A pedicure sesh at a salon sounds so much easier and hassle-free than doing it all by yourself at home. But the advantage of an at-home sesh is that you know you’re using the right products in the right way. So, let’s discuss the benefits of a pedicure and how to do a pedicure at home, followed by some essential dos and don’ts you must follow.
3 Pedicure Benefits You Should Know About
Here’s enlisting 3 pedicure benefits:
1. Cleans Dirt From Inside Of The Nails
The nails of your feet are exposed to dirt, dust, and pollution far more than the nails of your hands. They are also exposed to product buildups of old nail polish and cleansing agents. Hence, it is essential to deep cleanse the nails of your toes to get rid of dirt and dead skin cells in the cuticles of your nails.
2. Helps in Blood Circulation
The massaging and scrubbing involved in a pedicure aids in increased blood circulation in your feet. This helps in keeping your feet more flexible, contributing to overall health.
3. Helps You De-Stress
Even the thought of soaking your feet in warm water makes your face light up with a smile, doesn’t it? So now think of how relaxed your feet actually feel when you dip it in a tub of warm water.
Things You Will Need For A Pedicure At Home
Here’s a list of things you will need to get started. Make a list of the things you’ll need to buy, if you’re a beginner, before you move on to pedicure massage steps.
- A tub of warm water / foot bath
- Shampoo / bath salt
- Foot scrub
- Pumice stone / foot file
- Nail cutter
- Cuticle pusher
- Nail file
- Nail scrubber
- Nail colour remover
- Cuticle cream
- A clean towel
- Moisturiser
- Cotton pads
- Nail colour of your choice
10-Step Procedure For Doing A Pedicure At Home
Follow these simple pedicure steps for a hassle-free experience:
1. Get Rid Of Your Old Nail Polish
Remove any remnants of your previous nail polish with nail polish remover and cotton wool. For a remover, it is advisable that you pick one that is free from acetone, so that it is gentler on your nails. Unless you are trying to remove more stubborn nail lacquer that is embedded with glitter. If you’ve run out of the stock for cotton, you can use a paper napkin as an alternative, although its material isn’t as abrasive. Hence, it is most likely to take you more time and effort to remove the nail polish.
2. Dip Your Feet In Water
Fill up a tub with warm water and soak both your feet in it. If you have a foot bath, now’s the time to make the best use of it. Alternatively, you can dip your feet into your bathtub while sitting on the edge of it. Mix some epsom salt or any bath salt you like into the water. If you don’t have either of these, a few drops of shampoo will do the trick for you. Sit with your feet dipped in water for about 5 to 10 minutes for the cuticles to become soft. And then dry your feet, one at a time.
P.S.: Epsom salt is great for soothing sore feet, thus, de-stressing you.
3. Apply Cuticle Remover
If you have a cuticle remover at home, use it around the cuticle and also the feet to soothe rough feet. This will help in removing the calluses. If you don’t have a cuticle remover at home, you may skip this step or invest in one.
4. Remove Rough Skin
Next, it’s time to hop onto removing the rough skin under your feet with a pumice stone or foot file. This will help smooth the skin and remove calluses you may have. Planning to do a pedicure at home? This is one step you cannot overlook if you want a pedicure at home for cracked heels.
5. File Your Nails
Pick up your nail cutter to trim your nails. Don’t bother about shaping them right now. Once you’re done with cutting your nails, move on to filing it, to give your nails the shape that you want to go for.
6. Massage Your Feet
Once you’re done with tending to your feet, apply a moisturiser and give your feet a good massage with it for as long as you want. TIn case you have an electrically-operated foot massager, there’s nothing like it! You can skip using the moisturiser and, instead, focus entirely on the massager.
7. Remove Oil From the Nails
A very important step and yet often skipped, removing the oil that may have accumulated on the nails of your feet helps the nail colour last longer. Use a big cotton wool or a clean towel to soak in the oil that may have been left behind by the cuticle remover.
8. Apply A Base Coat
It’s time to apply a thin transparent coat as the base to make the anil colour last longer. How does it make the nail colour last longer, you ask? It acts as a barrier between the nail colour you will apply next and the natural oil that is secreted by your nails.
9. Apply Nail Colour
When the base coat dries up, apply a later colour of your favourite nail colour. Wait for it to dry completely again before you apply a second, thin coat of the same colour. Make sure you take up very little colour on the brush, just enough to apply a coat, so you can apply the colour in a tidy manner.
10. Apply The Final Top Coat
A crucial step of your pedicure sesh, applying a top coat is an indispensable part of a pedicure sesh. This is important to make the nail colour stay long, reducing the chances of it chipping off in no time. Do a touch test after 10 to 15 minutes and finally after about 25 to 30 minutes, to know whether the nail colour has settled well. This is especially essential if you plan to slide your feet into a pair of flip-flops or plan to wear socks and shoes soon after. And, ta-da, you’re finally done with the pedicure steps.
8 Dos & Don’ts To Remember During An At-Home Pedicure Sesh
| DOS | DON’TS |
| Never skip applying the base coat or the top coat. | Don’t over-file the skin along the edges of your nails. |
| Use tools that are devoid of rust and dirt. | Don’t leave your nail polish on for more than 2 weeks. |
| Opt for nail colours of vegan, cruelty-free brands. | Opt for nail colours from vegan, cruelty-free brands. |
| Use moisturising creams every day. | |
| Take care while using the nail cutter, so you don’t cut the cuticles. |
Pedicure steps are pretty simple, aren’t they? Follow the steps for a DIY pedicure at home, which we just discussed, and become a pro at it yourself. And, yes, do remember the basic dos and don’ts of pedicure while you’re at it.
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