Beautiful Cuticles - Here's How

This is what every woman wants, isn't it? Effortlessly perfect nails with perfect cuticles.

Cuticles are a pain. Really. Untended cuticles mess up the neat 'edge' around the nails and just look, well, untended. And why do cuticles seem to constantly need tending?

We're going to take care of that right now!

Cuticle Trimmers  - Yay or Nay?

For years, I swore by cuticle trimmers. Despite constantly cutting too deep and causing bleeding to at least one nail per cuticle-trimming session, I forged on, trying every available brand. I've been told by a few people that cuticle trimmers cause all kinds of damage (aside from the obvious self-inflicted bleeding) and should be shunned. I've never seen any evidence of this (nor have I researched it in any detail to be quite honest).

And even since switching to the all natural, easy peasy cuticle tending method I'm about to show you, I better come clean. I do still use a cuticle trimmer on occasion – but only for desparate, can't-be-avoided, cuticle emergencies.

The easy peasy method of achieving tended, trimmed and healthy cuticles has actually been around since your great great great grandmother's day.

The Easy Peasy Cuticle-Tending Method 

After discovering how incredibly effective a simple nail brush is for managing toenail cuticles (check the fabulous feet forever tip for details), it suddenly occured to me that it might be an idea to try this same method on the fingernails.

(insert snickering and tittering from grandma, great grandma, and great great grandma here)

The Method 

Use a nailbrush on your cuticles daily. You don't need to scrub hard or even long, just often. Keep a nailbrush by the sink and it will be a snap to make it a habit every time you wash your hands.

Step 2: Every evening before bed, work a dab of rich moisturizer around the nail area while gently pushing back cuticles.

Lanolin Loves Cuticles

The ideal rich moisturizer for cuticles is lanolin-based. Lanolin not only softens but it also protects. Even my husband (who has real hardy guy hands) has become a habitual user of lanolin-based balms for his cuticles (yes, guys do their nails too).

Do Tell

Do you use cuticle trimmers? Can you use them without cutting too deep?