You push back your cuticles primarily to remove dead skin, improve the appearance of your nails, and allow nail products to adhere better.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
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Removal of Dead Skin: Pushing back your cuticles helps clear away dead skin cells that accumulate on the nail plate. This creates a cleaner, more polished look.
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Improved Product Adhesion: Removing the dead skin allows nail polish, gel, or acrylics to bond more effectively to the nail surface, resulting in longer-lasting manicures. The reference states this point directly, explaining that you "allow your products to seal more easily."
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Aesthetic Reasons: Many people find that pushing back their cuticles makes their nails look longer and neater. It provides a more manicured appearance overall.
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Promote Nail Growth (Indirectly): While pushing back cuticles doesn't directly stimulate nail growth, keeping the cuticle area clean and healthy can indirectly contribute to healthier nail growth.
Important Considerations:
- Avoid Cutting: It's generally recommended to push back cuticles rather than cut them. Cutting cuticles can increase the risk of infection.
- Gentle Pressure: Use gentle pressure when pushing back your cuticles to avoid damaging the nail bed. A cuticle pusher or a wooden orange stick can be used.
- Hydration: Regularly moisturizing your cuticles with cuticle oil will keep them soft and pliable, making them easier to push back.
The reference notes the importance of protecting the nail root: "Nail roots can easily become infected if they're exposed." Pushing back the cuticle carefully allows for cleaning of that area and reduces the risk of problems that could lead to infection.
In summary, pushing back your cuticles is a cosmetic practice performed to remove dead skin, improve the adhesion of nail products, and enhance the overall appearance of your nails while also helping to maintain the health of the nail root.
