at the same time very gentle on almost all types. Although it costs more than other products, this professional-quality product contains almost twice the active ingredients of less expensive alternatives.
CND Essential Cuticle Eraser
Advantages:
- works very quickly;
- extremely effective;
- has a soft formula;
- professional quality;
- easy to use;
- The bottle is large in size, so you can use it at home or in the salon;
- low-fat;
- protects against burrs;
- When applied to nails, they look shiny, strong and healthier than before application.
Flaws:
- Strong smell:
- high cost, although it is justified by the large packaging;
- You may need to apply it several times a week to see results on thicker, unhealthy cuticles.
Cost: 2000 rubles.
Super Nail Cuticle Softener & Remover
Super Nail cuticle softener and cuticle remover is gentle and effectively removes eponychium, making home manicures simple and convenient. It softens and dissolves excess cuticles in minutes. Its effective formula penetrates deeply into the cuticle and moisturizes it, making it easy to remove. The product also removes mascara, hair dye, and stains of various origins. This is one of the most effective products for removing dry and overgrown cuticles.
Super Nail Cuticle Softener & Remover
Advantages:
- gentle formula;
- softens;
- Removes ink and dye stains.
Flaws:
- contains a potential carcinogen (Cocomide DEA)
Cost: 1400 rubles.
How to choose the best
When choosing a remover, you need to rely on a number of points that will help you decide on the most optimal option for the product. Therefore you should choose:
- Acid removers for working in the salon . They are fast-acting, aggressive, but in the hands of a professional they work miracles in a short time.
- Alkaline ones are suitable for home use.
- Oil ones are ideal for use at home, but they are quite rare on sale and expensive.
- Mineral ones are suitable for those who have signs of vitamin deficiency, a lack of substances, which primarily affects the condition of hair, nails, and so on. Therefore, this option should be used on weakened, thin, brittle nail plates.
- Removers for manicure and pedicure may also differ . By default, the skin on your feet is rougher. That’s why products containing ANA acids are used for her.
But this information will help you understand how to use Severin cuticle remover gel and how effective this product is.
In the video - what parameters should you use to select a remover:
Vitamin-based removers with components A and E receive good reviews. It is worth noting that such products are often replaced with folk remedies, although the latter differ significantly in their effect on the skin.
You may also be interested in information about which oil is best for nails and cuticles.
For professional use
Blue Cross Cuticle Remover
Blue Cross Remover gently removes accumulated dead skin cells and unwanted elements around your nails. The remover acts quickly and does not dry out the skin. Its light consistency makes it easy to apply to problem areas. It painlessly dissolves dried eponychium without creating torn edges.
Blue Cross Cuticle Remover
Advantages:
- easy to use;
- works quickly;
- moisturizes the skin.
Flaws:
- slightly unpleasant odor;
- high price.
Cost: 2100 rubles.
