Finally someone who knows what their talking about. Thank you for researching this so well and teaching those who watch you. I do my own natural nails and never cut my fingers in anyway. I watch people on UA-cam cutting that part of the finger. Everyone (especially nail techs) needs to get some education on what's the cuticle or what is not. Nail techs should know this. Thank you!
I agree, nail techs should know this. The problem is that many clients have unrealistic expectations too. They come in with these perfect IG pictures and they want that in 1 visit. They don't want to hear that they have to do home maintenance. So nail techs try to make them happy. I market myself specifically to people who like less invasive, more natural look, I like to post realistic images so my clients know what to expect. I don't really have these issues but I hear other nail techs too. As pros we should educate too, not only "do what you are told".
Everyone should have to watch this! Whenever I ask a nail tech not to cut my "cuticles" (nail fold) they look at me like I'm insane. I've given up getting my nails done because of it. I do them myself at home now :/.
Thank you so much for this! I've been getting my nails done for years and they always cut the nail fold! I always felt like that needed to be done in order to have a proper manicure, but since doing my own nails at home due to being lockdown I have let the nail fold grow and see such a difference in the skin around the nails but boy has it been a rehabilitation process! Your channel is beyond helpful and you have no idea how much you have helped me with my nail health and manicure skills!
Hi Sabrina! You have no idea, you honestly made my day with your comment! Thank you so much! Yes, it takes time for the skin to heal from all the cutting and abuse but it's so worth it!! Manicure takes half the time, no risk of bleeding and possibly infection, no peeling, no inflammation.
I find that if I gently push the skin back once per week and moisturize every day with oil, the living skin does not stick to the nail plate, but remains pushed back. I think a dedicated nail routine is the key for healthy and beautiful nails.
Oh my Lord, so many nail techs cut the nail fold. I’ve been doing that too as they call it the cuticle, but I always have problems with it growing back worse. Thank you so much!
This has been immeasurably helpful! As someone who stopped getting their nails done because it always hurt so much when they nipped the “cuticle” and after trying for years to rehab them, this makes SO much sense!!! Thank you so much for the info!!
YESSSS THANK YOU! I’ve seen so many nail techs get their license suspended for continuing to disregard this basic client health & safety rule. If licensed individuals suffer consequences for lack of integrity, those who are unlicensed and are trimming the eponychium should be held responsible to some degree , because there is no way they can call themselves “trusted nail techs” and 1) not be licensed & 2) not prioritize their clients health and safety. There is simply no excuse.
Such clear information. And it’s making me think that it is not even possible to “cut” the cuticle. “Remove” it, yes, but not cut it. There is so much misleading terminology in the industry! And manufacturers who make “cuticle cutters” are feeding into that too. Keep up your brilliant channel, Anna. We all need this education ❤
Well, that explains why I have had problems with the skin around my nails after cutting what I thought was part of the cuticle. Thank you so much for explaining it in such a way that someone like me, who has no idea what I am doing with my nails and uses youtube as a guide, can understand what to do and why.
Hi there ! I’m a nail tech in training and I had came across your video when looking up videos on how to cut the cuticle because I thought this was the right way for school doesn’t really teach you this, they let us believe in these techniques that are invasive and not teach us the proper way. Us students aren’t allowed to cut the cuticle in school to any customer for it’s a liability and against the state guidelines but my teacher had said that this technique will be expected of us to do in the real world, when working at a salon but I always hated the technique because I myself hate it and don’t like cutting my own, I’ve always done my nails at home and they are healthy and long so I never saw the necessity of cutting them for it just didn’t feel right. I’m so glad to have come across your video for this is a technique I’m okay with and feel good about , I will be applying this to my future clients and educating them the proper way.
I have been cutting the nail fold for years thinking it was the cuticle. My nails peel and break and I believe my care is at least some of the reason. This video really helped me understand what I've been doing wrong and I hope my nail health will benefit.
This is such a helpful video. I use lotion as well because it keeps my nails better moisturized. I’m sharing this with family and friends in hopes that they stop cutting their live nail. I totally agree, it is worse to cut. My cuticles feel and look awful afterwards and it takes me time to get cuticles back to a healthy place.
I have been so confused on what to cut what not to cut. I’m a nail technician in training and this video has helped so so much. Thank you. I’ll be subscribing asap!
Somehow ended up on your page in the middle of the night and I'm loving this! It's sad too see nail techs ruining peoples nails and not educate themselves. I had a long discussion with a few people last week about cutting the PNF and even after telling them what kind of damage it can cause the answer was "I still prefer it gone". Someone even said that you can't make a perfect application without cutting the skin. UNBELIEVABLE! Although I do have something to say about efile on the natural nail. You can probably count how many times the drill bit rotates per second in your lowest setting, right? Now count how many seconds you spend removing the cuticle and multiply it with the rotations. The nail plate has three different layers and the topmost layer is the layer we should stay on so our products stick to the nail plate. This layer is only 10% of the thickness of the nail plate and if you use efile, it's gone in a few seconds no matter how gentle you are. If you still want to use your efile I'd suggest getting an onyclean bit. It doesn't have abrasion at all so it is safe to use on the nail plate and it gets the job done. 😊
You have completely transformed my nail health and appearance. Thank you thank you for this education. I’ve always had a problem with skin adhering and growing with my nail so, my whole life, it looked unattractive, irregular, jagged. I was actually a bit self-conscious about it. Thank you!
I haven't tried it yet but I have feeling this will make things much, much easier while doing a better job. Thanks for the "over sized" demonstration with the towel and the cotton. As you explained, if you cut the proximal nail fold it will begin to peel in a day or two. Bless you for getting it right. Video after video shows you how to cut it (or maybe cut it, maybe not.)
Anna, You are my soul animal xD I feel like im not the only "fool" in the world who does not like to cut the skin around the nail plate like it is taught in the schools these days. Sadly clients are so used /expecting of getting their gel-polish done once a month ( what i consider outrageously awful ) that get them to come in twice a month is like asking them task impossible .... And the thing is it is all done by fellow technicians who have trained them to expect and ask these things, without giving any explanation why it should not be like that at all. All thanx to mixing up the gel-polish and builder gel ( aka gel overlay technigue ) and creating something what is not pure gel polish manicure anymore at all. Plus the new trend of rubber bases, what you now can use as "builder gel" to model the natural nail... and charging the gel-manicure price so that customers do not have any way of making difference what is what, has really muddled the waters. World is strange place and we seem to make our own lives harder by creating mess of simple straightforward things. I really,really hope that all this somehow can get sorted out .. tho i suspect itś all futile.
OMG Marika!! We MUST be related or something!!! The "building up with the base" is not base anymore but overlay. It's not a gel polish anymore. It's my biggest pet peeve. OK, I have quite a few lol When it comes to not cutting I think we have to market ourselves heavily and advertise "gentle" and "non invasive" manicures. I don't know why, maybe it's Canadian thing but many of my clients LOVE the fact that I don't cut the skin. They used to hate it when other salons did it because the skin would peel after and it would be swollen. They seriously don't mind some skin and the fact that it takes 2-3 manicures for everything to look better. Thank god I have many clients on a every 2 weeks schedule. But I feel that the services must be done in 30-50 min because if it takes 2 hours people don't want to come every 2 weeks. I also advertise to local clients with flexible schedules.
Hi there! I know you commented this a while ago but I’m training as a nail tech and your comment has me curious! If you don’t mind answering a few questions I’d appreciate it! If not no worries :) What do you mean by mixing the gel polish and the builder gel? And what is an overlay? I’m learning gels right now and I apply primer, base coat (can’t remember the name), builder gel, then a thin gel, then followed by gel polish. And I create the gel extension using a form this way. Is this the correct way in your opinion? Thanks!
Omg! I'm sending this to the salon that cut my skin until it bled! 4 of my fingers had to be treated after the manicure 😭 It made me afraid of going to the nail salon for a long time! Luckily I found a wonderful salon who took their time and helped me overcome the fear! They're at the other side of the city, but I happily make the trip for her!
Excellent explainer, Anna. I liked how you used the towel to represent the living skin/proximal nail fold and the cotton swab to represent the cuticle. That helped me to understand clearly. 👍🙂
I’m in California and it’s impossible to find a nail tech like you. They ALL take the aggressive approach to manicures. They all soak the heck out of your nails and they always cut the proximal fold. Now from watching your videos I understand why a few days after my manicure my skin looked like crap. I also understand now why for most of my life I could never get my nails to grow. I appreciate SO much the information you have given me.
Great explanations! I was wondering why I was getting a lot of shredding after a manicure. Would love a video where your expertise isn't questioned while you're sharing your wisdom.
