topic Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix in Beauty

I Need a Cuticle Fix

patticakes — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:00:31 GMT

I really some suggestions from those of you that have pretty well-manicured cuticles. I use a cuticle product when I do my own manicure and gently push back cuticles but they always get jagged looking and sometimes even grow onto the nail. Is there a product that really works well that I can buy at the drugstore to keep them from splitting, getting jagged and downright nasty looking? Perhaps I need to use a daily product since my hands are in water frequently during the day. Any recommendations?

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

phoenixbrd — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:06:30 GMT

I am so glad you posted this. I would love to do my own manicures, but I can't duplicate the well groomed look of a professional mani when it comes to the cuticles. I've tried several recommendations and keep them from getting dry. But the skin builds up around the edges of my fingernails and the only remedy seems to get it trimmed with nippers at the salon. I just can't do this at home. I wish their was a product that removed that dry skin. Thanks for your post, I hope someone has an answer. I'm thinking that some people just don't get the buildup of dry skin.

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

Fressa — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:10:20 GMT

I always had a problem with my cuticles and do my own manicures. I found T.I.P.S. on QVC and the improvement is 100% better! It is so easy to do and fast. It absorbs quickly into the nail and cuticle and can be used on natural or painted nails. I would not be without it.

Hope this gives you the same results it gives me.

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

ChynnaBlue — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:19:06 GMT

If you have a Sally Beauty store near you, I recommend Blue Cross cuticle remover. It's inexpensive and my favorite. That's a weekly product, so for daily use, I recommend and AHA cream or lotion, like AmLactin. Use that on cuticles every day and the AHAs will work to help keep cuticles maintained between Blue Cross treatments.

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

patheticcosmetics — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:31:05 GMT

Post this on WhatEverLolaWants NOTW thread. She has beautiful nails & hands. She should have some great suggestions. She has given me advice for my bitten nails.

I too have my hands in water frequently during the day. Don't like having lotion or products on when I have to prepare food, which is also frequent during the day.

Thanks to everyone who has replied with their suggestions.

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

Moonlady — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:33:11 GMT

I like Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. It's not a cream, but a waxy emollient that softens with the heat of your fingers.

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

marky — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:38:00 GMT

I got cuticle care tips from someone on this board. Get the Sally Hansen one-minute cuticle remover. I put it on around each nail and only leave it on a couple of minutes. I use a large orange stick to push my cuticles back while the remover is still on them. I then gently scrub with a washcloth, then rinse. I then use Nailtiques Formula 2 for nail strength.

The cuticle remover can be used as many times per week as you like. I use it about once a week (once I got them in good shape). This even works when you're wearing polish.

It's the only thing that has ever worked for my cuticles. I do moisturize them often but to avoid the build-up, I use the Sally Hansen.

I buy it at CVS whenever I have a % off coupon. I think it runs about 7 dollars at CVS as the regular price.

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

ahoymate — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:41:02 GMT

Try Debra Lippman's products.

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

survivedOne — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 17:14:10 GMT

I use CND solar oil every night and it really helps.

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

maestra — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 23:16:49 GMT

Burt's Bees cuticle cream or Dior Crème Abricot @ Sephora-both are good, I just prefer the Dior 'cause that is what I am using presently.

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

perryp — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 23:26:38 GMT

I used something that removed the cuticle and opened the space between where the cuticle WAS and my nail. I had to go to the dermatologist.

So isn't that a concern with cuticle removers? Thanks!

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

ritasNo1Fan — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 23:34:28 GMT

I too have wretched nails and cuticles. I like tips from Q, Clarins Hand Cream is excellent, Solar oil is good, Sally's has a good conditioner that comes in a ball shaped bottle. I guess my nails will never be "nice". Soaking nails in warm soapy water helps before applying anything. I too damaged a thick cuticle that caused a whole lot of med care. I had to take daily meds! I had to have blood tests because the meds could cause liver damage, plus it was extremely painful. Do take care.

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

sun8shine — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 01:56:16 GMT

First of all be gentle to your cuticles. Your nails grow from under the cuticles and it is their job to protect the nail growth plate. Pampered cuticles look better but they also lead to stronger nails.

