The Miracle of Melt Away

One of the most common nail-related issues that plague the general public is dry, rough and raggedy cuticles. They are everywhere! Another common occurrence is an overgrowth of the cuticle onto the nail plate that prevents the even application of nail lacquer and actually causes lifting and chipping of the product. Proper cuticle care is incredibly important, which is why it is a particular focus of the Nail Tech when performing a manicure or pedicure. Making sure that the nail plate is clean and free of dead tissue not only improves the appearance of the nails, but allows for optimum results to be achieved with nail enhancement products that range from nail polish to acrylics and UV gel.

The Founding Creative Director of butter London, Nonie Creme, works with top designers at Fashion Week in New York and London each season, including Betsey Johnson, Alexander Wang, Calvin Klein, Pringle and Victoria Beckham. Their high-fashion nail line is proud to be 3-Free, which means they do not contain harmful formaldehyde, toluene, DBP or parabens. Their line of nail products includes a vast array of ultra chic shades of nail color with cheeky British names, as well as high quality nail treatments and luxurious lotions.

I was first introduced to the miracle that is Melt Away Cuticle Eliminator when I was originally drafted as a student member of the butter London Nail Tech team for NY Fashion Week Spring 2011. The atmosphere backstage at a runway show is controlled chaos, as hair, makeup and nail artists simultaneously work their magic upon the models. The idea is to be like a hummingbird and hover near the model as you work while trying not to impede the progress of the hair and makeup artists. There isn't any spare time to use nippers or soak nails before pushing back the cuticles, but they must be tended to before nail lacquer is applied. Anything that streamlines the process and allows the Nail Techs to do their job more swiftly while still getting salon results is a must-have! 

The process is extremely simple: brush a thin layer of Melt Away right onto the cuticles and wait approximately two minutes. Then use a cuticle pusher to gently slough off the dead tissue and a lint-free wipe to remove any excess product. For home users, a small manicure brush can also be used to scrub away dead tissue in lieu of a pusher. It is very important to thoroughly remove any excess product to avoid irritation to the skin from prolonged contact. According to butter London, weekly use of Melt Away for gentle cuticle exfoliation will gradually decrease cuticle size and hardness until they are constantly thin, soft and easy to deal with. After using this product for a solid year on myself and my clients, I can attest to the fact that it really lives up to those claims. A tried-and-true staple in my mobile Nail Tech kit, I can honestly say I never go anywhere without my Melt Away!