This helped me so much to understand how my nails were because for about 10 years, I was biting my nails, and now they look very bad. I just want to take care of them again
Thank you SO much!!! I’ve just graduated and have been struggling with this. I read my book and it clearly states we are prohibited from cutting live skin, (the skin around the nail plate, the nails folds) the cuticle is dead tissue ON the nail plate and can be removed but we should NEVER cut the skin above the cuticle that’s on the nail plate. Also where the book explains hangnails says cutting the skin will also cause more hangnails. it makes total sense! like with ingrown nails (which we’re also prohibited from cutting) if you cut them they grow right back! lol I’ve been wanting to talk about this with techs but didn’t want to come off as snooty or offend anyone bc majority of them do it :/ I’ve had so many thoughts about working in salon, thinking “what do i do if a client wants me to cut their ingrowns or “cuticles” i know i’ll just say i’m sorry my license doesn’t prohibit me to preform that. but i don’t want to rub my employer the wrong way, i’m new coming in basically telling them they’re doing their job wrong you know?
thanks so much for sharing. im starting to get into my nail tech journey with practicing on myself and friends and i always wondered why my cuticles were so stubborn, this taught me so much!
Ended up here because I was looking for ways to properly cut the "cuticle" so i could get that pretty manicure look at home that i see all over reddit and on nail videos and wow have I learned something new! I guess I'll throw out my 'cuticle' nippers XD How have we all been taught so incorrectly by nail techs all these years??
Hi Kathryn! There are many ways of doing a manicure, some can be quite invasive (I had viewers send me pictures of seriously damaged nail plates after invasive manicures) so this is my way of manicuring that is super effective, very easy and the least invasive. Doug Schoon spent a lot of time researching to find out exactly the role of the cuticle and proximal nail fold are which now makes a lot of sense and it helps us to know which part to remove and which part to protect :) I'm so glad you liked the video. Thank you for your comment 💕
I always struggle with this. I occasionally nip myself and I have made other people bleed on occasion (friends and family I do nails for occasional. I try to not use too much pressure and be careful cutting but I still sometimes cut skin. Everything I had seen showed cutting them and the company I get my gel products from really encourages it.
I don’t know any nail salons personally that do it this way and I wish they did. This is why I prefer to do my own manicure. Great video! Hope other nail techs watch this!
Thank you so much for the advice. My nails always start to look horrific just a day after I do them or get them done with all sorts of random peeling skin even in areas that weren't touched. I will try your method after this and also try the nail oil after hand washing and try to rejuvenate my zombie hands!
Okay in school in 2017 and in the Milady books it DEFINITELY SHOWS AND TELLS students where the cuticle is AND WHY it is not to be cut. It protects the nail from infection. Like a condom. I’m so upset because it’s very well explained. Techs remove it for the look. Doc Schoon also contributed to the Milady books for cosmetology students and nail techs. It’s like you said if you cut the skin it will bleed ❤ Your channel is smart
Thanks for this very informative and practical video!! I used to cut my "cuticles" , resulting in forever cracking and dry skin around my nailbeds!!! I stopped cutting them... because i wasnt sure how to look after them.. so i often have overgrown and skin over my nails... not very sightly, but at least not inflammed or painful any more. now i know how to have presentable hands without doing them harm! Thank you!!!!❤❤
Hi Lei! Thank you for your comment. Just keep pushing the skin back gently every few days and use creams/oils I mention in my description box. Do that ideally each time you wash your hands. Wash your hands with gentle cleanser too, preferably soap free cleaning gel. PS. It's the skin around your *nail plate*, not nail bed (nail bed is where the nail plate resides/sits on) Here are my favs: Cuticle Pushers: Birchwood sticks amzn.to/2UDwGFw My favourite Skin and Nail oils: Famous Names Dadi Oil (great, fresh smell, quality stuff) amzn.to/3clIeCo Cuccio Pomegranate & Fig oil (great smell, great ingredients!) amzn.to/37BOncj California Mango Oil (smells yummy) amzn.to/2ZEdI0R Avocado oil (great dropper) amzn.to/3pO9YVj Orly (great dropper) amzn.to/3dvdv8p My fav creams/lotions: Cerave Lotion (very light, amazing also for the face!!) amzn.to/3aCkmuS Eucerin Complete Hand Repair 5% Urea (quite light, day cream) amzn.to/3bBNQIo Eucerin Complete Care 10% Urea (for dry heels & hand night cream) amzn.to/2NGwYYN amzn.to/2NMCFEI Kerasal (urea based ointment for very dry feet and for skin around nails at night) amzn.to/3dy31F7 (AMAZING!!!!!) Fav Face wash I also use as Hand Wash (super gentle) Cerave Foaming Face Wash (I use it also for the hands) amzn.to/37A8Lum
I was wondering about that. I see people cutting the proximal nail fold all the time and calling it the cuticle and it didn’t make sense to me to cut it off. It is living tissue after all. Thanks for clearing this all up for us.
What I'd like to know is what do you do when clients come in with an overgrown proximal nail fold? I've had many come where it's half way up the nail and couldn't offer a gel service properly without cutting it which I hate doing.
I haven't had any clients with PNF taking up half of their nail... maybe you are referring to nail biters? Usually the PNF is stuck to the nail and get stretched a bit . So I tell the client that the most successful way of correcting this is 2-3 regular manicures AND HOME CARE :)). I push back the PNF gently, tell them to use oil several times a day and urea based cream every night and that helps. The second manicure improvement is usually 50%. The third manicure the PNF is back to normal. When you start cutting there is no end to it and the client usually develops inflammation (clients tell me that) and scaring and because of that they develop callous. Some people cut their own skin and have a lot of callus. That takes longer to correct. It just takes time. Client is willing to listen to your advice or not. I choose not to work with clients who prefer very invasive techniques. PS. I have the links to the creams and oils listed in the video's description box :)
@@TheSalonLife Thankyou for such thorough information 😊 I've seen it with nail bitters but also with none nail bitters. I always advice regular manicures and home care. They always say they can't afford regular manicures or don't bother with homecare even though they claim to do 😣
Ps. The client can also push that proximal nail fold lightly once a week between manicures and use urea based cream every night. That is not too much to ask for no? :)
Anna I am cram watching so many of your nail care video and I am learning so much, thank you again. In this video you refer to what I thought was hangnails as little catches and yeah I pulled at them cause I thought they grew up sidewall from proximal nail fold. I would love a video on what is hangail or catches from corners of proximal nail fold up sidewalls. So from what I can gather only ever push back proximal nail fold and use nipper for anything that pops out from corner up sidewalls 🙏🏻🙂 ordered pomegranate and fig cuccio oil 👍🏻
Hi Caroline! Thank you so much for your question and for watching our videos :)) Please see this quick video and see if that helps: Hangnails. Emergency Fix. ua-cam.com/video/yzp1GuVixco/v-deo.html Anna :)
@@TheSalonLife yes watched that one thank you, love all your videos. It was just I clearly don't know exactly what a hangnail is as I said I thought it grow right up the side of the sidewall 🥴 you are a star for doing this 🙏🏻
I've been cutting my proximal nail fold/living nail for DECADES. The cycle is real and true. Thank you so much for the education. I wonder how long it will take before my living nail is soft again.....
I’ve been having the best results with the Kerasal ointment at night. it really softens the skin. I show it in this video. And also I would use Blue Cross weekly. Please take before pictures! I would love to see the transformation!!
@@TheSalonLife I've also been slathering cuticle oil and hand creams on my hands. I was absolutely shocked to see how little you use every day. Using a much lighter cuticle oil (I've been using Essie cuticle oil) and hand cream makes sense after every hand wash. Do you suggest still using Kerasal on the proximal nailfold when you have any kind of polish on? Will it break down the polish and make it chip easier?
I haven't tried Flexitol. I don't think it's all about % of urea. I find Kerasal works better than the Urisec (22% urea) I used previously. Kerasal is 10% urea and 5% BHA. Maybe it's the addition of BHA? No idea but it works very well. When applied in small amount I find Kerasal less sticky after absorbed.
I wish I could show you a picture of my nails. I have overgrown cuticles that are so stuck to the nail that I can't even scrape with a cuticle pusher anymore. I may have to file them just to remove them for a start fresh. I think the cuticles pull my finger skin forward and cause tearing, too. I always wondered how to prevent this from happening, and now you've shown me!
Ps. Cuticle cannot pull your skin. Cuticle is a compacted skin sells that are between Proximal Nail Fold and nail plate. It’s the proximal nail fold (living skin) that gets stretched when it’s stuck to the nail How do you care about your nails?
I would love to get your advice on people whose eponychium is overgrown and extends far onto the nail plate. Should you just gently push them back? Is it possible to cut at all? And lastly, is there any way to stop them from growing back thick again?
