How To Push Back Your Cuticles: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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How to Push Back Your Cuticles Download Article Co-authored by Mia Rubie and Amy Bobinger, BA

Last Updated: June 26, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Softening Your Cuticles
|
• Using a Cuticle Pusher
|
• Caring for Your Cuticles
|
• Video
|
• Expert Q&A
|
• Warnings
|
• Things You'll Need

|Show more |Show less ARTICLE VIDEO X

This article was co-authored by Mia Rubie and by wikiHow staff writer, Amy Bobinger, BA. Mia Rubie is a Nail Artist and the Owner of Sparkle San Francisco, a nail studio based in San Francisco, California. She has over eight years of nail artist and management experience and is known for her push-the-envelope designs and artistic eye for colors. Her clients include Sephora, Target, and Vogue. Her work has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and StyleCaster. She holds a BBA focusing on Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from San Francisco State University. You can find her work on her Instagram account @superflynails. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 903,360 times.

Perfectly manicured hands can make you look more put-together and refined, but you don't have to spend a lot of money at the salon to have great nails! If you're giving yourself a manicure, take a few minutes to push back your cuticles, or the thin skin growing at the base of your nails. Your nail beds will look longer, giving your nails a more elegant appearance. However, you should never cut your cuticles, as this can leave you exposed to dangerous and painful infections.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Softening Your Cuticles

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1. 1 Remove any existing nail polish with a non-acetone polish remover. You can find a selection of nail polish remover on Amazon here. Apply a small amount of acetone-free nail polish remover to a cotton ball and gently smooth it over your nail until all traces of your old nail polish are gone. It's best to do this first, because after you push back your cuticles they may be a little tender, and nail polish remover might sting.[1]
   • In addition, if you leave old polish on your nails, small chips could get pushed into your nail beds as you're working on your cuticles, potentially leading to an infection.
   • Unless you have acrylic nails or a particular manicure that requires it, you should avoid using nail polish remover with acetone, which can dry out your nails and cuticles.[2]
2. 2 Soak your nails in warm water for 5-10 minutes. The warm water will soften your cuticles, so you'll be able to push them back easily and with less discomfort. If you like, you can heat up jojoba or coconut oil and add it to the water for even more moisturized cuticles.[3]
   • A long shower might also soften your cuticles enough to push them back.[4]
   • Alternatively, you can put avocado oil or cuticle oil on your cuticles and leave for 2-3 minutes. Be sure to rub on in a circular motion and then soak your hands in a nail dish with warm soapy water. Make sure the cream or oil is still on your cuticles and continue to soak for 5-10 minutes. You can find cuticle oil on Amazon here.
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3. 3 Dry off your hands with a clean towel. After you've finished soaking your nails, shake off any excess water, then use a clean, soft towel to pat your hands dry. This will ensure the moisturizer will be able to bond to your nails.[5]
   • Using a clean towel will help prevent the spread of bacteria to your hands, which could leave you more susceptible to infection once you have pushed back your cuticles.
4. 4 Apply a small amount of oil to your cuticles and let it soak in for 3-5 minutes. Your cuticles will already be softened from soaking them, but you can add extra moisture by applying lotion, oil, or cuticle remover to your nails and letting it soak in. If you're using oil, like coconut oil or a special cuticle oil, you can leave it on for as long as you like.[6]
   • If you decide to use chemical cuticle remover like these, be sure to read the packaging so you know exactly how long you should leave it on. Otherwise, you risk damaging the nail beneath the cuticle.
   • You can purchase cuticle oil or remover at any beauty supply store.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Using a Cuticle Pusher

