There is nothing like sitting back and being pampered. Your feet get a lot of abuse and deserve some tender loving care. Taking time to get a pedicure is a delightful experience. Besides, your feet look pretty when you keep your nails trimmed, painted, and eliminate the callus build-up. Plus, the benefits to a foot massage helps to relieve tension, reduce stress, and increase blood circulation.
Regular pedicures serve to detect early signs of conditions such as corns, bunions and fungal infection. Also, when you care for your feet regularly, and remove the dirt from under the nail, you help to prevent nail diseases and foot odors.
However, you may not always have the luxury of time, nor the funds for it. So, what do you do when your feet need to be tended to and you’re not a professional manicurist?
You become your foot care advocate and figure out how you can give yourself a pedicure that doesn’t like your three-year old niece painted your toenails.
Follow the steps below to ensure your home spun pedicure comes out smashing!
Step 1 – Gather Supplies
The first step is to gather the supplies you need. You will need the following:
- Small tub
- Soap, scented oils or bath salts
- Q-tips
- Orange wood stick
- Nail clippers
- An emery board
- Cuticle softener
- Cuticle cutter
- Cotton balls
- Foot file
- Toe separators
- Lotion
- Towels
- Nail buffer
- Nail polish remover
- Nail polish (the color of your choice)
- Base coat
- Top Coat
Step 2 – Remove Polish
If your nails have color on them or clear polish, you need to remove the color. Use the nail polish remover and cotton balls to take off any prior polish. Dab a cotton ball with polish remover and gently glide it over each nail. Be careful not to press too hard.
Step 3 – Soak
Once you remove all the polish, fill the tub up with warm water. Test the water and be careful that it is not too hot. There’s nothing worse than super-hot water! Not only does it hurt, it’s not good for your skin.
After you fill the tub, put in a small amount or soap, scented oil, or bath salts. Soak your feet for 5 minutes and then pat your feet dry with one of the towels.
You may want to have a cup of tea or glass of wine handy to enhance your relaxation as your feet soak.
Step 4 – Clip and File
Depending on the length of your nails and what you personally prefer, file or clip your toenails to the desired length. If you choose to clip your nails, avoid getting too close to your skin. You don’t want to cut yourself and bleed!
Step 5 – Cuticle Softener
Squeeze out some of the cuticle softener onto a cotton ball and apply to each nail. Be generous with the amount you use!
Step 6 – Scrape Nails
Use an orange wood stick to gently scrape each nail and push back the cuticle.
Step 7 – Trim
Use the cuticle trimmer to carefully trim away the excess cuticle from step 6.
Step 8 – Soles
Use the foot file to gently file the soles of your feel to get rid of the dead skin.
Step 9 – Massage
Squeeze out a little bit of lotion onto your calves and feet. Gently massage in the lotion into each calf and each foot.
Step 10 – Scrape Out Dirt
Use the other end of the orange stick to gently scrape out the dirt from under each nail.
Step 11 – Clean Nails
Apply a small amount of nail polish remover to a cotton ball. Run the cotton ball over each nail to ensure they are clean.
Step 12 – Around Nails
Tear a cotton ball into strips and wrap the strips around the end of the orange stick. Apply a small amount of nail polish remover to the cotton on the orange stick. Go around each nail with the cotton wrapped orange stick to ensure the skin is clean.
Step 13 – Buff
Use the buffer to gently buff each nail. Make sure you do not press with too much force, as you can cause the nails to become thin.
Step 15 – Base Coat
Put the toe separators between each toe. Apply the base coat using slow and even strokes. Try to use three strokes, the middle and the two sides.
Be careful that the brush does not have too much of the base coat on it. Too much polish will take a long time to properly dry!
Allow the base coat to dry for approximately 10 minutes.
Step 16 – Polish
After the base coat is completely dry, apply the first coat of nail polish. Use slow even strokes. Once you have painted each nail, allow your nails to dry for about 5 minutes.
Apply a second layer of nail polish then allow to dry for 3 to five minutes.
Step 17 Top Coat
Once each nail is painted it is time to apply the top coat. Use slow even strokes to ensure each nail is properly covered in top coat.
Step 18 Dry
Be sure that you allow enough time for your nails to completely dry. There is nothing worse than messing up a nail by rushing to put on a shoe!
Now that your feet look and feel great, be sure to clean up your supplies before you dash out the door. Enjoy your fresh pedicure and be prepared for compliments about how great your feet look!
Typically, a pedicure will last around two weeks. Don’t let your fee wait too long until you take time for some self-care and repeat this process. Compared to the rest of our bodies, we tend to neglect our feet. Your overall health benefits from keeping your feet healthy. Be sure to pay attention to your tootsies and give them the loving care they deserve!
FAQs
A basic pedicure at home requires a foot soak, foot file, pumice stone, cuticle trimmer, foot scrub, nail clippers, nail file, cuticle oil, moisturizer, and a nail polish of your choice.
You should clean and scrub your feet thoroughly before a pedicure to remove any dirt and dead skin cells.
The best way to remove dead skin and calluses is to use a pumice stone or a foot file.
Trim your toenails straight across, avoiding rounding the edges.
The best way to buff your toenails is to use a nail buffer block in a gentle circular motion.
Apply the base coat to clean, dry nails and let it dry completely. Then apply a thin layer of nail polish and let it dry completely before applying a second coat if necessary.
One tip is to apply a top coat after the pedicure to seal in the color and add a protective barrier.
The best way to soothe your feet after a pedicure is to soak them in a warm bath with Epsom salts.
It is recommended that you get a pedicure every 4-6 weeks.
Some common mistakes to avoid when doing a pedicure at home include using a razor on the feet, using too much pressure when scrubbing the feet, and not using the proper tools and products.