Hi Holly! Please check out this article about eponychiumschoonscientific.com/2019/whats-new-nail-anatomy-latest-facts/ So you are talking about proximal nail fold. I thought I explained it in the video but maybe I missed it. When someone comes in with overgrown PNF I do exactly the same thing as in this video. Push it back gently. Weekly like I showed in the video. We need to understand why the area is overgrown. Sometimes it's because people cut it (and the trauma of cutting or abrading it causes to grow thicker) so stop cutting it is a solution. It takes a while for the skin to start growing normally. It's a process. Client has to follow home care (I have creams listed in the description box of this video, use urea based cream at night and a light lotion and a bit of oil after every hand wash). If the PNF is stretched because it's never pushed back and the area is dry and stuck to the nail the results are quicker. Just doing this simple routine once a week and in 1-2 weeks the area will look much better.
I stopped cutting the proximal nail fold since I found your channel, a month ago. I've been moisturizing several times a day and everything, but it is really hard to train the living skin to stay back. I will try and resist the urge to cut it for a few more months. I really hope at some point it won't look so thick. Thank you for sharing all these tips.
Mine is so overgrown and thick. Pushing it back seems futile :(. I’ve bitten the skin around my nails all my life because it frays when I cut it but when I don’t it looks awful
I used to bite my nails too and cut my proximal nail fold. Trust me, there is hope. Use the Kerasal ointment, it's amazing!! Kerasal (urea based ointment for very dry feet and for skin around nails at night) amzn.to/3dy31F7
@@cynthiakatulka2083 I know how it is. :( Mine still looks very thick, but moisturizing the skin several times a day has improved its appearance. At least it stopped peeling.
"biting the skin around the nails" :) Not cuticle :)) Please try urea cream at night. I have some examples in the description box below the video :) Thank you for your comment ❤
Im a professional nail tech and am wanting to offer dazzle dry as a service but with so many colors am unsure of where to start😅 could you possibly do a video on what you think are good starting colors and essentials?
I guess techs will take some very 'long' time before making these necessary changes. I figured this out by listening to dermatologist Dr. Dray's channel and seeing what cutting the living cuticle and constantly liking my nails was doing for them. I recommend Cicabalm (not the one for hands, but the regular one) by La Roche Posay for both hands and nails. And the best oil is mineral oil! Plain fragance-free Vaseline. Would you consider making a video doing your own manicure? I love the natural look! Thank you for your tips and tricks!
Hi Lucía! I love La Roche Posay Cica Plast. I use it for after waxing on the face or for any scratches/scrapes or burns. Its excellent! Mineral oil is also excellent especially for people with lots of allergies. I do prefer nail oils to be jojoba, avocado, safflower or sunflower oil based. The molecules of these are small enough to be absorbed into the nail plate and even nail coatings (polish/gel polish) to plasticize them. Thank you for your suggestion, I will definitely try this product!
PS. Cuticle is dead though. They are cutting living tissue, not cuticle :) But most people don't know what cuticle is so it all gets very very confusing. Using proper terms is the key so there is no misunderstanding :)
Help! I love your video and the way you educate how to do this properly. My problem is I have a granddaughter who does not have full use of her right hand so she cannot take proper care of her nails. As a result she is a nail biter and the skin around her nails is in bad shape. The main problem is the skin has grown down and attached itself to her nail like you described. It is half way up her nail. How do I safely remove or correct this skin growing down on her nail? You are the only one I have seen that addresses this problem. Thank you.
Hi Sherry! Thank you for your kind words! It’s a process and it usually can be done bit by bit. Don’t try to do it all at once. Progress, not perfection. Also regular creams and oils to keep the skin around the nails intact and healthy.
"We use this for precision and not speed" - that's problem with most nail techs I find, they use the e-files to cut corners and save time, the faster they go, the more manicures they make in a day, the more money they get and they don't care if they damage the nails. I even suspect some of them do it on purpose, because if you have damaged nails but sitll want them to look nice they can sell you acryllic or other extensions, so again more money for them. It's a damn shame.
Great video thank you for the information! I do have a question- so what exactly do you do when the nail fold is grown out and hard to push back- do you slowly push them all the way back to look like the person in the video ? Or do you have to cut that ? I have a friend who has that and everytime I try to push them back I feel like I’m hurting her so I leave it and I’m not sure how to proceed.
I push it back gently. I don’t cut it. When you cut it it will grow back thicker. You can push back a bit every few days bit by bit. Use urea based cream and lots of oil (even Vaseline helps) at night to soften the skin. I don’t force it though. I only push back as much I can. Please check out my recent videos for more examples. I have a very good video on Patreon. A client in progress. I will post it on YT once I have final results :) www.patreon.com/posts/more-about-pnf-59585598?
Hi Jessica! I use electric file (slow speed, fine burr) during a manicure for the client if they have the hard skin. Maintaining that area with urea based cream helps to prevent it. Oil helps too. You can use a regular nail file to get into that grove and file it a bit too, just not too much. I should make a quick video explaining just that part, I know it's confusing.
I'm a manicure master, but I don't work. Because everything in Russia does a very deep manicure, so the skin grows a lot in three days already burrs. I don't want to work so much, I love nails. And I love their natural look, I just do it like you. I remove the dryness a little and remove the cuticle. But I don't have clients. Everyone wants deep and thick nails that look like a pie
Hello there :) I feel for you. I have to say I have quite a few Russian clients here and they all love my gentle manicures. But maybe that's a very small percentage. Still, it's my niche and I market myself that way. Don't give up yet. Maybe change how you market yourself and you will find "your people". It is challenging though. I know. All the best xo Anna
@@TheSalonLife thank you very much! I've been thinking about it, learning how to sell myself, but it's still difficult. maybe it will work! your customers are lucky
I always cut the living skin area, and yes it grow up more even worse. And I wonder if I stop cutting it will it get better ? Or it is too late to take care of it from now ?
No, it’s not too late! I explain it in the video :). The Kerasal ointment I have listed in the description box under the video is amazing when it comes to softening thick skin. I use it on the heels daily and around the nails every night. It’s excellent! It makes a significant difference!
Hi Cassandra! I have my fav cuticle removers listed in the description box :) And also the creams. I forgot to mention this in the video but if the skin around the nails is very dry or callused I recommend to use urea based cream at night. The creams I recommend (and use, they really do work) are in the description as well.
Hi again! Another question for you. If you did cut that part of the nail fold and want to stop because what you said would happen did happen. Now it grew in thicker and dryer. What do I do to get that part healthy again? Will it look ugly before they get healthy again? You are the best tho real talk!!!🥰
Hi Yanina! What you can do now is to protect that skin as much as possible. Protected skin = soft skin. So occlusive creams and moisturizer. Possibly with some niacinamide like the Cerave Lotion plus I would add like Vaseline. I find that cream like Bepanthol with lanolin (available in Spain, not sure where you are located) really softens the skin. Also cream like Kerasal (thick so it’s best to put tiny bit at night just around the nails) The skin will repair itself so just be patient. Resist any picking. Just push back the skin after you take a shower/bath once every couple of days and just baby that area. It will get better soon :)
@@TheSalonLife thank you so much! You just do not understand how much your channel has helped me be a long acrylic all products Guinea pig nail person to a I love my natural nails and don’t want anything damaging them girl!! Now I need to be a no cut your nail fold aka cuticle girl!! Thanks for all your help!! Your a real one!🥰🤗
It would be really helpful to see a video with who you described as a new client. My nail folds are stretched up onto my nail and I they don’t seem to be training the way you described
Hi Rachel! Thank you for your comment! Here is one of the recent videos with a new client. If you’d like, DM me on IG with the pictures of your nails @thesalonlife.ca
@@TheSalonLife thank you so much! My proximal nail folds are stretched up about two or three times as far as the video you suggested. Do you still suggest the same techniques?
I would recommend a wooden ones for people who might not have light hand or who have sharp pushers. Wooden ones are safer. I can't work and do work with both. If I'm doing Shellac I use a wooden stick to push off the soaked off product so I use that stick to push back the Proximal Nail Fold and then I do dry mani with e-file. If I'm not using Shellac then I often use a metal one.
What nail treatment is appropriate if you are going to do gel or polygel manicure? I know those processes need a dry nail plate. Do you treat the PNF after the gel manicure is complete?
Hi Benicia! Thank you for your questions! For gel polish I do dry manicure. Push back PNF and remove cuticle with e-file on a very low speed. You can see this in this video: ua-cam.com/video/YMIvfYPZ_s8/v-deo.html
Thank you for this! So much good information and is exactly what I need. I do have a question…the sides of my nails are uneven and some expose a lot of the side of my nail. Is this something that can correct itself if I maintain gentle manicures like in this video?
I used to bite my nails and some of my free edges are uneven because of that. But it’s not very visible anymore. Picking is the same. It creates a trauma. I would definitely try gentle manicure and the creams I mention (urea based) and not picking. It should improve. Sometimes not 100% but you should see improvement. If you want send me a picture and maybe I can add something after seeing your nails. thesalonlife @ Gmail. Com
@@TheSalonLife The unevenness isn’t extremely visible, but I can tell and would like to improve it. I will definitely try what you suggested. Thank you for responding. I really appreciate your time!
