Friday, April 9, 2010

Confessions of a Cuticle Cutter

Okay, I'm writing something a little different today but I promise to be back at 'cha tomorrow with some new nail art because I'm thinking of doing something fancy for the wedding of my friends Michelle and Amy and I know it'll be ruined if I do it the night before.

Anyway - I'm coming out of the closet everyone. I'm a cuticle cutter. That's right. I openly confess it. 

For the last two months that I've been actively blogging I've tried NOT to cut my cuticles. I've been reading up on cuticle care and everything I read tells me not to cut them, so I've been doing the good girl thing and pushing and cuticle oiling and pushing...and pushing...

I even told Tammy at the nail salon not to trim them. She looked at me like I was crazy. 

This is what I've read on EHow.com
 
Step1: Moisturize your cuticles by applying a hand creme, lotion or oil and rubbing it into the cuticle. The delicate skin on your hands needs moisturizing daily. Keep a hand moisturizer with you to use several times daily.
Check! I use Lemony Flutter from Lush Cosmetics for my moisturizing needs! It smells great but seriously I almost passed out on the floor from all the dizzying smells in the store. I thought I was getting gassed at one point.

Step 2: Purchase a good cuticle remover (to soften, but not actually remove the cuticles). Apply the cuticle remover and allow the cuticles to soften. Using a cuticle stick (also called an orange stick), gently push back the cuticles, being careful not to damage them.

Check! I use Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover. Is it good? Sure? But...am I the only one that thought that "cuticle remover" meant it was literally gonna dissolve off my cuticles leaving me with some awesomely cuticle-less hands? Seriously...what did it do? Exactly how overgrown do your cuticles have to be before you're like: "HEY! It's working!!!"?


Step 3: Remove dead or flaking cuticle skin by moving the orange stick in tiny circles around the base of the nail. Remove the whitish residue from the nail as well. Repeat this process on each nail several times

Check! I do this like...every night when I'm sitting in front of the TV. But I use this nice plastic one that Sapporo won't chew on. It also has this CRAZY scraper thing on the end that Ben likes to use but it RIPS your cuticles so I refuse.

Step 4: Use a sharp cuticle clipper to trim any remaining hangnails. Make sure that this tool cuts cleanly.

Check! Now...what constitutes a hangnail exactly? Can I count my overgrown cuticles as hangnails now? This is too much grey area. I'm gonna say...yes.

Step 5: Wipe the nail clean with a cotton ball and moisturize again.
Bah! By now I've considered this too many steps...

Tips & Warnings: Don't cut or trim your cuticles. They act as barriers to keep bacteria out of your body, so try to keep this skin intact.

UGH! I triiiiied! But I just can’t stand it!!! Leaving my cuticles the way they were was like having eyelids on my nails.  Let’s look at the difference, it’s totally noticeable to me (click pics to enlarge...if you DARE):
 Before (ewww)
After (yay! snip snip)

So I mean, with results as quickly satisfying as that how can I complain? I mean, I'll never have cuticles as some of you do out there I think I've faced that...but is snipping so wrong to come close? 

Granted...maybe I'm not the only one. Or at least I'd like to think that I'm not! So to this I say - Cuticle Cutter's unite! I'm thinking of printing T-shirts...

In any event, I leave you with the cuticle guru's I look up to. Every time I see their mani's a little part of me whines that I don't have those cuticles for myself! 

 
Forever Jealous,
Niki*


17 comments:

Nicole said...

Y'know, I'm with you on the cuticle envy. I'll never, ever have great cuticles and I used to cut them too. I've been trying now for a year, since I started my blog, to do it the right way. They drive me CRAZY. I just look in awe at these ladies with perfect cuticles.
I'm planning a cuticle care article, but I don't know how helpful it will be!

Chantal said...

I think your cuticles look fine without clipping - the clipped ones look a bit red and angry in comparison. Don't trust the macro setting, it tends to exaggerate the situation. :o)

jo.frougal said...

