Basic Pedicure Procedures
Giving yourself your own pedicure can be a great way to save money and look great, but it’s important to have the right tools and know basic pedicure procedures to give your feet that polished glow. Regular pedicures are the best way to keep your feet looking and feeling their best. However, regular pedicures can be an extra expense that just don’t factor into your budget.
Equipment
In addition to the color you would like to paint your toenails, you should also have a good top and bottom coat. A clear polish that helps protect the color against chips will be essential to a good pedicure=. You should also have nail polish remover on hand to take off any old nail polish or fix mistakes you make while painting. As for tools, it’s good to have nail clippers and a nail file, as well as a pumice stone to exfoliate dead skin from your feet, an orange stick or a cuticle pusher, and some moisturizing lotion.
Soak
After you remove any old nail polish, soak your feet in a warm tub of water. It’s good to add about half of a cup of Epsom salts and, if you like, some Borax. Borax may seem like a strange addition, but its main ingredient, Sodium Tetraborate, has been found to have softening properties when added to water. Remember to soak your feet for at least five minutes.
Cut and Shape
It’s best to cut your toenails after your feet have soaked in water. This allows the nails and skin to soften for easier, more precise trimming. Cut and file your toenails straight across. Shaping them in an oval shape can lead to ingrown toenails. After cutting the nail, file them to the desired shape, and put your feet back into the water.
If you wish to push back your cuticles, they are now soft and ready to be pushed. You can use a liquid cuticle remover, push them back with a cuticle pusher, or trim the cuticles with scissors. It is not advisable to cut the whole cuticle off; the area where the cuticle meets the nail can be prone to bacterial infection if opened up. Cuticle scissors will be useful if you have loose or dangling cuticles or skin.
Exfoliate
If your feet are rough and dry, exfoliation will help remove the dead skin and give way to the softer, newer skin beneath. Use the pumice stone on the bottom and sides of your feet and toes, applying firm but gentle pressure, until you have sufficiently removed the dead skin.
Moisturize
After you have exfoliated both feet, rinse them in the water bath and pat them dry. Rub some moisturizer all over your feet, then swipe some nail polish remover over your toes to get rid of the lotion on your toes.
Paint
First, brush a layer of the clear base coat over your nail. When it is dry, begin with your first coat of color. After that coat, apply one more colored coat, and then a clear top coat. Allow your polish to dry completely before showering or wearing socks or closed-toe shoes.