I’ve been using cuticle nippers to trim that area since mine get so long and are very sticky (it doesn’t hurt because I don’t cut it all off, I actually leave some) and I also nip any hang nails I get if I don’t oil as much that week. but after seeing this I’m assuming I should stop doing it. I do oil my nails a lot, as well as the skin around it and I use balms at night time. In terms of folks with sticky cuticles, what can we do to make them less sticky? Thank you for this educational video.
Hi Amanda! Yes, you should stop cutting the skin... I'm not sure what you mean by "sticky cuticles". The skin fold (the Proximal Nail Fold) is stuck to the nail or is the cuticle is stuck to the nail? That's why using correct terms matters :))
@@TheSalonLife both cuticles and the proximal mail fold. It’s always been difficult for me to push the nail fold back and clean the dead cuticle skin off my mail plate, even before I started to cut them.
Hi Amanda, have you tried using an ointment like Kerasal. It has urea and salicylic acid (moisturising and exfoliating). Just a dab on each nail at night? amzn.to/3dy31F7
What do you do with someone who comes in with a huge cuticle overgrowth?? Might you consider doing a video with someone who has very thick cuticles. I am really trying not to cut my cuticles. Thanks for your videos.
Ps. I have few videos on my Patreon www.Patreon.com/thesalonlife. Last one I corrected stretched PNF (this is not overgrown cuticle) in 3-4 manicures. This progress instagram.com/p/CScuemzMFsw/?
Hello, just watching some of your videos now. This one has me a little confused, because I'm trying to learn about dry or "Russian" style manicure. All of the Russian manicure techniques I've seen actually DO cut the PNF (eponychium etc) after lifting it, either with scissors or efile. So are they all doing it wrong? I too have cleaned/removed/filed too much of my own cuticle area (while practicing) and I've already noticed it grows back tougher which I don't like. I'm so confused now... Which is really the true Russian style?? Thank you 😊
Hi Caroline! Not all dry manicures are "Russian Manicures". "Russian Manicure" is not really a set in place, exact technique either. It's just a loose term people are using. There are 2 "skins" on the nails. Cuticle is the dead film of compacted skin cells stuck to the nail. That is safe to remove and it has to be removed before polish application etc. Then there is Proximal Nail Fold which is living skin. Sometimes cuticle is covered (and not very visible) by stuck to the nail and stretched Proximal Nail Fold. That part (PNF) can be gently pushed back. When this is done on a regular bases (weekly at least) that skin recedes nicely and when it's cared for its soft and pliable. When it's cut and abraded it grows thicker (like callouses). Is it wrong? Well, you be the judge. We all have preferences and I prefer slow and safe progress over shocking "before and afters". I prefer the technique I'm using because I have excellent long term results and it's safe, non invasive and relatively quick and easy. It does require client cooperation and home care of course :) My technique requires a lot of client education as well.
I have been cut so many times by an over enthusiastic nail tech with a cutcile nipper that I will never go to another one again ! Ouch! I never cut my cuticle. I think mine look great but of course I maintain them
Cuticle only resides on the nail plate. The lateral fold can be also dry or damaged. Like I showed with efile you can gently exfoliate it a bit but the client has to use proper creams (I have examples of what I use in description box below the video) to address the dryness and calloused skin. Cutting lateral nail fold (which is also living skin) will only make it harder (skin is trying to protect itself from further damage)
Oops, sorry, I replied to the wrong post ;) In regards to the oils I have my favourite listed in the video's description box (affiliate). Castor oil is not ideal. Please use one of the oils I suggest and at night I would recommend the last 2 creams that I list under Creams in the description box. They contain Urea and they will help to soften the calloused skin around the nails. Use them at night. Every single night. Please let me know if you are seeing improvement. :) You can do it :)))
That's the reason I was afraid of going to the nail tech because I heard they were cutting the skin and that scared the s##t out of me. I just want healthy nails and that's why I like this type of videos. It's more for regular people. I don't want nail extensions. I'm old school.
Hi Quinnetta. You can a similar oil to the one in the video here: www.amazon.com/dp/B004MNMBIU/?coliid=I3GVWPPQ74EH3J&colid=37IF5OYEGMHQL&psc=1&ref_=lv_vv_lig_dp_it Personally, I don't find it to be greasy. That really depends on your own personal preference. - MSL
Where have you been all of my life, well maybe not all my life but you know what I mean. About 2 months ago I thought I had the worst nails ever. I had just made them look like hamburger, I was so embarrassed. All the way down to the very bottom layer it was awful 😖 but the 2 months, a lot of clipping, and lots of Vaseline. Boy, do I appreciate you. I have pic's if you want to see them?✌
It’s so hard when people have been getting it done the wrong way for so long that when they come to your their upset cause you’re only nipping the cuticle ughhh
99% people do. Don’t feel bad. Now you now. Once you stop cutting and keep gently pushing back that skin and add good skin care you will have nothing to cut :) It’s an awesome solution :)
![✅ Step-by-Step Gentle Manicure Method [Watch Me Work & Explain]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1YYw4J268io/mqdefault.jpg)
![How to Use a Glass Manicure Stick [for smoothest & gentlest cuticle removal]](/img/n.gif)
Finally someone who knows what their talking about. Thank you for researching this so well and teaching those who watch you. I do my own natural nails and never cut my fingers in anyway. I watch people on UA-cam cutting that part of the finger. Everyone (especially nail techs) needs to get some education on what's the cuticle or what is not. Nail techs should know this. Thank you!
I agree, nail techs should know this. The problem is that many clients have unrealistic expectations too. They come in with these perfect IG pictures and they want that in 1 visit. They don't want to hear that they have to do home maintenance. So nail techs try to make them happy.
I market myself specifically to people who like less invasive, more natural look, I like to post realistic images so my clients know what to expect. I don't really have these issues but I hear other nail techs too. As pros we should educate too, not only "do what you are told".
Everyone should have to watch this! Whenever I ask a nail tech not to cut my "cuticles" (nail fold) they look at me like I'm insane. I've given up getting my nails done because of it. I do them myself at home now :/.
Thank you so much for this! I've been getting my nails done for years and they always cut the nail fold! I always felt like that needed to be done in order to have a proper manicure, but since doing my own nails at home due to being lockdown I have let the nail fold grow and see such a difference in the skin around the nails but boy has it been a rehabilitation process! Your channel is beyond helpful and you have no idea how much you have helped me with my nail health and manicure skills!
Hi Sabrina! You have no idea, you honestly made my day with your comment! Thank you so much! Yes, it takes time for the skin to heal from all the cutting and abuse but it's so worth it!! Manicure takes half the time, no risk of bleeding and possibly infection, no peeling, no inflammation.
I find that if I gently push the skin back once per week and moisturize every day with oil, the living skin does not stick to the nail plate, but remains pushed back.
I think a dedicated nail routine is the key for healthy and beautiful nails.
Exactly! And its so easy and quick!!
Oh my Lord, so many nail techs cut the nail fold. I’ve been doing that too as they call it the cuticle, but I always have problems with it growing back worse. Thank you so much!
This has been immeasurably helpful! As someone who stopped getting their nails done because it always hurt so much when they nipped the “cuticle” and after trying for years to rehab them, this makes SO much sense!!! Thank you so much for the info!!
The nail fold is the thing they cut it’s so wrong and does hurt could get infected etc
YESSSS THANK YOU! I’ve seen so many nail techs get their license suspended for continuing to disregard this basic client health & safety rule. If licensed individuals suffer consequences for lack of integrity, those who are unlicensed and are trimming the eponychium should be held responsible to some degree , because there is no way they can call themselves “trusted nail techs” and 1) not be licensed & 2) not prioritize their clients health and safety. There is simply no excuse.
Such clear information. And it’s making me think that it is not even possible to “cut” the cuticle. “Remove” it, yes, but not cut it. There is so much misleading terminology in the industry! And manufacturers who make “cuticle cutters” are feeding into that too. Keep up your brilliant channel, Anna. We all need this education ❤
Well, that explains why I have had problems with the skin around my nails after cutting what I thought was part of the cuticle. Thank you so much for explaining it in such a way that someone like me, who has no idea what I am doing with my nails and uses youtube as a guide, can understand what to do and why.
Hi there ! I’m a nail tech in training and I had came across your video when looking up videos on how to cut the cuticle because I thought this was the right way for school doesn’t really teach you this, they let us believe in these techniques that are invasive and not teach us the proper way. Us students aren’t allowed to cut the cuticle in school to any customer for it’s a liability and against the state guidelines but my teacher had said that this technique will be expected of us to do in the real world, when working at a salon but I always hated the technique because I myself hate it and don’t like cutting my own, I’ve always done my nails at home and they are healthy and long so I never saw the necessity of cutting them for it just didn’t feel right. I’m so glad to have come across your video for this is a technique I’m okay with and feel good about , I will be applying this to my future clients and educating them the proper way.
