While you may think the nail color is the most important part of a perfect manicure, we're here to fill you in on a little known secret: It's all about the the cuticles. Giving your cuticles the proper TLC — whether in the salon or at home – is critical to keeping your nails and the surrounding skin healthy and looking, well, polished. Lemon contains citric acid which can be used to weaken your cuticle skin cells allowing them to be easily removed. A cuticle remover is a specialized solution that is applied to your cuticles to make them easier to remove.

Exfoliants are special chemicals used to remove dead skin cells. They are found in acne treatments, face washes, and other skin treatments. Blue Cross contains potassium hydroxide to help break down the dead cuticle skin cells making them easier to push down. Blue cross also contains lanolin oil to moisturize your skin and decrease the potency of the potassium hydroxide. How To Apply By working and shaping your cuticles allows your nail polishes and acrylics to look more smooth and uniform.

Firstly apply the lotion on and around your cuticles, you can apply it by using the applicator that it comes with. I recommend soaking your cuticles in some apple cider vinegar for 30 seconds. Then apply some oil and then you can gently push and shape your cuticles. Just take 1 tablespoon of baking soda and add 1 tablespoon of honey and stir into a paste. Then apply the paste on your cuticles and let it rest for 30 seconds. Then use a cuticle remover to push and shape your cuticles. Additionally, if you apply your polishes over the thin transparent part of the cuticle found on your nails, it would give your polish a slight bumpy look and feel. 2- Allows your Nail Polish to Look Brighter Generally, these are harsher on your skin and nails. And because of this, I would advise using a moisturizer along with them or a brand that contains a moisturizer.

I recommend pushing your nails into the lemon and letting it soak for 30 seconds then apply some oil and then use a cuticle pusher to neaten up your cuticles. 4- Apple Cider Vinegar

So if you have an acne face wash that contains Salicylic acid you can apply some to your cuticles and let it soak in for 30 seconds then use your hands to vigorously wash it. Finally, apply some oil and use your cuticle pusher to shape up your cuticles.

Finally, if you have any pieces of cuticles that are standing out you can use a cuticle clipper to remove them, these are generally dead skin cells and it won’t hurt to remove them. You see each one of your cuticles grows at a different pace for each one of your nails. Some grow out more whilst some are pointed and even shaped differently. Now by making them all even gives you a neater appearance. If you don’t have any honey you can make a baking soda paste with a small amount of water and I usually add a bit of oil to moisturize your cuticles. Bonus Tip Now once you apply the oil you can use your cuticle pusher to gently push and neaten up your cuticles. To counter this I recommend using one with some form of moisturizer built-in or you can apply cuticle oil after removing your cuticles.

Now if you don’t want to use a store-bought cuticle remover you can use a combination of oil, soap, and water to soften your cuticles which makes them easier to remove.

Now, they are other milder and less harsh cuticle removers that contain exfoliants similar to those used in facial and skin washes. Now if you have an abrasive exfoliant you can do the same except you would have to more vigorously wash 6- Baking Soda and Honey Cuticle removers can be very effective, but be mindful of how long you leave on a gel or liquid cuticle remover, as "it can dry up, which could make it harder to remove the cuticle and increase the risk of potentially damaging nails or irritating the skin," Choi explains. What's the best way to remove cuticles? Each brand would be applied and used a bit differently. So you should follow the instructions on how to use that specific brand of cuticle remover. Both lemon juice and apple cider vinegar also kill any bacteria or microbes on your cuticles which will help to prevent any infection from forming. 5- Use an Exfoliant (Face Wash)These work by breaking the bonds of the cuticle skin cells which makes them easier to push down and remove. They contain chemicals such as glycolic acid and lactic acid. The most effective brands of cuticle removers contain either Potassium Hydroxide or Sodium Hydroxide. These chemicals work by dissolving the dead cuticle tissue on the nails. Citation.