For a cuticle remover I would recommend Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover. You can get it in any drugstore and it works very well. It is a blue gel and it lasts forever. http://www.sallyhansen.com/nails/nail-care/cuticle-care/instant-cuticle-remover

I would recommend this tool from Julep for pushing back your cuticles. It is made from steel and it is coated. The tool costs more than orange sticks but it is more sanitary ( you can sterilize it) it works much better and it is more gentle. Oh and the way it is designed you can flip it to use it on either hand. http://www.julep.com/shop/nail-hand-foot-care/cuticle-pusher.html

You will want to get a cuticle oil for your cuticles. There are liquids at the grocery store - Essie has apricot oil and I really like a cuticle cream from Burt's Bees. It smells wonderful (like lemons) and it has bees wax. Because it is not an oil it is not messy and you can carry it with you to rub in anywhere and it is a steal. https://m.burtsbees.com/Lemon-Butter-Cuticle-Cream/07099-00,default,pd.html?cgid=handCare&start=3&q=

Finally, if you do anything harsh with your hands like the dishes in hot soapy water or gardening wear gloves. It protects your nails, your mani and your cuticles.

Keep at it and in a few weeks they will be lovely.

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

OkeyDokey — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 02:57:35 GMT

My hands are constantly in water. I keep my nails short out of necessity. My cuticles look like a huge mess if I don't attend to them each day. After about a week or two of paying a little attention to them, you should see big results. First of all, I keep a strengthener on my nails and only use acetone polish remover. The non-acetone stuff doesn't work as well and drys my skin out like nobody's business because of the amount of time it takes to work.

Push your cuticles back every time you bathe, immediately following. Be sure to keep moisturizer on your hands all day long. I prefer Vaseline intensive care unscented because it forms a barrier to protect your skin and keep in moisture.

Use something specifically for cuticles, or something more intense than your hand cream to massage cuticles once a day.

These steps should help immensely. The key is constant maintenance. If I skip 3 or 4 days, my cuticles look horrid again. Good luck!

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

Irishrose136 — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 03:33:49 GMT

I use cuticle remover maybe once a week. During the week I use a few drops of Josie Maran's Argan Oil and rub the oil in.

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

My3girls_1 — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 04:16:17 GMT

I love reading all these tips! I have NEVER had nice cuticles. Always dry and ragged. The only time my nails ever really looked good is if I got them professionally done, but I hate the upkeep. I recently had foot surgery and starting using Bio-Oil to help with the scarring, well it's done wonders for my cuticles. They've never looked better!! They're not growing onto my nail, they stay looking moisturized throughout the day and my nails have never looked whiter. It looks like I have a French manicure. I use it twice a day and it soaks in pretty quickly.

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

Harpa — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 12:20:03 GMT

Massage almost any oil in them as often as possible throughout the day. I don't push anything back; there's no need. It's the oil that conditions cuticles. My problem is, it also seems to speed growth, and as a musician, I don't want that. (nail growth!)

There are nutrients in the oils that really help to condition!

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

Favorite Son — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 14:43:19 GMT

I use a sandstone nail pusher/file that you can get at Sally Beauty supply for about 2.00. At the store near me, they are sold in in little clear cylindrical tubes with a rubber cap. The file itself is a little gray or pink three-dimensional file with a tapered tip. I use the tapered tip to gently push back my cuticles and then turn it and use the long sides to gently file the skin on the TOP of the cuticle. I find that removing the dry skin does a better job of keeping my cuticles smooth and slows down the growth onto the nail even better than a chemical cuticle remover.

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

RedTop — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 14:48:53 GMT

I just use Vitamin E oil. Discovered this while massaging the oil on my incision after knee replacement.

Re: I Need a Cuticle Fix

kzjohnson — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 14:58:54 GMT

Unfortunately I have tried nearly ever one of the suggestions mentioned here and I still have the worst cuticles on a woman that I have ever seen!

I half joke that I have a combo of my grandfather's mechanics hands and my father's gnarly overgrown jagged cuticles. I really do believe genetics is my biggest problem.

I've left them alone (and they will grow 1/2 up my nail), push, cut, use removers, oils...every oil known to man, TIPS, painted my nails regularly, leaved them natural...you get the picture. Absolutely nothing has worked for me.

I do use oils at least once a day, and lotions and creams a few times a day as well. I still have to cut my cuticles monthly, otherwise they creep up the nail. They never look good, but I have to believe they look better than if I did nothing at all.

However, I have some incredibly strong nails and can grow them beautifully without even thinking about it...maybe it's my payback for the long strong nails are the horrendous cuticles!