I feel your pain! Is there a 12 Steps? Hi, I'm jo, and I'm a cuticle-cutterholic.
lol.
But your cuticles look way better than mine.

L said...

I know how you feel. LOL@ nail eyelids. I used to use this tool that was so horrible to get rid of them. Looks like a stitch ripper. Keeping them moisturized helps a whole lot/

Anonymous said...

Hello, my name is Michelle, and I'm a recovering cuticle cutter. It has been a month since I cut a cuticle that was not a "hangnail". Ha ha, anyway, I've found that the more you leave them alone, the less they grow. I once heard that if you oil and moisturize your cuticles eventually you won't have any excess skin to cut. I thought they were nuts but, I'm leaving mine alone, using jojoba oil on them (and my nails), and cream (Jason Cocoa butter hand cream) before bed, and now I barely have anything to cut! BTW I'm a Canadian girl myself, I'm from Saskatchewan.
PS: I love how you called them "eyelids", I never knew what to call them before! Eyelids are the perfect name for them!

Inge (PolishSis) said...

You have perfect cuticles, I'm really envyous of them. I have possibly the worst cuticles in the world as I bite on them, ripping them off, leaving them looking like they have been butchered. It's a stress thing, been doing it since I was a little girl and can't stop no matter how hard I try.

Robyn said...

D: Ews, I could never think of cutting my cuticles! How do you do it smoothly?

paintedladyfingers said...

Try CND Cuticle Eraser. It has alpha-hydroxy acid and will remove dead skin. Cuticle cutting is a cycle since cutting stimulates growth of the skin. I only cut the skin that waves at me. Tentacle-like hangnails get lopped off. The rest stay.

Deez Nailz - Canadas most fabulous hand model said...

.
.
I find it strange myself that I have such nice cuticles. I wash my hands no less than 30 times a day plush dishes other around the house things, I am always digging through some box, or working on a crafty project etc....

A long long time ago I used to have a bit of a cuticle problem with dryness and a painful hang nail ever once and a while. But I am happy to say that things are pretty good lately, even with all the pain'n and acetone clean-up I do.

I think applying a lotion to your nails and nail bed and really packing it into the crevices along the sides of your nails and cuticle area helps alot. I cant do this 30 times a day, but I to when I can as well as at night time.

I am also 100% on drying my hands and nail area after I wash them or do dishes, that seems to help.

Applying that Avon Moisture Therapy lotion with a tiny brush around my nail-bed before painting my nails to prevent a messy applications is helping alot too!

When I do an acetone clan up, by using an angled eyeliner brush to remove polish mistakes, it comes of way, waaaaaaaaaaaay easier than if I had no barrier cream along my cuticles at all. It has made a big difference.


I will definitely write a bit more about this and make a blog post on it. I didn't think your cuticle look bad in your previous posts.

Love to read your blog and am happy to see another Canadian nail blogger

♥ Have a great weekend!

Michèle said...

Aww I'm up there haha! *honored* Let me tell you this, in all honesty, I think your nonclipped cuticles look great! Seriously, I don't see the ewwness you mentioned :-D. I think your clipped ones look good too though, but maybe it;s the lighting, but they look a bit red from irritation?

I must confess, I used to cut mine too.. And they looked really red and uneven. I think using a good cuticle remover is really important when you're not clipping. The one I'm using really removes dead skin, I literally can see the white gunk coming of (sorry if that sounds gross haha). I'm using the one by Nfu Oh, have heard very good stuff about OPI's Avoplex Cuticle remover and CNDs cuticle eraser as well.

But I think you are doing a good job at clipping them I must say, I think different things work for different people!

iibarrrawa said...

I know what u mean I have became addicted to cuticle nipping and I was not before.now I have to push and cut mine. It's addicting.I've head it's bad and dangerous but I've also heard that it help your nail grow faster and more evenly. So what I've decided to do is fulfill my addiction and hope for the best.I tollaly would wear that t shirt proudly.

