How to Give Yourself a Perfect Pedicure
Care for Your Feet and Apply Polish for Pretty Toenails
Jul 5, 2009
You don't have to go to a fancy salon or spa to get a first rate pedicure. Here's how to do it yourself in the privacy of your own home.
An at-home pedicure is an inexpensive and easy way to pamper yourself and look better in the process. Before you begin, collect everything you need and keep it together in a basket so you're able to treat your feet at moment's notice in the future.
Pedicure Supplies
- polish remover
- cotton balls
- nail polish (a base coat, color and top coat)
- a basin of warm water
- marbles
- tea tree oil
- a nail brush
- a pumice stone
- toenail clipper
- a nail file
- an orange-wood stick
- towels
- foot cream
How to Give Yourself a Pedicure
- Remove any existing polish with polish remover and cotton balls.
- Place the basin full of warm water on top of a towel (to catch splashes). Add five to seven drops of antiseptic tea tree oil (to fight athlete's foot and other fungal issues) or peppermint essential oil (to refresh and rejuvenate) and 15-20 small marbles to a basin of warm water.
- Put your feet in the bowl and soak for fifteen minutes. While soaking, revive tired feet by gently rolling them back and forth over the marbles.
- Scrub your toenails with the nail brush and use the pumice stone to smooth dry skin. Pat feet dry with towel.
- Trim nails straight across. Use the nail file to gently soften corners. Apply foot cream and massage into feet concentrating on dry areas. Pay special attention to the balls of your feet as well as your heels.
- Wrap a bit of cotton around an orange-wood stick and dip it into the nail polish remover. Use it to push back cuticles and clean underneath and along the entire surface of nails.
- Apply a base coat to help your color adhere to your nails longer. Brush on two coats of color and finish with a top coat. The top coat adds shine and offers further protection to keep your nails from chipping.
How to Preserve Your Pedicure
- Keep nails short with rounded edges. Long, sharp-edged toe nails tend to be more prone to chips and catching on clothing.
- Always clean nails thoroughly before applying polish. Leftover moisturizer and oil residue prevent polish from adhering to nails and make it chip faster.
- Gently buff nails before applying polish to make it last longer.
- Wear open-toed shoes like flip-flops for two days after a pedicure and avoid the possible friction and wearing away of polish due to socks and/or closed-toe shoes.
- Apply an additional top coat on the third day for up to five extra chip-free days.
- The lighter the shade you choose the less likely it is to show chips.
- Before bed, apply foot cream and cotton socks to keep feet silky-soft and moisturizer cuticles.
- Avoid swimming in a chlorinated pool. The chemicals can break down your polish and make it chip sooner. Long soaks in the tub can also shorten the length of your pedicure.
The copyright of the article How to Give Yourself a Perfect Pedicure in Skin/Nail Care is owned by Nancy Weinberg Simon. Permission to republish How to Give Yourself a Perfect Pedicure in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
