08/09/2026
This is probably the most underrated step in the entire manicure process—I’m telling you! 😄
Remember how nail schools used to teach us to “push the cuticle back”?
Let’s be a little more precise:
👉🏼 We’re not just pushing—we’re opening the cuticle pocket. And that’s a very important distinction.
👉🏼 If we’re being technically precise, we’re pushing back the proximal fold and the eponychium.
👉🏼 And it’s not enough to simply push the skin back. We need to make sure the fold has evenly separated from the nail plate and that the pocket is properly opened.
So this step isn’t just about casually pushing the skin back and moving on😅
It’s about opening the cuticle pocket and preparing the space for both e-file prep and the cutting tool.
If this space isn’t properly prepared, neither your bit nor your scissors/nippers will be able to work efficiently or safely.
✨ So open it, check it, and make sure the pocket is actually ready—so none of your next tools get stuck under the skin💅
