How to Give Yourself a Pedicure Using Salon Techniques
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Not only will the massage feel nice, but this also helps nourish and hydrate your skin after the scrubbing and soaking. "For an extra spa treatment, apply a coarse exfoliant to the feet and massage up the calf," Remark adds. "An exfoliation with a sugar scrub removes excess dead skin, leaving behind baby soft feet. Follow with a rinse and lotion." This article was co-authored by Kristin Pulaski and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Kristin Pulaski is a Professional Nail Artist and the Founder of Paintbucket, a self-owned and operated nail salon based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She has over five years of experience running Paintbucket and is licensed as a nail technician.
Now that you have your tools, here’s how to prep your toenails for the ultimate pedicure at home. If your nails have an uneven surface, choose a base coat that promises to fill ridges. Grab a nail file to gently smooth and perfect any rough edges after clipping. For those concerned about hygiene, Correa likes this stainless steel foot file. This article was co-authored by Marta Nagorska and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Marta Nagorska is a Nail Technician and Nail Art Blogger based in London, UK. She runs the blog, Furious Filer, where she gives tutorials on nail care and advanced nail art.
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Soaking your feet is an important part of a pedicure as the warm water can help soften your skin and get rid of dead skin cells. Try not to soak them for longer than 20 minutes (you don’t want to be working with wrinkly feet). The first step to a great pedicure is to remove any old paint. Instead of cotton balls, which will leave fuzzies, use lint-free cotton pads like the Ulta Premium Cotton Pads ($5). However, Sally Hansen Extra Strength Nail Polish Remover ($5) might be the better, more effective choice if you frequently use very dark or stubborn nail polish.
Don't get it twisted though — doing your own feet takes skills. That's why it's important to know the right pedicure tools and uses to ensure a salon finish, all without having to leave your home. Instead, use an orange stick to nudge your cuticles backwards, forcing them against the base of the nail. Creating the perfect spa day with an at-home pedicure isn’t that hard.
What are the products used in pedicure?
Then, rub the lotion into each foot until it’s gone. This will help nourish your feet, leaving them smooth and soft. Trim your toenails with a nail clipper, then use a nail file to shape your nails. Use a scrubbing pad to remove dead skin cells and dirt. Avoid using any sharp or rough object to scrub as you may injure your feet.
There’s a reason accent nails are so popular – they’re a great way to hide polish problems. Rather than give yourself a whole new manicure when a nail gets chipped, use a glitter or metallic polish to paint over the whole nail. Try rubbing a pumice stone in a circular motion over the bottoms and heels of your feet.
Soak Your Feet
It’s a quicker treatment than the Baby Foot — it only takes the spray three minutes to sink in and soften the skin — so you can buff away calluses almost immediately. When it comes to pedicures, nail polish is just the cherry on top. The real focus is on the treatments and foot care that leave your nails and feet healthy, smooth and hydrated. Plus, adding an at-home pedicure to your self-care routine will help prolong your professional pedicure when you do visit the spa. Paint your nails with a clear base coat to protect your natural nail.
Quite possibly the most unenjoyable part of a pedicure, if you ask me, is preening the cuticles. Unlike the cuticles on our fingernails, the cuticles on our toenails can be hard and stubborn. To keep them in check, follow Jenni’s steps below. If there is one thing that I have learned about myself, it’s that I really don’t take enough care of myself. As a beauty editor, this can be a hard thing to admit.
Tuttle recommends using a dual grit file; the fine-grade surface is for smoothing the nail edge, while the coarser surface is for shortening and shaping nails. Pay special attention to the balls of your feet, the bottoms and sides of your heels, and around your toes. Be sure to only smooth your heels and rough parts and not remove too much skin . Fill a small basin up with warm water and add 1/2 cup Epsom salt.
If you trim them while they’re still soft, you can cause more damage and tears, and they won’t cut as smoothly. I first clip my nails with a toenail clipper to a length a bit longer than I want my final nail shape to be. After that, I go in to file the nails down to my preferred shape and length. Finally, I use the Deborah Lippmann Smooth Operator Nail File for a quick buff across the top—this helps smooth out any unevenness in the nail bed. “Pumice stones are great because they’re natural, or a wooden foot file,” says Bautista.
Next, focus on blotting away any water dripping from your feet. Continue towel drying, working the towel in between your toes to get rid of any excess moisture. You can set the towel aside once your feet feel dry to the touch. Give yourself a foot massage and feel the serum work its magic down to your toes.
Wet the pumice stone or foot file with warm water. "To extend the life of your pedi, make sure you're applying lotion and cuticle oil every night before bed, or before you put your socks on in the morning," says Remark. "You can also re-apply topcoat every week to restore shine and prolong the wear of your polish." Wait 2 minutes for the first layer of polish to dry. Let the base color layer dry before you add a second layer. Don’t wave your toes around to speed up the drying process, as this can cause the wet polish to smudge or warp.
You can also use a buffing block here to add evenness and shine to your toenails. The good news is that you can easily create a relaxing day for yourself with a pedicure at home. Whether you're trying to save money or just can’t make it to the nail salon, it's never a bad idea to take a little time and pay some attention to your toes. For flawless nail polish, always use a topcoat to finish your manicure.
If you feel like your pedicure isn’t complete without a coat of nail polish, Charloff recommends this set from her company. It works for the hands or feet and includes a nail file, nail clippers, buffer, cuticle pusher, top coat, base coat, drying drops and cuticle oil. Once you’re done, unwrap the feet and massage any excess cream into the skin.
Then, add a few drops of Vitamin E to 4-5 teaspoons of coconut or almond oil. Massage your heels for about ten minutes so that the skin soaks all the goodness of the oil. Cut and shape your toenails and use your fingertips to clean the edges. Dr. Joel Brook and the staff were nice and helpful. Though I was a new patient, I got right in as soon as they were open in my preferred location. They diagnosed the problem and provided medicines along with a perfect gel bandage so I could keep exercising while my toes healed.
After rinsing it off, rub lotion around your feet and toes to lock in moisture. When you’re ready to apply nail polish, spread a layer of clear base coat over your toenails before applying a colored polish, and finish your nails off with a quick-drying top coat. To give yourself a pedicure, start by soaking your feet in warm water for about 5-10 minutes to relieve stress and soften your cuticles.
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