How To Fix Your Cuticles

Rough. Torn. Damaged. Peeling.

Would you use any of these words to describe the thin sliver of skin along the bottom of your nail bed? If so, what’s going on, girl?

Bad cuticles not only look awful, but they can also be incredibly painful.

Luckily, overgrown and damaged cuticles are easy to fix. If you take these tips as gospel, we promise to forgive you for your nail bed sins…

#1 Put down the manicure scissors

If you want well-groomed cuticles, leave them be – at least when it comes to manicure scissors. We know how tempting it is to cut overgrown cuticles, especially when they start to peel, but you should never cut your cuticles. They are there for a reason! Cuticles create a barrier between your skin and nails. Remove this, and you leave your nails open to infection. No, thanks!

#2 Invest in a cuticle remover

Cuticle removers soften the skin surrounding the nail and – you guessed it – help to get rid of dry, damaged and overgrown cuticles. Put simply, they do what manicure scissors do, without breaking the skin. So, for digits worth showing off, apply a cuticle remover to the nail beds and leave it on for around five minutes. Then, use the flat end of a cuticle stick to gently push back your cuticles.

bh tip: We recommend Revitanail Cuticle Remover Gel. It removes excess skin from the cuticle, so there’s no need to cut (or worse, pick at) your nail beds ever again!

#3 Apply a cuticle cream

As they say, prevention is better than cure – and there are ways to stop bad cuticles from forming in the first place. Cuticle creams contain fats and waxes to protect skin, replenish lost moisture and keep cuticles soft and healthy. Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Crème is the cream (pun intended) of the crop. The four-time beautyheaven award-winning product contains a range of natural ingredients to repair skin, seal in moisture, and ensure cuticles don’t dry out. For the best results, rub it into nail beds morning and night. It will take two minutes!

Are your cuticles in need of repair? How do you deal with bad cuticles?

How to push back your cuticles

Your essential nail care tool kit

How to care for your cuticles

55 Member Comments

Peta908 21 Mar 2018 2:45 PM

I use Burts Bees each night and it works like a charm

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Arty Girl 22 Aug 2017 2:11 PM

Why are cuticle scissors sold in stores ? The uninformed who buy this product would use it as described. I don't use cuticles scissors to cut my cuticles but sometimes my cuticles do get a bit overgrown. So I do use a cuticle trimmer to remove the excess. Regular use of cuticle oil and/or a cuticle cream keeps my cuticles in condition. I love Sally Hansen's Cuticle Eraser + Balm. It's cucumber fragrance is delightful !!!

jlsta 3 May 2017 6:25 PM

Cuticle oil and regular nail salon visits!

Seezora 14 Apr 2016 3:37 PM

My cuticles aren't bad, but they do need to be pushed back now (due for it again). I have to get into the habit of doing it more regularly, as I tend to only worry about them when I apply my Jamberrys.

itslinda 5 Apr 2016 10:16 AM

great article

TheUglyDuckling 25 Nov 2015 11:31 AM

Beautiful Tiger spammer!

beauty_addict 2 Jun 2015 10:36 PM

I really need to get some cuticle removal gel to try!

Hayley644 6 Mar 2015 11:58 PM

I use a cuticle oil and a remover, I need to buy some more remover, I've run out and notice a difference when I don't use it.

Petal 27 Feb 2015 3:30 AM

When I was much younger, I often had snags and tears on my cuticles. I always had some cuticle nippers on standby. Now I'm much older, I rarely get torn cuticles and I have no idea why.

Jlgaddes 22 Feb 2015 7:45 AM

great tips, as I struggle to type after injuring my nail....:(

Shop A Everyday 21 Feb 2015 6:27 AM

Yes cuticles can be a real pain to tame

fluffnut 17 Feb 2015 12:54 PM

Cuticles are in desperate need of care - great tips!

Belle88 17 Feb 2015 8:24 AM

I have and love Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme. It's fantastic and softens my cuticles so nicely. It smells amazing too! I really do take care of my hands by moisturising regularly.

Beautybabe140194 17 Feb 2015 8:19 AM

Telling my boy this

skitzkitty 17 Feb 2015 8:17 AM

Luckily my nails & cuticles are pretty good - thanks mum!

clearcrystalwater 17 Feb 2015 6:29 AM

I love the Orly cuticle oil - amazing product. I also love the Plunketts NS5 cuticle cream. I tend to wear a handcream every day so my cuticles benefit a bit from that too but when I need a bit of extra TLC on my cuticles I know how uncomfortable it can be until I get that product on them!

mamamickey 17 Feb 2015 4:10 AM

I can vouch for " Never cut,bite or try to file off your straggly cuticle bits. I did this and ended up with a nasty finger nail infection that wouldn't go away for 2 years.

Pink Hornet 17 Feb 2015 2:04 AM

I use oil and push mine back regularly. However they still need clippin occasionally.

cwingy83 17 Feb 2015 12:54 AM

I love the burts bee cuticle creme. it helps a lot to keeps my cuticle from damage.

Jlgaddes 16 Feb 2015 5:57 PM

good tips...Burt's Bees products are wonderful

freaky 16 Feb 2015 1:53 PM

Need to apply these tips. Ive neglected this area for too long

Stensen 16 Feb 2015 9:02 AM

Using hand creams is probably the first step I need to take...

Anita1502 16 Feb 2015 5:42 AM

Ok, ok, I know! This is me! Guilty! Not only do I cut my cuticles out, I also, especially lately, tend to forget to use Lemon butter cuticle creme. I have never used a cuticle remover, high time to get one.

ray_jay 16 Feb 2015 1:49 AM

all i can think- is that this is painful

Jessica712 15 Feb 2015 10:59 PM

Burts Bees cuticle cream is great!

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