I have been cutting the nail fold for years thinking it was the cuticle. My nails peel and break and I believe my care is at least some of the reason. This video really helped me understand what I've been doing wrong and I hope my nail health will benefit.
This is such a helpful video. I use lotion as well because it keeps my nails better moisturized. I’m sharing this with family and friends in hopes that they stop cutting their live nail. I totally agree, it is worse to cut. My cuticles feel and look awful afterwards and it takes me time to get cuticles back to a healthy place.
I have been so confused on what to cut what not to cut. I’m a nail technician in training and this video has helped so so much. Thank you. I’ll be subscribing asap!
I have lots of examples on my IG @thesalonlife.ca
Best nail care video I’ve ever seen - you explain things perfectly here.
But keep doing the nail polish videos because they’re fun 💃🏻
Thank you so much Kim :))) ❤
💯🔥🔥🔥👍🏼
Somehow ended up on your page in the middle of the night and I'm loving this! It's sad too see nail techs ruining peoples nails and not educate themselves. I had a long discussion with a few people last week about cutting the PNF and even after telling them what kind of damage it can cause the answer was "I still prefer it gone". Someone even said that you can't make a perfect application without cutting the skin. UNBELIEVABLE!
Although I do have something to say about efile on the natural nail. You can probably count how many times the drill bit rotates per second in your lowest setting, right? Now count how many seconds you spend removing the cuticle and multiply it with the rotations. The nail plate has three different layers and the topmost layer is the layer we should stay on so our products stick to the nail plate. This layer is only 10% of the thickness of the nail plate and if you use efile, it's gone in a few seconds no matter how gentle you are. If you still want to use your efile I'd suggest getting an onyclean bit. It doesn't have abrasion at all so it is safe to use on the nail plate and it gets the job done. 😊
Onyclean bit?
You have completely transformed my nail health and appearance. Thank you thank you for this education. I’ve always had a problem with skin adhering and growing with my nail so, my whole life, it looked unattractive, irregular, jagged. I was actually a bit self-conscious about it.
Thank you!
I haven't tried it yet but I have feeling this will make things much, much easier while doing a better job. Thanks for the "over sized" demonstration with the towel and the cotton. As you explained, if you cut the proximal nail fold it will begin to peel in a day or two. Bless you for getting it right. Video after video shows you how to cut it (or maybe cut it, maybe not.)
Thank you Kathy! 💕 So many clients tell me that. They are so glad I don't cut their skin!
Anna, You are my soul animal xD
I feel like im not the only "fool" in the world who does not like to cut the skin around the nail plate like it is taught in the schools these days. Sadly clients are so used /expecting of getting their gel-polish done once a month ( what i consider outrageously awful ) that get them to come in twice a month is like asking them task impossible ....
And the thing is it is all done by fellow technicians who have trained them to expect and ask these things, without giving any explanation why it should not be like that at all.
All thanx to mixing up the gel-polish and builder gel ( aka gel overlay technigue ) and creating something what is not pure gel polish manicure anymore at all. Plus the new trend of rubber bases, what you now can use as "builder gel" to model the natural nail... and charging the gel-manicure price so that customers do not have any way of making difference what is what, has really muddled the waters.
World is strange place and we seem to make our own lives harder by creating mess of simple straightforward things. I really,really hope that all this somehow can get sorted out .. tho i suspect itś all futile.
OMG Marika!! We MUST be related or something!!! The "building up with the base" is not base anymore but overlay. It's not a gel polish anymore. It's my biggest pet peeve. OK, I have quite a few lol
When it comes to not cutting I think we have to market ourselves heavily and advertise "gentle" and "non invasive" manicures. I don't know why, maybe it's Canadian thing but many of my clients LOVE the fact that I don't cut the skin. They used to hate it when other salons did it because the skin would peel after and it would be swollen. They seriously don't mind some skin and the fact that it takes 2-3 manicures for everything to look better. Thank god I have many clients on a every 2 weeks schedule. But I feel that the services must be done in 30-50 min because if it takes 2 hours people don't want to come every 2 weeks.
I also advertise to local clients with flexible schedules.
Hi there! I know you commented this a while ago but I’m training as a nail tech and your comment has me curious! If you don’t mind answering a few questions I’d appreciate it! If not no worries :)
What do you mean by mixing the gel polish and the builder gel? And what is an overlay?
I’m learning gels right now and I apply primer, base coat (can’t remember the name), builder gel, then a thin gel, then followed by gel polish. And I create the gel extension using a form this way. Is this the correct way in your opinion? Thanks!
Omg! I'm sending this to the salon that cut my skin until it bled! 4 of my fingers had to be treated after the manicure 😭 It made me afraid of going to the nail salon for a long time! Luckily I found a wonderful salon who took their time and helped me overcome the fear! They're at the other side of the city, but I happily make the trip for her!
Omg I learned so much! I had no idea why my skin kept peeling when I cut the skin on the nail fold. Amazing information thank you so much
Excellent explainer, Anna.
I liked how you used the towel to represent the living skin/proximal nail fold and the cotton swab to represent the cuticle. That helped me to understand clearly. 👍🙂
I have shared this video with so many friends, my cuticles are in much better health thanks to you! :)
I’m in California and it’s impossible to find a nail tech like you. They ALL take the aggressive approach to manicures. They all soak the heck out of your nails and they always cut the proximal fold. Now from watching your videos I understand why a few days after my manicure my skin looked like crap. I also understand now why for most of my life I could never get my nails to grow. I appreciate SO much the information you have given me.
HI Kim. Thank you so much for the kind words, we wish you all the best in your nail journey :) - MSL
Great explanations! I was wondering why I was getting a lot of shredding after a manicure. Would love a video where your expertise isn't questioned while you're sharing your wisdom.
This helped me so much to understand how my nails were because for about 10 years, I was biting my nails, and now they look very bad. I just want to take care of them again
I'm glad I randomly decided to do more research before buying cuticle scissors! This is super helpful, thank you. :)
You're so welcome!
I am so appreciative of the cuticle video. It was very helpful. Thanks. It is 7:51pm Central time
Thank you SO much!!! I’ve just graduated and have been struggling with this. I read my book and it clearly states we are prohibited from cutting live skin, (the skin around the nail plate, the nails folds) the cuticle is dead tissue ON the nail plate and can be removed but we should NEVER cut the skin above the cuticle that’s on the nail plate. Also where the book explains hangnails says cutting the skin will also cause more hangnails. it makes total sense! like with ingrown nails (which we’re also prohibited from cutting) if you cut them they grow right back! lol I’ve been wanting to talk about this with techs but didn’t want to come off as snooty or offend anyone bc majority of them do it :/ I’ve had so many thoughts about working in salon, thinking “what do i do if a client wants me to cut their ingrowns or “cuticles” i know i’ll just say i’m sorry my license doesn’t prohibit me to preform that. but i don’t want to rub my employer the wrong way, i’m new coming in basically telling them they’re doing their job wrong you know?
Thank you. I will do that. I cut way too much of my skin and then I get inflammation around my nails. Thank you for your tips.
thanks so much for sharing. im starting to get into my nail tech journey with practicing on myself and friends and i always wondered why my cuticles were so stubborn, this taught me so much!
I’m not a nail tech just a girl who has bad cuticle growth! Thank you for all the great info!
You are so welcome! Thank you for your comment!
Ended up here because I was looking for ways to properly cut the "cuticle" so i could get that pretty manicure look at home that i see all over reddit and on nail videos and wow have I learned something new! I guess I'll throw out my 'cuticle' nippers XD How have we all been taught so incorrectly by nail techs all these years??
This should have more views 💅🏼
Btw his nails before and after gives me hope
Thank you Briana! His nails are even better now :) Keep the faith! You can do it :))) 💪
I’ve been doing it all wrong all this time. I always hated using the nippers. Thank you for sharing.
So pleased I have seen this. Was beginning to think I have been doing it wrong for 30 years…. Thank you!
Hi Kathryn! There are many ways of doing a manicure, some can be quite invasive (I had viewers send me pictures of seriously damaged nail plates after invasive manicures) so this is my way of manicuring that is super effective, very easy and the least invasive.
Doug Schoon spent a lot of time researching to find out exactly the role of the cuticle and proximal nail fold are which now makes a lot of sense and it helps us to know which part to remove and which part to protect :)
I'm so glad you liked the video.
Thank you for your comment 💕
I always struggle with this. I occasionally nip myself and I have made other people bleed on occasion (friends and family I do nails for occasional. I try to not use too much pressure and be careful cutting but I still sometimes cut skin. Everything I had seen showed cutting them and the company I get my gel products from really encourages it.
