How to DIY pedicure
If it's not a beach invite this weekend, it's a wedding to attend, a backyard barbeque, or a nice summer stroll. Your summers are filled with flip-flops, sandals, peep-toe heels, or even barefeet. But before you go off parading your podiatry parts to the public, make sure you've taken care of those heel calluses, cleared up that toe jam funk, and trimmed your toenails. (And why not polish off with a pop of colour while you're at it?)
We know bi-weekly, or even monthly pedicure visits to the salon are out of the question for most paycheques, so here's our purse-friendly, how-to guide for making your own foot spa at home (and convenient links to where you can get the supplies right here)!
What you'll need:
- warm water
- bath salts
- foot file or a pumice stone
- toenail clipper (some people will insist on straight-edge for toenails, but we find either works if you know the technique)
- emery board
- foot cream
- your favourite nail polish colour!
Duration: 35 minutes
Step 1: Soak your feet in a small warm water tub with Epsom salts for about three to five minutes. The warm water and salts will soften the skin and make the corns and calluses easier to scrub away.
Step 2: Pat your feet with towel to dry it off and rub off dead skin cells (usually on your heels and the mounds beside your toes) with a pumice stone or a foot file. Rub vigorously in a circular motion, do this for about three minutes or until the skin turns pink.
Step 3: Trim your toenails with a clipper. Make at least three cuts across the nail so it's a slightlly rounded shape. Use a nail file to help get that round shape to prevent ingrown nails. You can also use the file to buff the surface of the nail if you need to make it smoother.
Step 4: Apply a base coat to your toe nail first, to protect it from the ever-flattering jaundice effect. Choose your colour of weapon and apply two coats on top of that, letting the coats dry in between. Finally, lock it in (and prevent chips) with a top coat.
Step 5: When the polish has completely dried, moisturize your entire foot (from heels to cuticles) with a foot cream.
There you go! Your fancy feet are ready to seize the day! If you really want to show your dogs some love, don't wear flip-flops this summer (unless you're at the beach), it may be convenient and tempting, but its lack of support is seriously bad for your feet.
Put your feet up and enjoy your spa at home. With the money you're saving from spending on a pedicure appointment, pick out a nice pair of sandals with some more supportive straps instead!