How to Use a Cuticle Pen, Step by Step

A cuticle pen simplifies nail care by combining exfoliation, oil nourishment, and buffing in one tool. If you're used to clippers, pushers, and separate oils, the all-in-one approach feels almost too easy. But it works, and once you know the rhythm, you can do both hands in under two minutes.

What You're Actually Doing

Cuticles are a protective seal between your nail plate and the skin beneath. You're not removing them (that would leave nails vulnerable), you're gently pushing back the dead skin that creeps onto the nail and hydrating the living tissue underneath. A cuticle pen does this in one motion: the angled ceramic tip lifts away dry buildup, releases oil as you glide, and smooths everything down. No soaking, no scraping, no mess.

If you're new to what a 3-in-1 cuticle pen actually does, it helps to understand that the ceramic isn't sharp. It's a smooth, angled edge that grabs dead skin without digging into live tissue. The oil blend (jojoba, squalane, and meadowfoam in the Velluva Pen) softens as you work, so the whole process stays gentle.

Before You Start

Clean, dry nails work best. If your hands are freshly washed, perfect. If they're not, just make sure there's no lotion, polish, or oil already on the cuticles. The pen deposits its own oil, so starting clean means it absorbs properly instead of sitting on top of another product.

You don't need to soak your cuticles first. That's the old method, where dry skin had to be softened before pushing. A cuticle pen handles dry cuticles as they are.

The Actual Steps

Hold the pen like you'd hold a marker, with the angled ceramic tip aimed at the base of your nail. Twist or click the barrel (depending on the pen's mechanism) until you see a bead of oil at the tip. One or two clicks is usually enough for all ten nails, you don't need to flood each one.

Place the angled edge where your cuticle meets the nail, and glide it gently along the base in one smooth motion, left to right or right to left, whichever feels natural. You're pushing the cuticle back as you go. The ceramic lifts the dead skin, the oil follows behind, and the same motion buffs it all smooth. One pass per nail is enough. If a nail has more buildup, you can do a second gentle pass, but resist the urge to press hard. Let the tool do the work.

Move around all ten nails this way. The whole process takes about a minute per hand once you've done it a few times. At first it might feel slower as you figure out the angle and pressure, and that's fine.

Right After

Your cuticles should look smooth and slightly glossy from the oil. If there's excess oil pooled around the nail, you can massage it into the surrounding skin or dab it away with a clean finger. The oil that stays on the cuticle itself is meant to be there, it keeps the area hydrated and prevents the dry, ragged skin from coming back quickly.

You can apply polish or do whatever else you'd normally do with your nails right after. The oil sits on the cuticle, not the nail plate, so it won't interfere with polish adhesion. If you're putting on polish immediately and want to be extra cautious, a quick swipe of remover on the nail surface clears any stray oil.

How Often

Two to three times a week keeps most people's cuticles in good shape. If your cuticles grow fast or you work with your hands a lot (washing, typing, anything that dries them out), you might use it every other day. If your cuticles stay soft and tidy, twice a week is plenty. You'll figure out your rhythm after a couple of weeks.

Daily use is fine if your cuticles are very dry or damaged and need the extra oil, but once they're healthy, you can usually ease back. The goal is maintenance, not constant intervention.

What Not to Do

Don't dig or scrape with the ceramic tip like you're trying to get under the cuticle. The motion is a glide, not a gouge. And don't use the pen on inflamed, cut, or infected cuticles. Let those heal first, then start using it to prevent the next round of damage.

If you're someone who picks or bites your cuticles, a pen can help break the cycle by keeping them smooth enough that there's nothing to pick at. But it's not a fix for open wounds. Give torn cuticles a day or two to close, then use the pen to keep them soft.

Ready to Try It?

That's the whole process. One tool, one glide per nail, and you're done. If you want to simplify your routine and skip the soak-push-clip method, start here.