Hi SM! Please see this video
Cuticle Peeling After a Manicure?
ua-cam.com/video/ByMeiAsuc0c/v-deo.html
I don’t know any nail salons personally that do it this way and I wish they did. This is why I prefer to do my own manicure. Great video! Hope other nail techs watch this!
Absolutely love how well and clear you explain it all! I'm so glad I've found your videos!❤️💯
You are an expert!! Thank you so much for the information. Loved this demo!
Thank you so much Karen!! 💕
Thank you so much for the advice. My nails always start to look horrific just a day after I do them or get them done with all sorts of random peeling skin even in areas that weren't touched. I will try your method after this and also try the nail oil after hand washing and try to rejuvenate my zombie hands!
Okay in school in 2017 and in the Milady books it DEFINITELY SHOWS AND TELLS students where the cuticle is AND WHY it is not to be cut. It protects the nail from infection. Like a condom. I’m so upset because it’s very well explained. Techs remove it for the look. Doc Schoon also contributed to the Milady books for cosmetology students and nail techs. It’s like you said if you cut the skin it will bleed ❤
Your channel is smart
Wow very well explained and now I understand my nails better so I can improve on prepping my nails
Im so thankful for your information, keep up the great work guys. Great video.
Hi Catherine! You are very welcome! Thank you so much! What other topics should we cover? Thank you for your comment!
Thanks for this very informative and practical video!! I used to cut my "cuticles" , resulting in forever cracking and dry skin around my nailbeds!!! I stopped cutting them... because i wasnt sure how to look after them.. so i often have overgrown and skin over my nails... not very sightly, but at least not inflammed or painful any more. now i know how to have presentable hands without doing them harm! Thank you!!!!❤❤
Hi Lei! Thank you for your comment. Just keep pushing the skin back gently every few days and use creams/oils I mention in my description box. Do that ideally each time you wash your hands. Wash your hands with gentle cleanser too, preferably soap free cleaning gel.
PS. It's the skin around your *nail plate*, not nail bed (nail bed is where the nail plate resides/sits on)
Here are my favs:
Cuticle Pushers:
Birchwood sticks amzn.to/2UDwGFw
My favourite Skin and Nail oils:
Famous Names Dadi Oil (great, fresh smell, quality stuff) amzn.to/3clIeCo
Cuccio Pomegranate & Fig oil (great smell, great ingredients!) amzn.to/37BOncj
California Mango Oil (smells yummy) amzn.to/2ZEdI0R
Avocado oil (great dropper) amzn.to/3pO9YVj
Orly (great dropper) amzn.to/3dvdv8p
My fav creams/lotions:
Cerave Lotion (very light, amazing also for the face!!) amzn.to/3aCkmuS
Eucerin Complete Hand Repair 5% Urea (quite light, day cream) amzn.to/3bBNQIo
Eucerin Complete Care 10% Urea (for dry heels & hand night cream) amzn.to/2NGwYYN amzn.to/2NMCFEI
Kerasal (urea based ointment for very dry feet and for skin around nails at night) amzn.to/3dy31F7 (AMAZING!!!!!)
Fav Face wash I also use as Hand Wash (super gentle)
Cerave Foaming Face Wash (I use it also for the hands) amzn.to/37A8Lum
Please share the source for the small bottles for the cuticle remover and the oil.
Thank you for this insight! I have struggled with this all my life!
I was wondering about that. I see people cutting the proximal nail fold all the time and calling it the cuticle and it didn’t make sense to me to cut it off. It is living tissue after all. Thanks for clearing this all up for us.
You are very welcome! Thank you for your comment 🙌
Thank you for the video!You explained very clearly!You're a great teacher !🌹
Great tips! Thanks very much for explaining very clearly and thoroughly.
Thank you so much! I’m glad I was able to explain it well :))
What I'd like to know is what do you do when clients come in with an overgrown proximal nail fold? I've had many come where it's half way up the nail and couldn't offer a gel service properly without cutting it which I hate doing.
I haven't had any clients with PNF taking up half of their nail... maybe you are referring to nail biters?
Usually the PNF is stuck to the nail and get stretched a bit . So I tell the client that the most successful way of correcting this is 2-3 regular manicures AND HOME CARE :)). I push back the PNF gently, tell them to use oil several times a day and urea based cream every night and that helps. The second manicure improvement is usually 50%. The third manicure the PNF is back to normal.
When you start cutting there is no end to it and the client usually develops inflammation (clients tell me that) and scaring and because of that they develop callous.
Some people cut their own skin and have a lot of callus. That takes longer to correct. It just takes time. Client is willing to listen to your advice or not. I choose not to work with clients who prefer very invasive techniques.
PS. I have the links to the creams and oils listed in the video's description box :)
@@TheSalonLife Thankyou for such thorough information 😊 I've seen it with nail bitters but also with none nail bitters. I always advice regular manicures and home care. They always say they can't afford regular manicures or don't bother with homecare even though they claim to do 😣
I hate to sound rude but that’s like when someone wants to be fit but doesn’t want to exercise and eat well. Can’t be done 😜
Ps. The client can also push that proximal nail fold lightly once a week between manicures and use urea based cream every night. That is not too much to ask for no? :)
Anna I am cram watching so many of your nail care video and I am learning so much, thank you again. In this video you refer to what I thought was hangnails as little catches and yeah I pulled at them cause I thought they grew up sidewall from proximal nail fold. I would love a video on what is hangail or catches from corners of proximal nail fold up sidewalls. So from what I can gather only ever push back proximal nail fold and use nipper for anything that pops out from corner up sidewalls 🙏🏻🙂 ordered pomegranate and fig cuccio oil 👍🏻
Hi Caroline! Thank you so much for your question and for watching our videos :))
Please see this quick video and see if that helps:
Hangnails. Emergency Fix.
ua-cam.com/video/yzp1GuVixco/v-deo.html
Anna :)
@@TheSalonLife yes watched that one thank you, love all your videos. It was just I clearly don't know exactly what a hangnail is as I said I thought it grow right up the side of the sidewall 🥴 you are a star for doing this 🙏🏻
I've been cutting my proximal nail fold/living nail for DECADES. The cycle is real and true. Thank you so much for the education. I wonder how long it will take before my living nail is soft again.....
I’ve been having the best results with the Kerasal ointment at night. it really softens the skin. I show it in this video. And also I would use Blue Cross weekly.
Please take before pictures! I would love to see the transformation!!
@@TheSalonLife I've also been slathering cuticle oil and hand creams on my hands. I was absolutely shocked to see how little you use every day. Using a much lighter cuticle oil (I've been using Essie cuticle oil) and hand cream makes sense after every hand wash. Do you suggest still using Kerasal on the proximal nailfold when you have any kind of polish on? Will it break down the polish and make it chip easier?
@@TheSalonLife have you tried Flexitol heel balm? It has 25% urea. Can I use that instead of Kerasal?
I haven't tried Flexitol. I don't think it's all about % of urea. I find Kerasal works better than the Urisec (22% urea) I used previously. Kerasal is 10% urea and 5% BHA. Maybe it's the addition of BHA? No idea but it works very well. When applied in small amount I find Kerasal less sticky after absorbed.
Thanks for a really informative video. I've never understood what a cuticle was!
You are very professional, thank you for sharing
You are very welcome! Thank you for your kind words
I wish I could show you a picture of my nails. I have overgrown cuticles that are so stuck to the nail that I can't even scrape with a cuticle pusher anymore. I may have to file them just to remove them for a start fresh. I think the cuticles pull my finger skin forward and cause tearing, too.
I always wondered how to prevent this from happening, and now you've shown me!
Please send me a picture of your nails to thesalonlife @ Gmail.com
Ps. Cuticle cannot pull your skin. Cuticle is a compacted skin sells that are between Proximal Nail Fold and nail plate. It’s the proximal nail fold (living skin) that gets stretched when it’s stuck to the nail
How do you care about your nails?
I would love to get your advice on people whose eponychium is overgrown and extends far onto the nail plate. Should you just gently push them back? Is it possible to cut at all? And lastly, is there any way to stop them from growing back thick again?
Hi Holly! Please check out this article about eponychiumschoonscientific.com/2019/whats-new-nail-anatomy-latest-facts/
So you are talking about proximal nail fold. I thought I explained it in the video but maybe I missed it.
When someone comes in with overgrown PNF I do exactly the same thing as in this video. Push it back gently. Weekly like I showed in the video.
We need to understand why the area is overgrown. Sometimes it's because people cut it (and the trauma of cutting or abrading it causes to grow thicker) so stop cutting it is a solution. It takes a while for the skin to start growing normally. It's a process.
Client has to follow home care (I have creams listed in the description box of this video, use urea based cream at night and a light lotion and a bit of oil after every hand wash).