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1. 1 Choose a cuticle pusher made of wood to avoid damaging your cuticles. Orange sticks (also called orangewood sticks) are small round pieces of wood with a round, slanted edge at both ends, and they're a great option for gently pushing back the delicate skin around your nails. You can find orange sticks at any drug store or online here.[7]
   • If you have especially sensitive skin, wrap the tip of the orange stick in cotton before you use it. You can pull apart a cotton ball or use cotton gauze if you have some on hand.
   • You can also push back your cuticles with a soft cloth, a cotton swab, or even just your fingers, but you'll get a cleaner look by using the orange stick.[8]
2. 2 Rest your hand on a flat sturdy surface to steady yourself. If you're trying to push back your cuticles while your hands are in the air, it will be harder to control the pressure you're applying with the orange stick. By resting your hand on a sturdy table or countertop, you'll be less likely to scrape or tear your cuticle.[9]
3. 3 Use the stick to gently push back the skin along the bottom of your nail. Holding the stick at an angle, carefully push the cuticle all the way into the corner, and gently work your way up the sides of your nail. This will help loosen any dirt and prevent ingrown nails. It may help you have more control over the stick if you use circular motions as you move across the nail.[10]
   • Don't push too hard or scrape your nails with the orange stick.
4. 4 Rub your cuticles gently with a warm, damp washcloth. You may notice small pieces of excess skin at the base of your nail where you pushed back your cuticles. Do not cut or tear these, as it's easy to cut too deep and leave your nail bed exposed to the danger of infection. Instead, gently exfoliate the area with a clean washcloth dipped in warm water.[11]
   • When you're finished, your cuticles should make a smooth, thin line at the base of your nail.
   • If you have more stubborn hangnails or pieces of skin, use a cuticle nipper to remove any final pieces. These tools are specifically designed to minimize cuticle damage. Be careful to only trim the translucent, dead skin, though. Don't cut the skin along the bottom of your nail.
5. 5 Use a pair of nippers to trim any hangnails you might have. Nippers are often used to trim cuticles, but their long pointed blades are perfect for trimming hangnails as well. Angle the trimmers to get as close as possible to the base of the torn skin, then snip the hangnail away in one smooth cut.[12]
   • If you don't already have a pair of nippers, this pair are highly rated on Amazon.
   • Hangnails are pieces of skin or cuticle which have torn or split, and they are often found in the crease beside your nail or below the cuticle.
   • If you don't trim your hangnails, they can tear more, leading to more pain and an increased risk of infection.
6. 6 Wash your hands in warm soapy water when you're finished. You may have residue from the cuticle oil left on your hands, or there may be small pieces of skin left from the exfoliation process. However, these should come off easily when you wash your hands.[13]
   • Before you paint your nails, dry them thoroughly and make sure all traces of oil are gone. It may be helpful to wipe each nail with a cotton ball dipped in a non-acetone polish remover to help dry them out.
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Caring for Your Cuticles

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1. 1 Moisturize your cuticles daily. To keep your cuticles healthy, you should moisturize them every day. You can use moisturizing lotion, petroleum jelly, or your favorite oil, depending on what you prefer. Apply the moisturizer, then rub it so that your cuticles can absorb the moisture.[14]
   • There are a variety of nail-specific oils and moisturizers available online. Check out these ones on Amazon.
   • Dry cuticles are more susceptible to peeling or splitting. If this happens, it can be very painful and can lead to infection, and it can also cause your cuticles to grow back thicker than before.
2. 2 Push your cuticles back once a week. Over time, your cuticles won't need to be pushed back as much, but it's still a good idea to keep them touched up. Keep an orange stick near your hand cream and take a few minutes to moisturize and push back your cuticles about once a week after you take a shower.[15]
3. 3 Don't bite your nails or the skin around your nails. Biting your nails can irreparably damage your nail bed, and chewing on your cuticles, hangnails, or the skin around your nails can lead to dangerous infection. In addition, damaging your cuticles can cause them to grow back thicker, making them harder to push back.[16]
   • Instead of biting your nails, use a nail file to smooth them out if they chip or split.
4. 4 Use a new orange stick each time you push back your cuticles. Wooden orange sticks are porous, meaning it's difficult to completely sanitize them. It's best to just toss out the stick after you're finished using it so you don't have to worry about spreading bacteria the next time you give yourself a manicure.
   • Wooden orange sticks are meant to be disposable, which is why they're inexpensive and often come in packs of 10 or more.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question How can I keep my cuticles moisturized? Mia Rubie Nail Artist Mia Rubie is a Nail Artist and the Owner of Sparkle San Francisco, a nail studio based in San Francisco, California. She has over eight years of nail artist and management experience and is known for her push-the-envelope designs and artistic eye for colors. Her clients include Sephora, Target, and Vogue. Her work has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and StyleCaster. She holds a BBA focusing on Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from San Francisco State University. You can find her work on her Instagram account @superflynails. Mia Rubie Nail Artist Expert Answer There's actually a specialized product out there called cuticle oil, and it's designed specifically for this. You can pick it up at any beauty supply store, and you just work it into your cuticles the same way you'd work a regular moisturizer into your skin. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 7
• Question Why do you need to push back your cuticles? Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University. Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Expert Answer You can push back cuticles with an orangewood stick or a specially designed cuticle pusher. Do this gently to avoid damaging the cuticles. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 140 Helpful 3
• Question How can I push my cuticles back naturally? Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University. Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Expert Answer Soak your cuticles in warm water to soften them. Then use an orangewood stick to gently push them back. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 20 Helpful 17

