Gently pull back the cuticle, and really scrub the nail, not just wipe them, with a cleanser.

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Cuticle wax is a solid oil, and is just as susceptible to the diatoms' charms as any other oily substance.

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This layer, called the cuticle or bloom, is still wet when the egg emerges, but quickly dries after a few minutes.

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"You get the cuticle protected for a longer time, " Dr. Pichardo-Geisinger says.

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Howard Magwire of United Egg Producers suggests that the British might consider the cuticle as providing adequate protection for their eggs and so are less concerned about the need to chill them.

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Place the brush at the back of the nail (slightly away from the cuticle) and ease it lightly toward the cuticle line, then float the brush down the nail toward the tip.

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