If the PNF is stretched because it's never pushed back and the area is dry and stuck to the nail the results are quicker.
Just doing this simple routine once a week and in 1-2 weeks the area will look much better.
I stopped cutting the proximal nail fold since I found your channel, a month ago. I've been moisturizing several times a day and everything, but it is really hard to train the living skin to stay back. I will try and resist the urge to cut it for a few more months. I really hope at some point it won't look so thick. Thank you for sharing all these tips.
Mine is so overgrown and thick. Pushing it back seems futile :(. I’ve bitten the skin around my nails all my life because it frays when I cut it but when I don’t it looks awful
I used to bite my nails too and cut my proximal nail fold. Trust me, there is hope. Use the Kerasal ointment, it's amazing!!
Kerasal (urea based ointment for very dry feet and for skin around nails at night) amzn.to/3dy31F7
@@cynthiakatulka2083 I know how it is. :( Mine still looks very thick, but moisturizing the skin several times a day has improved its appearance. At least it stopped peeling.
I just purchased Kerasal. Thanks for the advice and encouragement. I’m going to try not to cut it and use all the products suggested
Such good advice. Thank you. I’m trying to get my cuticles healthy. I will follow these. I have a terrible habit of biting my cuticles.
"biting the skin around the nails" :) Not cuticle :)) Please try urea cream at night. I have some examples in the description box below the video :) Thank you for your comment ❤
@@TheSalonLife yes that’s right I have to get used to that name distinction. Thank you I will keep on top of my cuticles.
I'm a huge fan of your tips and tricks, thanks for giving this old gal some inspiration!!!
You are so welcome Laura!
Im a professional nail tech and am wanting to offer dazzle dry as a service but with so many colors am unsure of where to start😅 could you possibly do a video on what you think are good starting colors and essentials?
Yes, definitely!!! I was thinking about it! How many colors should we do must have 10.... 20?
@@TheSalonLife I’m thinking around 15-20 for a good starting variety!! Thank you so much your videos are a ton of help!!!
I guess techs will take some very 'long' time before making these necessary changes. I figured this out by listening to dermatologist Dr. Dray's channel and seeing what cutting the living cuticle and constantly liking my nails was doing for them. I recommend Cicabalm (not the one for hands, but the regular one) by La Roche Posay for both hands and nails. And the best oil is mineral oil! Plain fragance-free Vaseline.
Would you consider making a video doing your own manicure? I love the natural look! Thank you for your tips and tricks!
Hi Lucía! I love La Roche Posay Cica Plast. I use it for after waxing on the face or for any scratches/scrapes or burns. Its excellent! Mineral oil is also excellent especially for people with lots of allergies. I do prefer nail oils to be jojoba, avocado, safflower or sunflower oil based. The molecules of these are small enough to be absorbed into the nail plate and even nail coatings (polish/gel polish) to plasticize them.
Thank you for your suggestion, I will definitely try this product!
PS. Cuticle is dead though. They are cutting living tissue, not cuticle :) But most people don't know what cuticle is so it all gets very very confusing. Using proper terms is the key so there is no misunderstanding :)
Help! I love your video and the way you educate how to do this properly. My problem is I have a granddaughter who does not have full use of her right hand so she cannot take proper care of her nails. As a result she is a nail biter and the skin around her nails is in bad shape. The main problem is the skin has grown down and attached itself to her nail like you described. It is half way up her nail. How do I safely remove or correct this skin growing down on her nail? You are the only one I have seen that addresses this problem. Thank you.
Hi Sherry! Thank you for your kind words!
It’s a process and it usually can be done bit by bit. Don’t try to do it all at once. Progress, not perfection. Also regular creams and oils to keep the skin around the nails intact and healthy.
Here is an interesting read:
nailknowledge.org/nail-knowledge-base/can-i-cut-the-keratinised-proximal-nail-fold
That cuccio oil is so nice, I have the milk and honey one and it is so fantastic
I also love the pomegranate one. Smells sooooo good!!
This is amazing information. Thank you!
You are so welcome! Thank you for your comment!
"We use this for precision and not speed" - that's problem with most nail techs I find, they use the e-files to cut corners and save time, the faster they go, the more manicures they make in a day, the more money they get and they don't care if they damage the nails. I even suspect some of them do it on purpose, because if you have damaged nails but sitll want them to look nice they can sell you acryllic or other extensions, so again more money for them. It's a damn shame.
Great video thank you for the information! I do have a question- so what exactly do you do when the nail fold is grown out and hard to push back- do you slowly push them all the way back to look like the person in the video ? Or do you have to cut that ? I have a friend who has that and everytime I try to push them back I feel like I’m hurting her so I leave it and I’m not sure how to proceed.
I push it back gently. I don’t cut it. When you cut it it will grow back thicker. You can push back a bit every few days bit by bit. Use urea based cream and lots of oil (even Vaseline helps) at night to soften the skin.
I don’t force it though. I only push back as much I can.
Please check out my recent videos for more examples. I have a very good video on Patreon. A client in progress. I will post it on YT once I have final results :)
www.patreon.com/posts/more-about-pnf-59585598?
Excellent video. So well explained. Thank you.
Thank you Theresa for your kind comment ❤️🙏
Thank you for this video! And what about the hard skin at the sides of the nail? 😐 I usually cut it... I'm afraid I shouldn't...!
Hi Jessica! I use electric file (slow speed, fine burr) during a manicure for the client if they have the hard skin. Maintaining that area with urea based cream helps to prevent it. Oil helps too. You can use a regular nail file to get into that grove and file it a bit too, just not too much. I should make a quick video explaining just that part, I know it's confusing.
I'm a manicure master, but I don't work. Because everything in Russia does a very deep manicure, so the skin grows a lot in three days already burrs. I don't want to work so much, I love nails. And I love their natural look, I just do it like you. I remove the dryness a little and remove the cuticle. But I don't have clients. Everyone wants deep and thick nails that look like a pie
Hello there :) I feel for you. I have to say I have quite a few Russian clients here and they all love my gentle manicures. But maybe that's a very small percentage. Still, it's my niche and I market myself that way.
Don't give up yet. Maybe change how you market yourself and you will find "your people".
It is challenging though. I know.
All the best xo Anna
@@TheSalonLife thank you very much! I've been thinking about it, learning how to sell myself, but it's still difficult. maybe it will work! your customers are lucky
I always cut the living skin area, and yes it grow up more even worse. And I wonder if I stop cutting it will it get better ? Or it is too late to take care of it from now ?
No, it’s not too late! I explain it in the video :). The Kerasal ointment I have listed in the description box under the video is amazing when it comes to softening thick skin. I use it on the heels daily and around the nails every night. It’s excellent! It makes a significant difference!
"It's bad out there". Yes it is sis. When I first started nails I knew the "cuticle cutting" was going into areas I refused to go.
OMG… I learned SO MUCH. Thank you.
Thank you Benicia ❤️
Hi! What cuticle remover product did you use ☺️
Hi Cassandra! I have my fav cuticle removers listed in the description box :)
And also the creams. I forgot to mention this in the video but if the skin around the nails is very dry or callused I recommend to use urea based cream at night. The creams I recommend (and use, they really do work) are in the description as well.
Hi again! Another question for you. If you did cut that part of the nail fold and want to stop because what you said would happen did happen. Now it grew in thicker and dryer. What do I do to get that part healthy again? Will it look ugly before they get healthy again? You are the best tho real talk!!!🥰
Hi Yanina! What you can do now is to protect that skin as much as possible. Protected skin = soft skin. So occlusive creams and moisturizer. Possibly with some niacinamide like the Cerave Lotion plus I would add like Vaseline. I find that cream like Bepanthol with lanolin (available in Spain, not sure where you are located) really softens the skin.
Also cream like Kerasal (thick so it’s best to put tiny bit at night just around the nails)
The skin will repair itself so just be patient. Resist any picking. Just push back the skin after you take a shower/bath once every couple of days and just baby that area. It will get better soon :)
@@TheSalonLife thank you so much! You just do not understand how much your channel has helped me be a long acrylic all products Guinea pig nail person to a I love my natural nails and don’t want anything damaging them girl!! Now I need to be a no cut your nail fold aka cuticle girl!! Thanks for all your help!! Your a real one!🥰🤗
It would be really helpful to see a video with who you described as a new client. My nail folds are stretched up onto my nail and I they don’t seem to be training the way you described
Hi Rachel! Thank you for your comment! Here is one of the recent videos with a new client.
If you’d like, DM me on IG with the pictures of your nails @thesalonlife.ca
OVERGROWN CUTICLE or STRETCHED PROXIMAL NAIL FOLD? 2 WEEK PROGRESS [WATCH ME WORK]
ua-cam.com/video/MAzWDGnUkI4/v-deo.html
@@TheSalonLife thank you so much! My proximal nail folds are stretched up about two or three times as far as the video you suggested. Do you still suggest the same techniques?