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Warnings

• Never trim or tear off your cuticles. In addition to being painful, the cut could allow bacteria to enter your nail beds, leading to a serious infection. Thanks Helpful 14 Not Helpful 2

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Things You'll Need

• Non-acetone nail polish remover (optional)
• Cotton ball (for polish remover)
• Bowl of warm water
• Clean towel
• Moisturizer or cuticle remover
• Orange stick
• Cotton (optional)
• Washcloth
• Nippers (to trim hangnails)

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References

1. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/nail-care-secrets/basics/pedicures/removing-gel-polish
2. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/your-nails.html
3. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-get-rid-of-a-hangnail
4. ↑ https://www.cmhcm.org/provider/centrain/Training_Units/Personal_Care_Hygiene_Grooming.pdf
5. ↑ https://www.rph.org.nz/public-health-topics/early-childhood-centres/keeping-your-centre-healthy/hand-hygiene/
6. ↑ Mia Rubie. Nail Artist. Expert Interview
7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPvrm8sH4L0
8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPvrm8sH4L0
9. ↑ https://pedsderm.net/site/assets/files/1028/spd_nail_care_bw_1.pdf

More References (7)

10. ↑ https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/ingrown-toenail/
11. ↑ https://ncert.nic.in/vocational/pdf/kvbk103.pdf
12. ↑ https://www.assh.org/handcare/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-a-hangnail
13. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/index.html
14. ↑ https://public.iadvl.org/nail-care-basics
15. ↑ https://www.elcaminohealth.org/stay-healthy/blog/what-your-nails-could-be-telling-you
16. ↑ https://dermatology.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Nail-Care-EN-CDA-Patient-Materials.pdf

About This Article

Co-authored by: Mia Rubie Nail Artist This article was co-authored by Mia Rubie and by wikiHow staff writer, Amy Bobinger, BA. Mia Rubie is a Nail Artist and the Owner of Sparkle San Francisco, a nail studio based in San Francisco, California. She has over eight years of nail artist and management experience and is known for her push-the-envelope designs and artistic eye for colors. Her clients include Sephora, Target, and Vogue. Her work has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and StyleCaster. She holds a BBA focusing on Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from San Francisco State University. You can find her work on her Instagram account @superflynails. This article has been viewed 903,360 times. 4 votes - 100% Co-authors: 33 Updated: June 26, 2025 Views: 903,360 Categories: Featured Articles | Nail Care Article SummaryX

To push back your cuticles, start by soaking your nails in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes, which will make your cuticles softer so they're easier to work with. Then, dry your nails off and apply some moisturizer around the outside of your nails. Once your cuticles are ready, use an orange stick to gently push them back toward the base of your nails. Don't push too hard or scrape your nails, or you could tear your cuticles and get an infection. To learn how often you should push back your cuticles, scroll down! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Mia Rubie Nail Artist Co-authors: 33 Updated: June 26, 2025 Views: 903,360 100% of readers found this article helpful. 4 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote

Nahla

Nov 18, 2016

"This is very helpful when you're pushing back cuticles. It also tells you that you cannot push them back too..." more

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Jan 16, 2018

"I love it. I tried this out for a week on one hand and left the other to grow itself, and my right hand nails are..." more Rated this article:

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Mar 21, 2016

"Love this article! I enjoy how detailed and how straight-forward the steps are. Plus, the videos make this article..." more

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Aug 19, 2016

"Clear instructions. I came here to check if I'd done my cuticles correctly. I had. Liked the no jargon,..." more

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Aug 11, 2017

"Thanks for this article. I always thought nail cuticles were suppose to get trimmed, this info is very informative." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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