Want Pretty Toes – Give Yourself a Pedicure Like the Pros

In the summer it’s time to give your feet an overhaul – the season of flip flops and open toes means that many  toe nails are in need of a little much needed TLC after being cooped up in socks and boots during the cold weather.

You may be happy to treat yourself to a professional pedicure but if you don’t have the time, the money or the inclination then there is another way. You can give yourself a home pedicure worthy of the professionals by following a few simple steps.

Step 1 – take off your any remnants of nail polish using a well soaked cotton pad (cotton balls can leave fuzzy bits behind). If the polish is being a little stubborn saturate the cotton and leave it pressed on the toe nails for a minute or two.

Step 2 – get out your clippers (much better than nail scissors) and chop your nails off squarely across the top . . . this helps to avoid in-growing toe nails.  You can file them into a softer shape using a file in one direction only – emery boards work great.

Step 3 – give your feet a well deserved soaking in a bowl of warm water with your favorite aromatherapy oils or bath salts.  If you put a splash of milk in there too it will help to loosen up the dead skin on your feet (a real pro tip that one).

Step  4 – it’s time to tackle the cuticles. Apply a little cuticle remover to each nail and gently massage into the base then take an orangewood stick and gently push around the area where your nail meets your skin.  Unless you are extremely confident it’s probably best to leave the cuticle nippers to the professionals.

Step 5 – scrub your feet with some foot scrub and a pumice stone or foot file to remove all off the rough, dead skin and leave them feeling soft and scrumptious.  Pay particular attention to the heel sides, balls of your feet and around your toes.  Don’t scrub your feet until they turn red or you won’t be able to walk for a week.

Step 6 – massage and moisturize . . . don’t forget to dry your feet thoroughly first of all . . . between your toes and everywhere else. Massage some special foot cream all over your feet and ankles, even up to your calves.

Step 7 – your toes are now ready for your favorite colored polish. Apply a base coat first of all, leave it to dry for a couple of minutes then choose your favorite color, apply a couple of coats of that and finish off with a top coat for added durability.  Any tiny mistakes can easily be managed using an orangewood stick with a little cotton and nail polish remover.

Step 8 – you may think that your pedicure is finished . . . and it could be . . . but a squirt of moisturizing oil once the polish has dried can help to set it and give a final bit of moisture to the cuticles.

And that’s all there is to it . . . break out the flip flops and enjoy the summer.