At-home pedicures are an obvious choice for the budget-conscious, but they’re also a great option if your salon is closed or you’re trying to avoid going out any more than necessary. If the phrase “at-home pedicure” just conjured up an image of hunching over on the couch and slapping on some polish, you’re not alone. There’s no need for your at-home pedicure to be anything less than luxurious, though!
What Do I Need?
What you need will vary depending on how luxurious you’d like your at-home pedicure to be. Generally, though, you’ll want to round up:
- Nail polish remover
- Cotton balls
- Nail file or clippers
- Small tub for soaking
- Cuticle pusher
- Epsom salts
- Pumice stone
- Sugar scrub
- Towel
- Lotion
- Polish or other nail product of choice
Cleaning
Begin by cleaning your nails with a non-acetone nail polish remover. Even if you’re not wearing nail polish, this step can help to remove oils and dirt that build up over time.
Foot Soak
Soaking your feet not only feels great, it helps soften dead skin and callouses, making it easier to restore your feet to their beautiful, baby soft state. Soak in a mixture of Epsom salt and warm water for about 15 minutes. You can add essential oils, such as tea tree oil, which helps kill bacteria, to amp up the spa quality of your pedicure.
No time to soak? Take a shower! The heat and steam will have a similar effect and exfoliating in the shower can make clean-up easier as well.
Exfoliation
After your soak, it’s time to exfoliate to remove that softened dead skin. A pumice stone is generally the tool of choice, but a foot file or good-quality loofah will work. Gently but firmly use the pumice stone on your feet. Focus on areas with thicker, rougher skin, such as the heel and ball of the big toe. Next, you’ll rub your feet and calves down with a nice sugar scrub, rinse, and use a towel to pat dry.
Moisturize
Before all the moisture has left your skin, it’s time to trap some of it in. Apply your favorite lotion or foot cream to your feet, ankles, and calves. Take this opportunity to give yourself a little foot massage! Massaging your feet has never been easier using our Foot Massage Roller. If you are pampering yourself at night, be sure to lock in the moisture with a pair of our Moisturizing Heel Socks.
Nail Care & Shaping
Use a dab of polish remover to quickly remove any oils, lotions, or other products from your nails. Apply cuticle remover and use your cuticle pusher to gently push back the cuticles. Follow up with cuticle oil to keep your nails happy and healthy.
Your best bet for healthy nails and a length and shape you love is to use a nail file to gently file them into shape. However, if you do decide to clip, avoid cutting your nails too short. The shape of your nails should follow the natural shape of your toes. Regardless of the shape you choose, wait until your nails are dry to shape them. This will help prevent breakage.
Color
Once your toenails are all ready for color, you’ve got a plethora of options. You can choose from nail polish, polish strips, vinyl strips, or even at-home gel products. If you don’t want any color, you can also opt to simply buff your nails to make them shine.
When you polish your nails, easily and comfortably separate your toes with the ZenToes Gel Toe Separators. If you opt to go with polish, don’t skip the base coat. Although it takes extra time, the base coat helps nourish your nail and ensures that the polish goes on more smoothly. You can clean up smudges as you go with a cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover.
Enjoy!
Show off those beautiful feet!