Search for answers you are looking for.
-
Nail Centre
-
- Bruised nail
- Calluses and corns
- Chloronychia
- Dermatitis
- Dermatophyte and non-dermatophyte fungi
- Diabetes
- Erythronychia
- Habit-tic
- Hangnails
- Hapalonychia
- Heller's Median Nail Dystrophy
- Hyperhidrosis
- Introduction to Nail Conditions
- Koilonychia
- Lamellar Dystrophy
- Leukonychia
- Nail biting
- Nail Clubbing
- Nail Grooves / Depressions
- Onychocryptosis
- Onycholysis
- Onychomadesis
- Onychomycosis
- Paronychia
- Psoriasis
- Pterygium
- Splinter haemorrhages
- White Superficial Onychomycosis
- Show all articles ( 13 ) Collapse Articles
-
Ask the Experts
-
- Are glass nail files better?
- Are metal cuticle pushers safe?
- Can I cut the keratinised proximal nail fold?
- Can I use just acetone to cleanse the nail plate before a service?
- Can Nail Polish be Organic?
- Can nail products repair the nail?
- Can the cuticle cover the whole nail?
- Can you explain the downside risks of filing the side walls of the nail plate?
- Do all nail plates grow 1mm a week?
- Do manicures ruin your nails?
- Does filing the sides of the natural nail weaken it?
- Does nail polish or UV gel polish dehydrate the nail?
- Does the direction of nail filing matter?
- Hangnails. What's your advice?
- How do I save a cut nail?
- How do nail polish drying drops and sprays work?
- How does cold weather affect the nails?
- Is calcium good for nails?
- Is calcium good for the natural nail?
- Is cuticle remover a must-have?
- Is my nail polish suitable for me?
- Is nail polish safe to use for repetitive use on clients because it 'can't store pathogens'?
- Nail polish stains on nails
- Prenatal vitamins and nail growth
- Quick-dry Nail Polishes?
- What are these thin black lines under the nail?
- What is a dry manicure?
- What is a Japanese manicure?
- What is a wet manicure?
- What is the safest type of manicure?
- What's the best type of manicure to get?
- What's the difference between a French manicure and an American manicure?
- What's the harm with a water soak?
- What's up with the grit of a nail file?
- Which is better? Soap and water or hand sanitiser before a service?
- Which way to brush off the dust?
- Why do nail polish top coats get stringy when applied?
- Why should I use a flexible base?
- Show all articles ( 23 ) Collapse Articles
-
- Acid-based or acid-free primers?
- Are gel nail extensions better than acrylic?
- Are my nail systems porous or not?
- Can I e-file the natural nail underneath an enhancement?
- Can you mix liquid from one system with powder from another?
- Dip powder enhancements?
- Do acrylics have a limited future?
- Does a universal monomer exist?
- How much product to remove during rebalance?
- Is L&P more dangerous than gel?
- Nail Oil and Lifting
- Pinching enhancements?
- Some brands chip quicker than others, is this a product or body chemistry issue?
- To infill or to soak off?
- To pinch the nail enhancement or not?
- What do I do with my leftover monomer?
- What is the difference between a French manicure and pink and white?
- What size brush to use?
- Why do nails feel thin after the removal of a nail coating?
- Show all articles ( 4 ) Collapse Articles
-
- A chemical burn?
- Autoclave use
- Can I get a headache from working with nail products?
- Can I sanitize and disinfect toe separators?
- Can I use my oven to sterilise my tools?
- Can I work on diabetic clients?
- Can you explain the downside risks of filing the side walls of the nail plate?
- Can you Mix Hema and Hema-Free Products?
- Can you sanitize metal tools in isopropyl alcohol?
- Disinfectant solutions and ultrasonic devices
- Do I need qualifications to do nails?
- Do UV sanitation devices work?
- Does the direction of nail filing matter?
- Enhancements on Nail Biters?
- Fluff vs synthetic brush for dusting
- Hand sanitizer or hand washing?
- Is an E-File safe to use?
- Is Covid or hand sanitising affecting nail services?
- Is hand washing causing nail product lifting?
- Is sanitizing good enough?
- Is the material of the latex gloves such that it causes hand sensitivity?
- My client has chipping/loss of enhancement and I’ve never had this before?
- Nail salon face masks
- Should a mask be worn throughout the whole service?
- Should I disinfect all nail brushes?
- Should I use a ‘protein bonder’ to prevent lifting?
- Should you pour the end of an old bottle into the new?
- Some of my clients are getting heat spikes when curing the base and top coat.
- UV light cabinets for nails files?
- Wearing sunscreen, can this lead to service breakdown?
- What are the legal requirements for the treatment of minors?
- What is a Brazilian style manicure?
- What is a combi manicure?
