A crisp nail polish application is truly one of the most satisfying qualities of a professional manicure, but did you know that you can achieve the same results from the comfort of home?
Everyone has experienced a messy manicure. Whether it’s due to a clumpy finish, irritated cuticles or you ended up painting half your fingertip, we can all agree that a flawless mani requires more than a steady hand. So how DO we achieve that crisp edge and clean finish? Two words: maintained cuticles.
Cuticles play a huge role in helping to protect your nails and surrounding skin from dirt, oil and bacteria. While cuticles are basically the superhero to our nail health, when left unmaintained, they can quickly become rough, dry and cracked. This often results in that at-home manicure trademark of bumpy edges and a peeling finish.
The good news is that there is a remedy, and it’s called cuticle care! So, if you’re looking to drench your nails in a clean-cut manicure that looks utterly salon level, follow along with our cuticle care routine:
Don’t rush to find the clippers just yet! Rather than snipping away at this protective layer of skin, soften them up with some love from a cuticle exfoliator. butter LONDON Melt Away Cuticle Exfoliator is an award-winning exfoliator that was selected by Byrdie as the best overall cuticle removal secret for great-looking nails:
“Liquid cuticle removers work by exfoliating and essentially dissolving away the dead skin, and this is one of our favorites. All you have to do is swipe it on, give it a few minutes to soften and break down those beat-up cuticles, then gently push them back and wipe off any excess. Bonus points for the fact that this formula is free of seven different types of questionable chemicals commonly found in nail products.”– Byrdie
Ready for an Insta-worthy manicure? Once of the most attractive qualities of a salon manicure is an evenly painted edge and an elongated nail. Lucky for you, you can easily recreate this elevated look by using a gentle hand and a cuticle stick.
After the cuticles have been exfoliated, it’s time to push them back. Start with an angled cuticle stick (orange stick or cuticle pusher), holding it firmly in your hand the same way you would hold a pen or pencil. Place the cuticle stick at the top of the cuticle, then gently push them back towards the skin, slowly working your way around the base of your nail. This simple step will help strengthen and help maintain cuticle health while adding a length to the nail—without the damage!
The word “skin care” probably conjures up many things: a foamy cleanser, luxurious serum, moisturized hand cream and skin-nourishing face mask. While many of us tend to our complexion with a balanced skin care regimen, we can forget that our cuticles are an extension of the skin (i.e. they crave the same moisturizing attention we give to the rest of the body). After following the steps above, it is important to help restore your cuticles with a nail treatment that will condition and pamper, like the butter LONDON QuickFix Moisturizing Cuticle Balm. Enriched with powerful antioxidants and good-for-skin ingredients, this replenishing nail treatment balm helps prevent aging and drying by quenching cuticles with a rush of moisture, ultimately making them appear stronger and healthier-looking over time. The QuickFix Moisturizing Cuticle Balm features an innovative, no-mess massage applicator so that you can easily squeeze a small amount of cuticle balm onto the applicator, then gently massage it onto cuticles in circular motions—it’s a spa like cuticle treatment in the comfort of your own home!