Cuticle-B-Gone was invented by an all-female powerhouse team. Inventor, Barbara Gomes, created this nail tool out of need for her own family. Barbara’s mother, a Breast Cancer Survivor who was left with a lymphedema arm, put her at a high risk for infection. Unable to cut her mother’s painful hangnails, Barbara filed them. Years later, Barbara found filing our cuticles was a better option and created a longer lasting manicure. Cuticle-B-Gone is a safer and more effective way to manicure your nails as cutting cuticles leads to damage and risk to infection.
Barbara now runs the brand alongside her two daughters, Danielle and Gabrielle. Due to the powerful story behind the product, the brand continues to donate a percentage of their profits to breast cancer awareness, to this day.
Cuticle-B-Gone was born out of a deeply personal journey, can you share the story behind its creation and how your mother’s experience inspired the brand?
Danielle: Agnes, my grandmother, had breast cancer when my mom was very young. As a result, she had an aggressive surgery, cobalt treatment, and the removal of several lymph nodes which left her with a lymphedema arm. Her arm had no feeling, and she was unable to use it. She was also very immunocompromised in that arm so she could not cut her cuticles or her nails.
Even the slightest nick would cause an infection which meant that she had to spend weeks in the hospital on antibiotics. She never complained. She drove a stick-shift car with no power steering with one arm. She was the strongest, always positive, happy, kind, loving woman we have known and she lived to be 92. However, during those 60 or so years, caring for her nails was a challenge. Barbara, my mom and Cuticle-B-Gone’s inventor, would have to gently file and buff hangnails and overgrown cuticles. When she did this, the file would damage the nail in the process. My mom always knew there had to be a better way. Finally, when Covid hit and everyone’s lives came to a halt, she said— now is the time. She asked my sister Gabrielle and I to help, and we got to work.
For those unfamiliar with the dangers of traditional cuticle cutting, why is it so important to offer a safer alternative, especially from a wellness perspective?
Cuticles are an essential part of your nail anatomy. The skin serves as a barrier, preventing germs from entering your nailbed and surrounding skin. However, as the cuticle grows, dead skin can build up. Cuticle-B-Gone gently pushes back the healthy cuticle and buffs away the dead skin that many often mistake as the cuticle. This method preserves the health of your nail while delivering a long-lasting manicure. Buffing away the dead skin actually keeps the nailbed smooth longer than cutting cuticles. In fact, having your cuticles cut in a salon is illegal in several states, including New York.
What sets the Cuticle-B-Gone file apart from other nail care tools on the market, and how does it support long-term nail health?
Cuticle-B-Gone has multiple patents so there is nothing else like it available. It protects your nails while providing an easy-to-use manicure tool. No one should cut their cuticles, but even if you do, it can be very difficult to do on yourself. Cuticle-B-Gone can be done by anyone, anywhere. Even kids love it. While Cuticle-B-Gone arose from a very specific need, it is truly a better option for everyone. Cutting your cuticle is harmful. No one should cut their cuticles. The NIH, the CDC, Mayo Clinic, and the American Academy of Dermatology caution against cutting cuticles, as they are barriers to infection and should be left in place. Cuticle-B-Gone is the only nail tool on the market that gently buffs away the bothersome dead skin around the nail bed while preserving the healthy cuticle. Our tool is easy to use while also having multiple functions that are designed to protect while manicuring. Bring it to the salon or do it at home.
Your brand recently expanded into cuticle oils, what role does hydration and nourishment play in overall nail wellness, and how are your oils formulated to support that?
We wanted to craft a luxurious, complete nail experience where health is not sacrificed for beauty. These days, so much of the beauty and skincare landscape is polluted with ingredients that are harmful to your health. With the addition of our cuticle oils, you can moisturize and hydrate the nail and surrounding skin which promotes healthy nail growth, prevents dry, cracked skin, and enhances the appearance of manicures –all without harmful ingredients.
As a family-run business, how has the dynamic between the three of you (being a mother-daughter team) influenced the brand’s development and values?
Barbara: Family is first and paramount in every decision we make. The tool and products we offer are also what we use in our routines. I created this company because of a need we had in our own family, and we hope it helps others as well. My daughters have also each brought their unique experience to the company. Danielle is an author and writer who works in brand development for various companies, making her instrumental in the branding of Cuticle-B-Gone. While Gabrielle owns a sustainable clothing company and has experience with manufacturing and DTC, direct-to-customer sales. It’s really a team effort.
Barbara, you’ve turned a personal challenge into a solution that helps so many, what’s been the most rewarding part of this wellness journey so far?
Creating Cuticle-B-Gone has been a long process. We started with a 3D printed prototype with hand cut files that we glued on. It wasn’t easy, but using the tool now and knowing that it works so well has been very rewarding. One of the most rewarding moments has been using it on my grandchildren. They’ve had many hangnails and would always flinch and run anytime scissors came near their hands. They don’t even bat an eye with the Cuticle-B-Gone tool. In fact, my grandson fell asleep one time when we were using it on him. It’s also gratifying to know that women who are immunocompromised and cannot visit a nail salon have a tool at their disposal.
Danielle and Gabrielle, as part of the next generation helping to lead the brand, how are you continuing to innovate while honoring the original mission?
In order to innovate, we need to reach as many people as possible. Our mission in this company is to change the way people traditionally manicure their nails. So many people still don’t know how harmful it is to cut your cuticles, and we are on a mission to spread this message and to get Cuticle-B-Gone in the hands of as many people as possible.
Self-care has become such a powerful movement. How do you see nail care fitting into someone’s broader wellness routine?
When you are on a wellness mission, you have to look at your entire body as one system. Your whole body deserves care. It’s impossible to compartmentalize health, it’s all connected. So it’s important to give your hands and nails the same care you would any other part of your body.
What advice would you give to someone dealing with damaged nails or dry cuticles who’s looking for a safer, more natural solution?
Be patient and moisturize daily. It’s nearly impossible to undo years of damage overnight. However, with Cuticle-B-Gone’s gentle approach to nail care, it’s an attainable goal. You might even be surprised how much better your nails feel when you’re gentle with them.
What’s next for Cuticle-B-Gone? Are there any exciting launches, partnerships, or wellness initiatives on the horizon?
We are so excited to be featured in an upcoming television interview for In The Mix hosted by Dina Deleasa-Gonsar and proud to have her support. We also have a number of exciting press opportunities coming up as well as partnerships with non-profit organizations to give back to the community. Due to the family story behind our brand, we want to use this platform to spread awareness about breast cancer and what people can do to help. We are also developing an exciting new product, an on-the-go cuticle balm, so stay tuned!
