It is a pity that we often ignore our feet, though we take a lot of care of our face, hair and hands. But, please remember, in order to look smart and well-groomed, your feet also need a lot of attention and care. Well maintained feet are the mark of a successful and confident woman.

Yes, you guessed it right! We are talking about the art of Pedicure. And when it comes to pedicure, the best thing is we can easily do it in the comfort of our own house with right tools and a correct method. So let’s start, shall we?

First of all, let us make a list of all essential commodities required for a saloon-like pedicure. These are:

  • Cotton pads
  • Nail clipper
  • Cuticle pusher
  • Nail file
  • Pumice stone
  • Nail scrubber
  • Nail polish remover
  • A tub of warm water
  • Bath salt
  • Shampoo
  • Foot scrub
  • Cuticle cream
  • Moisturizer
  • A soft cotton towel

Step 1: Remove old nail polish

 The very first thing you have to do is remove any traces of old nail polish. Dab some nail polish remover on a cotton pad and apply on your nails to remove the old polish.

Step 2: Trim and shape your nails

 Next is to prepare your nails. Trim your nails neatly with a nail clipper. Make sure that you cut straight across, and don’t cut the corners too deep as this may lead to very painful ingrown nails. Next, give shape to the nails using a nail file. Also smoothen the rough edges using the file. File the nails in a single direction, as back and forth motion will weaken the nails. You can give various shapes to your nails, but most common shapes are square, oval and pointed.

Step 3: Soak your feet

 After all the hard-work done in preparing your toe nail, it is time to relax and enjoy. Fill warm water in a tub to cover your ankles. To keep it simple you can add some bath salts and a few drops of a shampoo. But if you want a saloon-like experience, you should do the following:

  • Add the juice of a lemon (whole)
  • Add about half a cup of Epsom salt to the water. This will reduce roughness and soothe any kind of pain or inflammation.
  • In order to calm your nerves, you can add a few drops of any essential oil.
  • Add a few smooth pebbles to give your feet a gentle massage.

Soak your feet for about 20 minutes. Then dry them with a towel.

Step 4: Scrub your feet

 Apply some cuticle cream on the base of your nails to soften the cuticles. Leave it as such for a few minutes. Instead of cuticle creams, you can use a combination of coconut oil and olive oil, which is very effective and devoid of any harsh chemicals. Coconut oil softens the cuticles and prevents dryness, while olive oil helps in maintaining healthy nails and prevents cuticles from penetrating the skin and nails.

In the meantime, by using a foot scrub or pumice stone remove all the rough dead and dry skin cells. Also scrub your heels, soles, areas between your toes, the sides of your feet, and your ankles. Next, wipe off the cuticle cream and push back the cuticles gently with a cuticle pusher. Scrub your nails with a nail scrubber.

Step 5: Moisturize your feet

 After scrubbing away the dead skin, wash your feet again and dry them. Then apply moisturizer and gently massage the feet for about 10 minutes. Also massage your heels, ankles and soles. Moisturizing hydrates your skin, keeps it soft and prevents it from cracking.

Step 6: Decorate your nails

 Once all the above rituals are done, you can polish your nails with your favourite shade.

  • First apply a base coat on your nails. For this you can apply a transparent nail polish.
  • Then apply the shade of your choice. Let it dry, and then apply another coat.
  • Once the second coat dries out, apply a top coat. This will enhance the appearance of your nails.

Some extra tips

  • If there is paucity of time, you can scrub your feet twice or thrice a week while taking bath.
  • Sometimes keep your nails free of nail polish.
  • If you notice some infection or blackening on your nails, consult your doctor immediately.