So you have decided to go for the home pedicure option. Here are 12 tips for doing it just like the professionals! Not even your best friend will be able to tell the difference. If you are going to do the ritual, allow an hour or more for drying. As a general rule, if you are applying more than two coats, waiting time is going to be necessary.
Your pedicure should last about two weeks without chipping (depending on what brand you use). Enjoy! your feet are about to look fabulous!!!
You will need the following supplies:
- Pumice stone
- Toe separators or cotton balls/roll
- Emory board
- Cuticle remover
- Orangewood stick
- Color nail polish
- Base coat
- Top coat
- Nail polish remover
- Quick dry spray
- Nail clippers
- Big bowel or bucket
- Nail buffer
- Cotton balls
- Towels
- Peppermint Lotion
- Socks
- Thoroughly saturate a cotton ball with nail polish remover and use it to remove any old polish you may have on your toenails from you last pedicure. Gently pressing the cotton ball on the nail for a moment before wiping the nail with a circular motion will make it easier to remove the polish.
- Fill the big bowl or bucket with enough warm soapy water to cover your feet. Soak for at least five minutes.
Note: Whenever you are working on one foot, the other foot should be soaking in the warm water. - Dry your foot and apply the cuticle remover at the base of each nail. Wait one minute for the remover to soften the cuticle. Use the wedged end of the orangewood stick to push the cuticle back. Repeat this procedure on the other foot.
- Using the nail clippers, cut off any nails that are too long. Length is a personal preference, but make sure the nail is shorter than the toe. Be careful not to cut the nails too short as this can cause ingrown toenails and can be quite painful. With the emery board, file the nail into a square shape.
- Use the nail buffer to smooth any roughness or ridges on the surface of the nails.
- Wet the pumice stone in the big bowl or bucket. Rub any areas of dry or flaking skin gently with the pumice stone. Rinse the foot and dry.
- Apply a generous amount of lotion to the foot, massaging it in and taking care to cover all the foot, especially the dry and flaky parts. Massage the lotion up your legs to your knees. Relax for 10 minutes, allowing your skin to soak in the soothing lotion.
- Saturate a cotton ball with nail polish remover and go back over your toenails, making sure that all lotion residues are removed. This is important, since the polish will not stick to any surface that still has lotion residue on it.
- Press the toe separators between the toes, so that each toe is not rubbing on the next.
Note: Toe separators should never be shared. You never know where other peoples toes have been. Be very careful to keep the cotton wool away from the nails themselves, as cotton fibers will ruin the look of the polish. - Brush 1 coat of the base coat over each nail. Allow it to dry for one minute.
- Apply 2 coats of the nail color. Allow it to dry for 5 minutes.
- Apply the top coat. Allow it to dry for 1 minute, then spray your nails with the quick dry spray.
If possible, allow a half hour for the nails to dry completely.
This entire procedure should take about an hour. After your nails are dry, you can look down often and admire your handiwork. Your pedicure should last about 2 weeks or even longer if you apply more coats of the topcoat. Have fun!