Unknown said...

Just thought I would drop by and say Hi, I am a new "beauty" blogger and have recently found yours :)

Michelle

Emma said...

very entertaining post, i'm there with you! while i've never cut them, i'm forever pushing them back...

Trincess said...

Just realized that I'm up here! OMG =) The most important thing I've discovered while handling the cuticles was to leave them alone. Whenever I start to get furious at them and pick at them, they start to dry, get uneven, and dry bits stick out which frustrate me to no end. The best thing I noticed is washing the cuticles with water, and when they're still damp, using lemony flutter to keep the moisture in. I know it sounds funny =)
By the way, my cuticles look exactly like your uncut ones when I look closely at them. I think you are being too hard on yourself! My mother is also a cuticle cutter and I've slowly taught her how to achieve as nice cuticles without cutting them, and now she's getting used to it =)
Thank you again for mentioning my name, but one thing you should know is that I also cry at the beauty of other people's cuticles =D They never always behave right, so I decided to leave them alone and only touch them if something's really sticking out =) Sorry this was ridiculously long!

Delainie said...

I am also a cuticle cutter.. I try to be good.. I even use some of the same products as you, but in the end, the only solution that makes me happy is cutting them.

Glad to hear I am not alone!!

Niki* said...

Nicole - let me know when you have your article up! I'm all for suggestions :) Its hard to stay away from cutting...sigh...

Chantal - Aww thanks Chantal - I think its just the lighting...they look quite un-angry in person LOL


jo.frougal - maybe we should start a group therapy! lol Called something like "Cuticle Watchers" or "Cuticle Cutters Anonymous"

L - THATS what is on the end of my cuticle pusher, looks like a stitch remover, and what my husband uses. I may cut mine but I cant think of using that.

Anonymous - HI MICHELLE. lol. I went a solid 2 months...maybe 3 without cutting..but sadly I broke
down. Do I have to return my chip? I really need to get into the groove of moisturizing them regualarly for sure! Whoot! Canada!

polishsis - AHAHAAH thanks! I'm sure for all my complaining there is always someone who is envious of me! I just cant think of it that way. My friend does that too, sometimes habits are too hard to break. Have you tried some sort of creme that doesn't taste too good for your hands?

Eden Bue - well I do make sure they're nice and soft before I cut them so I'm not ripping any dry skin...that helps to get it even. Do they never bust out the cuticle cutters on you at the nail salon?? I thought that was common practice!

paintedladyfingers - AH I need to find a CND. I told Ben that the next time we were in Buffalo that we have to try to find one and he yelled at me :( lol but maybe I'll pick some up if I ever get to the states :D

Deez Nailz - ah packing lotion you say? I'll definitely give that a shot and see if it starts working for me :) I'll totally be looking out for your cuticle tips blog! I ♥ your blog!

Michèle - Thanks Michele :D Yea your cuticles are BEAUTIFUL its true. lol. Perhaps I just get frustrated too easily and give in LOL

iibarrrawa - whoo t-shirt! Yea I mean I've heard a lot of stuff on both sides of the fence too. I guess the be all and end all is just to do what works for you :)

Irishenchantment - Hi Michelle! Hope you come back and say hi again! I'm gonna check out your blog right now!

Emma - Thanks! Yea...the concept of "leaving them alone" just baffles me LOL

Trincess - okay yea Deniz you have like the most beautiful hands going. Seriously you should model them. I gotta remember to use my lemony flutter more religiously!

Delaynee - Its hard right? So hard. LOL

Thanks to everyone for the comments!!! I think I'll try to let them be for a little while and see what comes of it. But no promises! I'm wicked impatient! LOL

Papaya Bunny said...

I'm a cutter, maybe once a month, twice at the most. And no, you're not alone -- I thought that cuticle stuff would dissolve them too. Isn't that why some of them say to only use them for like 15 seconds?

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