So sorry I missed your comment. Yes, same approach. It will just take longer. How are you doing? Any progress?
Great video. So helpful and well explained 🙏
Thank you so much Lauren 💕
What cuticle remover do you recommend for excess cuticle on my feet Anna??
PS. Love your videos!!!
Thank you :)) My favourite cuticle remover is Blue Cross (the liquid one).
Love thee videos. When do u use wooden cuticle stick vs metal one? Is there one u prefer?
I would recommend a wooden ones for people who might not have light hand or who have sharp pushers. Wooden ones are safer. I can't work and do work with both. If I'm doing Shellac I use a wooden stick to push off the soaked off product so I use that stick to push back the Proximal Nail Fold and then I do dry mani with e-file. If I'm not using Shellac then I often use a metal one.
well that was a LESSON ❤️
Thank you so much!!❤
What nail treatment is appropriate if you are going to do gel or polygel manicure? I know those processes need a dry nail plate. Do you treat the PNF after the gel manicure is complete?
Hi Benicia!
Thank you for your questions!
For gel polish I do dry manicure. Push back PNF and remove cuticle with e-file on a very low speed. You can see this in this video:
ua-cam.com/video/YMIvfYPZ_s8/v-deo.html
What electric nail file would you recommend now that the one you use in this video is unavailable? Thanks for a very informative video.
Hi Barbara, none as of yet. We are currently testing one out but we haven't come to a final conclusion.
Thanks - MSL
@@TheSalonLife I'll look forward to any recommendations. Thanks again.
Hello Barbara, do you need e-file for salon work? What kind of work do you do? Natural nails or acrylics? Tell us more :)
@@TheSalonLife Not for any salon work, just for my personal use.
Thank you for this! So much good information and is exactly what I need. I do have a question…the sides of my nails are uneven and some expose a lot of the side of my nail. Is this something that can correct itself if I maintain gentle manicures like in this video?
Hi Heather. Did you use to bite your nails?
@@TheSalonLife No. One is really deep because of an infection that happened a while back and the others are just from picking at them.
I used to bite my nails and some of my free edges are uneven because of that. But it’s not very visible anymore. Picking is the same. It creates a trauma. I would definitely try gentle manicure and the creams I mention (urea based) and not picking. It should improve. Sometimes not 100% but you should see improvement.
If you want send me a picture and maybe I can add something after seeing your nails. thesalonlife @ Gmail. Com
@@TheSalonLife The unevenness isn’t extremely visible, but I can tell and would like to improve it. I will definitely try what you suggested. Thank you for responding. I really appreciate your time!
This was such a helpfull video! Thanks so much! ❤
You're so welcome!
I’ve been using cuticle nippers to trim that area since mine get so long and are very sticky (it doesn’t hurt because I don’t cut it all off, I actually leave some) and I also nip any hang nails I get if I don’t oil as much that week. but after seeing this I’m assuming I should stop doing it. I do oil my nails a lot, as well as the skin around it and I use balms at night time. In terms of folks with sticky cuticles, what can we do to make them less sticky? Thank you for this educational video.
Hi Amanda! Yes, you should stop cutting the skin... I'm not sure what you mean by "sticky cuticles". The skin fold (the Proximal Nail Fold) is stuck to the nail or is the cuticle is stuck to the nail?
That's why using correct terms matters :))
@@TheSalonLife both cuticles and the proximal mail fold. It’s always been difficult for me to push the nail fold back and clean the dead cuticle skin off my mail plate, even before I started to cut them.
Hi Amanda, have you tried using an ointment like Kerasal. It has urea and salicylic acid (moisturising and exfoliating). Just a dab on each nail at night? amzn.to/3dy31F7
What do you do with someone who comes in with a huge cuticle overgrowth?? Might you consider doing a video with someone who has very thick cuticles. I am really trying not to cut my cuticles. Thanks for your videos.
We are going live in 15 min for Q&A. Join us!!
ua-cam.com/video/andDeGYweWg/v-deo.html
Ps. I have few videos on my Patreon www.Patreon.com/thesalonlife. Last one I corrected stretched PNF (this is not overgrown cuticle) in 3-4 manicures. This progress
instagram.com/p/CScuemzMFsw/?
Which lotion with urea cream do you recommend?
Was this a cuticle video only? I ask because I noticed you didn’t trim his nails or clean under them.
Wow! Excellent information!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you for your comment :))
Hello, just watching some of your videos now. This one has me a little confused, because I'm trying to learn about dry or "Russian" style manicure. All of the Russian manicure techniques I've seen actually DO cut the PNF (eponychium etc) after lifting it, either with scissors or efile. So are they all doing it wrong? I too have cleaned/removed/filed too much of my own cuticle area (while practicing) and I've already noticed it grows back tougher which I don't like. I'm so confused now... Which is really the true Russian style?? Thank you 😊
Hi Caroline! Not all dry manicures are "Russian Manicures". "Russian Manicure" is not really a set in place, exact technique either. It's just a loose term people are using.
There are 2 "skins" on the nails.
Cuticle is the dead film of compacted skin cells stuck to the nail. That is safe to remove and it has to be removed before polish application etc.
Then there is Proximal Nail Fold which is living skin. Sometimes cuticle is covered (and not very visible) by stuck to the nail and stretched Proximal Nail Fold. That part (PNF) can be gently pushed back. When this is done on a regular bases (weekly at least) that skin recedes nicely and when it's cared for its soft and pliable.
When it's cut and abraded it grows thicker (like callouses).
Is it wrong? Well, you be the judge. We all have preferences and I prefer slow and safe progress over shocking "before and afters".
I prefer the technique I'm using because I have excellent long term results and it's safe, non invasive and relatively quick and easy. It does require client cooperation and home care of course :)
My technique requires a lot of client education as well.
I have been cut so many times by an over enthusiastic nail tech with a cutcile nipper that I will never go to another one again ! Ouch! I never cut my cuticle. I think mine look great but of course I maintain them
What about when you have a lot of that stuck on cuticle on the lateral nail fold?
Cuticle only resides on the nail plate. The lateral fold can be also dry or damaged. Like I showed with efile you can gently exfoliate it a bit but the client has to use proper creams (I have examples of what I use in description box below the video) to address the dryness and calloused skin. Cutting lateral nail fold (which is also living skin) will only make it harder (skin is trying to protect itself from further damage)
I really have been doing it wrong! I go absolutely ham and give myself one of those Russian manicures with an E-file
I use different oils and I don’t have any issues. :)
@@TheSalonLife what’s the best oil for cuticles would you say? I just use generic thick castor oil but maybe there’s a better one???
Oops, sorry, I replied to the wrong post ;) In regards to the oils I have my favourite listed in the video's description box (affiliate). Castor oil is not ideal.
Please use one of the oils I suggest and at night I would recommend the last 2 creams that I list under Creams in the description box. They contain Urea and they will help to soften the calloused skin around the nails. Use them at night. Every single night. Please let me know if you are seeing improvement. :) You can do it :)))
That's the reason I was afraid of going to the nail tech because I heard they were cutting the skin and that scared the s##t out of me. I just want healthy nails and that's why I like this type of videos. It's more for regular people. I don't want nail extensions. I'm old school.
Can I do if my proximal nail fold is “hard?” what can I do to make a soft and keep it that way?
Skin care and stop cutting:). Cutting causes callus.
Ps. I explain it in detail here:
How to start taking care of your nails
ua-cam.com/play/PLnP7qaKYlbX5R549SguUizXDGmslD0C4d.html
Love your content
Hello what is the name of the nail oil on that little bottle you used and where can I purchase it? Is it really greasy?
Hi Quinnetta. You can a similar oil to the one in the video here: www.amazon.com/dp/B004MNMBIU/?coliid=I3GVWPPQ74EH3J&colid=37IF5OYEGMHQL&psc=1&ref_=lv_vv_lig_dp_it
Personally, I don't find it to be greasy. That really depends on your own personal preference. - MSL
@@TheSalonLife thank you
Where have you been all of my life, well maybe not all my life but you know what I mean. About 2 months ago I thought I had the worst nails ever. I had just made them look like hamburger, I was so embarrassed. All the way down to the very bottom layer it was awful 😖 but the 2 months, a lot of clipping, and lots of Vaseline. Boy, do I appreciate you. I have pic's if you want to see them?✌
What cuticle removers do you suggest?
Blue Cross :) amzn.to/3I9oCjh
It’s so hard when people have been getting it done the wrong way for so long that when they come to your their upset cause you’re only nipping the cuticle ughhh
Ah jeez, I was cutting the proximal fold🙁.
99% people do. Don’t feel bad. Now you now. Once you stop cutting and keep gently pushing back that skin and add good skin care you will have nothing to cut :) It’s an awesome solution :)