LTaking care of your hands is essential from both an aesthetic and health point of view. For an always optimal manicure it is advisable not only take care of the appearance of the nails but also of the skin and cuticles. Also known as “little skin” they can be thin or thick and have a protective function towards the nail bed. Here’s how to take care of them or remove them.
Cuticles: what they are and their function
Cuticles, specifically, are thickenings of skin located on the root of the nail. Their main function is that of protect the natural nail by acting as a filtration barrier from bacteria and harmful substances that could cause infections and irritations, thus keeping the nail layer healthy and protected. They can be thin and well adherent to the nail plate, or thick and protruding.
How to “delete” them
There are two methods for eliminating them, the first – more suitable for thin cuticles – is to push them without removing them, thus avoiding cuts and abrasions. The second method instead involves cutting them but it must be done using the right tools, in order not to cause damage to the nails.
How to take care of cuticles: the nail routine
When the nail cuticles are barely visible, the advice is always to simply push them backthus obtaining a tidier and wider nail.
How to do? The first step involves dip your fingers in hot water for at least 5 minutes, this way the cuticles will begin to soften. Later it will be necessary apply an oil or gel product to the cuticles in order to make them softer and subsequently make less effort to push them.
At this point, using a special nail tools carefully sterilized you can push cuticles upwardsthus making them less visible.
Cuticle pusher: wooden or steel stick
An excellent ally for those with thin cuticles, the orange wood stick is perfect for those who want to push the cuticles and not cut them. The steel cuticle pusher it is instead recommended especially in the case of more resistant and thick cuticles. Both accessories can also be used to clean the nail valleys and free edges of the nail.
Cut yes or no?
So, is it better to cut your cuticles or not? With the use of the wooden stick the manicure is safe, especially if you are not particularly expert and are afraid of cutting the cuticles too much. In fact, anyone who wishes to eliminate them must equip yourself with a special one “cuticle cutter” or a very small nail cutter to be able to remove excess skin without causing irritation.
The advice is therefore to have the cuticles cut by a professional for the first time and then continue to treat them only with nourishing cream and a stick. The risk? Constantly cutting cuticles exposes us to possible infections and painful cuts. Better, therefore, to avoid.
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