Working on your cuticles can be painful work. It usually requires cutting or ripping at the delicate skin around your nails to keep them free of messing looking skin or obnoxious hangnails. We can all agree: it’s not fun. Well, we’re here to tell you that there is a painless method to getting the perfect cuticles you desire! And it doesn’t require any irritating tweezing. How is it done, you ask? Watch the video below to see how you can achieve perfect looking cuticles in five simple steps.

STEP 1: SOAK YOUR NAILS

Soak your fingertips in warm, soapy water for a few minutes. This helps to soften the cuticles – because nothing is more painful than pushing back dry cuticle skin. Shudder.

STEP 2: REMOVE EXCESS CUTICLES

Once your fingers have softened up, you’ll want to remove that excess cuticle skin. But not the painful way you’re accustomed to. Instead of cutting into your cuticle, use cuticle removing gel. Apply this directly onto your nail beds and let sit for at least 15 seconds.

STEP 3: PUSH BACK YOUR CUTICLES

Because your nails are soaked and have been gelled up, this usually painful part will be a breeze. Using a wooden manicure stick, gently push back your cuticles. Try moving the stick in circles to nix some of the dead skin the gel has removed.

STEP 4: GETTING RID OF HANGNAILS

This messy step is made so much easier with this nifty tool: a hangnail remover. Game changer, right? You only need to slide your hangnail in between the prongs of this remover, and your hangnail will be instantly chopped off.

Not interested in buying a new tool? Try one of our favorite ways to remove hangnails, then! They’re all safe, easy, and painless.

STEP 5: APPLY CUTICLE CREAM

Cuticle cream is CRUCIAL for keeping your nails and your nail beds moisturized. This video suggests Burt’s Bees Cuticle Cream, which helps to create a protective barrier around your nail, keeping it healthy and strong.

And without cutting or plucking, you have lovely, healthy-looking cuticle beds! Just like that. This is easily something you can do while you binge Netflix, or even as a part of your nightly routine before bed.

Do you have any tricks you use to maintain perfect cuticles? Share your ideas in the comments section below.