Tips and Tricks for a home spa pedicure.
Time to trade those boots for flips and sandals! Whether you’re in-between pedi appointments or looking to shave a few bucks off your monthly beauty budget, a home pedicure is an easy and fulfilling way to give yourself some TLC. Clean up those tootsies with these steps for an at-home spa pedicure.
Step 1. Assemble your tools.
Gather up the essential elements of your home spa pedicure kit: Clean emery boards, wooden cuticle sticks, nail buffer, toenail clippers, non-acetone nail polish remover, cotton balls or pads, toe separators, foot file, nail polish base coat, color and top coat.
Tip: Emery boards are cheap when you buy them in bulk so ditch those ratty old ones!
Shop: Earth Therapeutics Foot Doctor Pedicure Kit comes with basic pedi tools plus a foot scrub and balm, $34.
Step 2. Clean and trim.
- Remove old polish.
- Clip toenails straight across.
- File nails into “squoval” shape (slightly rounded square shape).
Tip: Tilt emery board under nail and stroke in one direction.
Shop: Deborah Lippmann The Stripper lavender lacquer remover with twist-lock pump works like a charm without the strong smell of most nail polish removers, $19.
Step 3. Smooth and soften.
- Use nail buffer to gently smooth ridges.
- Massage olive oil into cuticles.
- Gently push back cuticles with an orange stick.
- Exfoliate heels with a foot or body scrub.
- Rinse and rub feet with lotion.
Tips: Resist the urge to over-buff and no soaking in a soapy solution (Madge was wrong, regular soap can be drying). Also leave any snipping of cuticles to your nail professional. For yellowing, use a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide in your foot soak to whiten the nails.
Shop: The Body Shop Peppermint Cooling Pumice Foot Scrub softens feet with a delightful tingle, $14.
Step 4. Polish and dry.
- Swipe nails with remover again and let them dry thoroughly.
- Apply base coat, two coats of color and top coat.
- Plop your feet and relax for 30 minutes to allow polish to dry.
Tips: Allow each coat to dry at least 2 minutes and keep coats thin by using three strokes — one down the middle and one down each side.
Shop: Karma Organic Natural Nail Polish is a non-toxic, vegan and cruelty-free nail paint in soft and pretty Wine O’clock, $9.99.
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