- What is a Russian manicure?
- What is the difference between cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation?
- What is the difference between HEMA and di-HEMA?
- When do nail products expire?
- Show all articles ( 22 ) Collapse Articles
-
- Acrylates in gel-like nail polishes?
- Can acetone cause blisters?
- Can I get a headache from working with nail products?
- Can my client be allergic to acetone?
- Do I have an allergy or an irritation?
- Gluten-free nail products?
- How did I get an allergy to gel?
- How do I explain becoming allergic to my client who "knows better"?
- Is acetone safe for removing nail products?
- Is it safe to apply a coating over Onycholysis?
- Is there such a thing as a safe gel manicure?
- Press on nails, allergic reaction healed, can I try gel again?
- Wearing sunscreen, can this lead to service breakdown?
- What Causes the Skin Reaction after the Nail Product is Removed?
- What UV gel brands do you recommend?
- Why are we seeing more reactions from gel polish services vs gel enhancement services?
- Show all articles ( 1 ) Collapse Articles
-
- Are gel nail extensions better than acrylic?
- Are hard gels for everyone?
- Are my nail systems porous or not?
- Are press on nails a safe alternative if you have an allergic reaction to gel?
- Are UV gels better for nails?
- Can acrylic be used under full coverage tips?
- Can I e-file the natural nail underneath an enhancement?
- Can you Mix Hema and Hema-Free Products?
- Do gel nails ruin your nails?
- Does freeze curing interrupt the curing process?
- Does using UV gel with full cover clear tips cure properly?
- Gel on toes?
- How can I find a non-toxic UV gel polish range?
- How much product to remove during rebalance?
- Inhibition layer and no-cleanse gels
- Is a UV gel manicure safe for someone with previous skin health issues?
- Is L&P more dangerous than gel?
- Is rubber peel base the same as rubber base coat?
- Is there such a thing as a safe gel manicure?
- Mixing Nail Systems
- Nail Oil and Lifting
- Practicing on myself and easy removal?
- Press on nails, allergic reaction healed, can I try gel again?
- Removing undercured gel
- Should I buy my nail lamp based on wattage?
- Should I get gel or dip nails?
- Should my clients wash their hands before I apply oil?
- Should UV Gels "Burn Like Crazy"?
- Should we remove the rubber base from the nail plate?
- Some brands chip quicker than others, is this a product or body chemistry issue?
- To infill or to soak off?
- To pinch the nail enhancement or not?
- Using cuticle oil during soak-off?
- UV GEL mixed with Acrylics - Cure Queries
- UV gel polish thinner
- What Causes the Skin Reaction after the Nail Product is Removed?
- What does 'overcured' really mean?
- What is the correct method for applying a 'BIAB' type product?
- What is the difference between a French manicure and pink and white?
- What is the difference between HEMA and di-HEMA?
- What kind of products are wrap resins and no light gels?
- What UV gel brands do you recommend?
- Why are we seeing more reactions from gel polish services vs gel enhancement services?
- Why do nails feel thin after the removal of a nail coating?
- Why do some UV gel colors fade?
- Why do you advise wiping a no wipe to coat?
- Will an LED table lamp affect LED-cured gels?
- Show all articles ( 32 ) Collapse Articles
-
- A greenie! Why? What do I do?
- Can Acetone Soak Change the Structure of Your Nails
- Do Nails Need to Breathe?
- Does active arthritis in knuckles affect the nail plate in regards to lifting?
- How do I avoid ‘greenies’?
- How do I clear up nail bed hyperkeratosis?
- How do I treat ‘green nail syndrome’?
- How does cold weather affect the nails?
- I'm pretty sure my UV gel manicure client has WSO
- Is it safe to apply a coating over Onycholysis?
- Is the material of the latex gloves such that it causes hand sensitivity?
- Leukonychia or not?
- Lichen Planus. What do I do?
- The onychomycosis (fungal nail) test is positive... Now what?
- Treating Fungal Nails
- What are these thin black lines under the nail?
- What is Onycholsyis?
- What to do with unhealthy nails?
- Why are there ridges in my nails?
- Why is silk or fibreglass good on thinner / damaged and weaker nails?
- Why should we NOT cover "greenies"?
- Show all articles ( 6 ) Collapse Articles
-
- Applying nail enhancements to children?
- How do I save a cut nail?
- How do I work on a client with type 2 diabetes?
- I am self-employed and have a home salon. Do I need to do a risk assessment?
- Is a UV gel manicure safe for someone with previous skin health issues?
- The doctor says "go ahead". Should I?
- What are the legal requirements for the treatment of minors?
-
- Can Acetone Soak Change the Structure of Your Nails
- Can I cut the keratinised proximal nail fold?
