What Happens in a Cuticle Care Session: An Inside Peek
Cuticle care is one of the most neglected topics when it comes to nail care. Even nail enthusiasts rarely pay attention to this aspect.
If you are unfamiliar with the term “cuticle care”, it is a very essential subservice often provided under professional manicure services. The cuticle refers to the layer of skin cells found where skin meets the nail plate. This is what seals the nail root from bacterial infections and dirt.
But how do we even care for our cuticle? This blog breaks down how a professional nail technician cares for your cuticle step by step.
1. Softening the Skin
Before caring for your cuticle, the first step is a soothing soak. This soak is aimed at softening the skin of your hands or feet. It takes a few minutes of soaking and often uses warm, soapy water for this process.
This leads to the next part, which is removing the cuticle. The softening process was done to make sure the skin doesn't tear, and the seal doesn't break during the removal. The technician applies a chemical cuticle remover liquid or gel, which breaks down the dead skin cells.
2. Pushing Back the Cuticles
The earlier step of softening also supports this step of pushing back the cuticle. Here, the cuticle is pushed back safely without breaking the seal.
This is done to improve the finishing look of your manicure treatment and help nail polish last longer. If the polish is applied on the cuticle I will tend to peel after some time, as these polish formulas are made to bond with the nail plate only. This also elongates the nail shape, giving an elegant look to your nails.
Most often, an orangewood stick or a sanitized metal cuticle pusher is used for this process.
3. Trimming Dead Skin
Trimming dead skin is done to remove tough, built-up layers. This can be calluses on the feet or overgrown cuticles around the nails. In cuticle care, this is an integral part in order to prevent painful cracking during your session, reduce the risk of infection, and improve appearance.
However, manually cutting or trimming skin carries a high risk of injury and should only be done with extreme caution.
You’ll notice your nail technician use a tool called the cuticle nipper or a specialized electronic file bit for this.
4. Hydration and Massage
The final step is a soothing massage. Professional manicurists use nourishing cuticle oils for this, like jojoba or almond oil, on your nail beds. This enriches your nails with natural oils, restoring their flexibility.
The skin around the nail also benefits a lot from the massage. It encourages blood flow to the nail and makes it grow stronger. Also, your skin locks in moisture, giving a fresh, lively look as much as your newly done nails.
Wrapping Up: The Secret to Healthy Nails
A dedicated cuticle care session is much more rewarding than you realise. It has both short-term benefits like instant appeal as well as long-term benefits like strong nails and prevention of hangnails, etc. So next time you treat yourself to a manicure, remember that taking care of the skin around your nails is just as important.
Also, explore a range of professional manicures in Sri Lanka that come with expert cuticle care at Noelines.