If you've ever quizzed a nail technician like we have you'll have learned that cuticle care is the key to gorgeous, long, strong nails.
My nails just never seem to be able to grow more than a millimetre or two beyond my finger tip without chipping and splitting so I never really bother to shoot for that lovely, ladylike manicured look. I am told though, that with good cuticle care, longer, stronger nails are much easier to achieve so we thought we’d hunt down some great cuticle caring products.
Sally Hansen has long been a force in nail care globally. Here, Sally Hansen Global Trainer, Dana Caruso, takes us through her at-home mani guide, including cuticle care, and the products you’ll need to do the trick.
Word is that undertaking steps 1-3 every couple of weeks will get you well and truly on the track to stronger, longer nails in the long term.
Oh and an extra tip, people often wonder whether it’s good to cut your cuticles or not. Caruso says, “It is only necessary to groom a cuticle when a cuticle is cracked and torn as to prevent further tearing of the cuticle. Golden Rule: only remove what is torn, cracked, and lifted and never what is attached and intact.”
STEP 1: Cleanse
1. Wash and towel dry your hands.
2. Remove existing nail enamel using an acetone-based polish remover and a
lint-free pad.
3. Shape and smooth the nail’s free edge
STEP 2: Nail and Cuticle Care
1. If necessary, trim the length from each nail, using nail clippers.
2. Refine, smooth and shape the free edge of each nail with a file
3. Apply a small amount of Problem Cuticle Remover evenly around the cuticle of each nail.
4. Gently slide a cuticle pusher along the nail plate toward the cuticle area to loosen any non-living tissue from the nail plate. Use a curette to remove non-living tissue up to the eponychium and lateral edge. Use a manicure nipper to carefully remove the loosened non-living tissue, as well as hangnails.
5. Cleanse thoroughly with soap and warm water, towel dry.
6. Apply a dot of Healthy Cuticles Now onto each cuticle and thoroughly rub into the skin.
7. Apply a drop of Vitamin E Cuticle Oil to the base of the nail plate and surrounding tissue. Rub gently to disperse.
STEP 3: Moisturise
1. Massage a liberal amount of Miracle Cure for Severely Dry Hands into hand and forearm.
STEP 4: Meticulous Nail Prep
1. Gently buff the surface of each nail with a nail file in the direction of the natural nail growth.
2. Buff to a high shine with a Buffer board (if not applying enamel).
3. Double check for stubborn cuticle and debris by pulling back the lateral folds (sidewalls) of the nails with your fingers and using a curette to gently remove any remnants.
STEP 5: Polish
1. Use acetone to remove oil and debris from the nail plate.
2. Apply a thin coat of a base coat such as the Strengthening Double Duty Base Coat.
3. Apply 2 coats of nail enamel and allow to dry.
4. Seal and protect with a coat of top coat such as the Mega Shine Top Coat.
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