7 DIY Cuticle Removal Methods, Straight From Nail Experts

Try Not to Cut Them—Seriously

Trimming the cuticles might seem healthy, but it can actually create more hangnails and jagged edges and even cause infection. "The cuticles act as a sealed barrier between the skin and the nail to help keep our microbes and irritants," says board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD. In other words, it's best to keep them as intact as possible. If you feel like you absolutely must trim, only clip what's hanging, not the cuticle itself.

Use a Cuticle-Remover Pen

Since cutting cuticles can get tricky fast, pro manicurist Debora Lippmann recommends leaving the cutting to the pros and using a cuticle remover instead. Her Cuticle Remover Pen ($24) makes the dissolving process easy as can be—after applying the pen, Lippmann recommends using a stainless steel pusher to gently ease the cuticles back.

Try Cuticle Nippers

Just as you shouldn't cut your cuticles, you should never pull them, either. "If you have a little piece of skin hanging—just barely attached, use your cuticle nippers," Lippmann notes. "Eyeball that piece of skin. Place the head of your nipper at the base of the hanging skin. Close and open the jaw in the same spot but do not pull; simply place the cuticle nippers on the extra skin and open and close." 

If you're curious as to why, hear us out: Pulling your cuticles can cause the tiny piece of hanging skin to rip centimeters down your finger—ultimately causing more harm than good.

Swipe On a Cuticle Oil

Paintbox creative director Mabelyn Alva advises using cuticle oil on nails both for maintenance and prevention. "For at-home maintenance, you can push your cuticles back gently while you're in the shower with a cuticle pusher or orangewood stick," she says. "Apply Paintbox Cuticle Oil ($28) daily to keep nails hydrated and to prevent dry cuticles and hangnails."

King agrees with using oil on the cuticles. "It's very important to keep the skin around the nails moisturized to boost their function against bacteria that can penetrate and cause infection," she says.

Soak Them

Manicurist Nicole Wong swears by soaking nails in soapy water. "First, push your cuticles with a wooden stick or use a cuticle pusher to loosen up the cuticles on your nail, then soak them in soapy, warm water for a couple of minutes," she advises. "Soaking your cuticles will make it easier to see and trim dead skin."

Once the cuticles are dry, "end the process by moisturizing your nail beds," she says. "Use a hydrating hand cream and preferably a cuticle oil with healing ingredients to avoid infection. My favorite is the Miniluxe cuticle nourishing oil ($20). It's great because it has natural tea tree oil, which is EGW-certified, antimicrobial, and has nourishing benefits of vitamin E."

Use a Buffer

If dissolving your cuticles doesn't seem to be working, consider buffing them. "Use a nail buffer on dry skin to gently buff away any excess cuticles as needed," says Gibson Tuttle. "Gently glide the buffer cube back and forth along the edge of the cuticle to erase dry skin and smooth things out."

Incorporate a Hydrating Serum Into Your Routine

One of the biggest and best things you can do for cuticles is to keep them hydrated. The more hydrated they are, the easier they'll be to shape and push back. "Dryness causes damage," Gibson Tuttle says. "Applying daily Cuticle Serum ($30) is our number one tip to encourage healthy cuticles and nail growth."