- Do all nail plates grow 1mm a week?
- Hyponychium growth
- What are the seals of the nail unit?
- What does the nail matrix do?
- What is the difference between the nail bed and the nail plate?
- What is the nail matrix also known as?
- Where is the cuticle?
-
-
Support
Cuticle
0 out of 5 stars
5 Stars | 0% | |
4 Stars | 0% | |
3 Stars | 0% | |
2 Stars | 0% | |
1 Stars | 0% |
The cuticle is created by the eponychium on the ventral (on underside) surface of the proximal nail fold. The cuticle is formed of sticky dead skin cells that are shed by the living skin of the PNF just like the skin cells are from any surface of epidermis but instead of falling off in flakes, they are bound together with a very sticky substance, that sticks them firmly to the emerging nail plate beneath them and the frame of keratinised epidermis above them. This important part of the nail seal (or guardian) at the base of the nail is curated by the eponychium which ‘sticks’ the dead skin cells together.
This thin layer of dead skin, sticks fast to the nail plate and the proximal nail fold, forming an important seal that protects the important matrix that is behind and below the PNF. This is non-living skin, though, and is safely removed prior to manicures and pedicures, to avoid any lifting of artificial nails, for example.
Ask the Experts
Should you push back your cuticles?
The answer to this is NO! The cuticle that is exposed and on the nail plate can be safely removed as it is non-living tissue, however to prevent infection of the finger, stop when you reach the frame of keratinised epidermis at the edge of the proximal nail fold. If you go further, and push deep under the proximal nail fold, you open the area up to infection.
In reality, the cuticle needs to be lifted from the nail plate when it is softened and then removed.
What is the role of the cuticle?
With the proximal nail fold and the nail plate sealed together with the sticky cuticle in the middle, there is a very efficient first line of defense against all types of invaders from pathogens to chemicals to fungus spores. Any of these that reach the delicate matrix can very easily interrupt the growth of the nail plate and even stop growth altogether.
What is cuticle made of?
Cuticle is colourless, non-living skin cells.
How do you remove the cuticle?
Ideally, before you do anything to the cuticle on the nail plate, it needs to be softened. Historically, this has been achieved by soaking the nails in softened water. This WILL soften the cuticle very effectively BUT it will also create an unwanted effect to the nail plate.
The nail plate is hydrophilic, meaning it loves water and is very porous due to the time air spaces within it. If it is soaked in water for 1 minute or more, it will allow water to penetrate the structure, change the shape, temporarily, and make it very soft until the excess water has evaporated. Then it will return to its original shape and regain its hardness.
If an overlay of any kind is applied to a ‘water logged’ nail plate there is a good chance of lifting when the nail returns to its original shape.
Modern products and techniques have come away from a water soak and uses much more efficient cuticle softening products.
These can be an alkaline based product such as sodium hydroxide. This is very efficient at breaking the bonds between dead skin cells and softening the layer. It should, however, NOT be left on the nail nor skin as it will continue to work and will also soften the nail plate and make it very susceptible to damage during the nail service. It needs to be neutralised by a mild solution of soapy water that can be applied via a water spray and drying with a disposable wipe or by washing the hands with liquid soap and running water.
Alternatively, applying a good nail oil at the start of the service but after the nails have had any overlay removed and been cleaned. This can efficiently soften the dead skin of the cuticle while the nails are being shaped. Then, the softened skin can be safely removed by a good cuticle tool while taking cate not to damage the surface of the nail nor the PNF.
This process can also be safely achieved using an e-file. This technique needs education, a slow e-file speed, suitable e-file bit and, preferably oil to minimise any nail plate damage.
There are some e-file techniques that are very extreme in the removal of skin in this area. If you understand the structure and purpose of the PNF it is very clear that this area must be protected at all costs. The ‘seal’ must NOT be broken and therefor opening the matrix to pathogens.
Those nail pros and, indeed, respected educators, who carry out and teach the extreme version of this technique, clearly have no real understanding of the physiology and pathology of the area! (Maybe link to all or any of Vitaly or Doug’s articles on this topic)
In conclusion:
- The cuticle is a thin layer of dead skin on the surface of the nail plate.
- It is created by the eponychium on the underside of the proximal nail fold.
- The cuticle is the middle layer of the proximal nail fold and nail plate, and it forms a crucial seal at the base of the nail, safeguarding the delicate matrix.
- It can be removed safely and effectively without harming the seal.
- Removing the cuticle is necessary to facilitate the adhesion of overlays to the nail plate and to achieve a clean and tidy edge in the overlay.
Image Gallery
0 out of 5 stars
5 Stars | 0% | |
4 Stars | 0% | |
3 Stars | 0% | |
2 Stars | 0% | |
1 Stars | 0% |