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A Complete Guide to Home Pedicure

Chandramita Bora
Pedicure at home is an effective way to enhance the appearance of your feet and that is too without spending much. Here are some tips and techniques for carrying out the same.
Pedicure is perhaps one of the most relaxing and soothing experiences that one can have. Apart from pampering your feet, it helps to keep them healthy by preventing nail diseases and disorders. To get this relaxing treatment, it is not always necessary to visit an expensive spa.
You can get all the benefits of this treatment right at your home with the help of a few pedicure products that can be found in many beauty stores. So, buy a good pedicure kit, in order to experience its wonderful effects at home.

Pedicure Products
These are usually required for getting this task done at home are:
  • Nail cutter
  • Nail filer
  • Nail brush
  • Cotton balls
  • Nail polish remover
  • Foot file
  • Toenail clippers
  • Pumice stone
  • Orange stick
  • Foot bath
  • Foot lotion
  • Cuticle creams and oil
  • Bath salts or Epsom salt
  • Base coat
  • Clear and colored nail polish

Technique

Getting this task done at home is not so complicated, as assumed by many. The whole process is quite simple, and you can do it on your own, without spending much.
  • The first step is to remove any residues of nail polish from your toenails. So, soak the cotton balls with the nail polish remover to remove the old polish. Instead of cotton balls, you can also use cotton band.
  • Fill up a basin or foot bath with warm water. You can add bath salts, Epsom salts or essential oils to the water. Bath beads and bath oils can also be added to get that moisturizing and softening effects of commercial foot soaks.
  • Soak your feet in warm water for about 15 to 20 minutes. This will help to soften or loosen the dead skin cells and calluses, so that they can be easily removed. This will help to soften the nail cuticles as well.
  • Now, is the time for removing dead skin cells from your feet. For this, massage your feet gently with a bath salt. Also rub the feet, especially the heels and the balls of your feet with a pumice stone to slough off the remaining dead cells.
  • Use the nail brush to clean your toenails.
  • Take out the feet from water and dry them with a soft towel. Apply a good quality foot lotion thoroughly.
  • Apply cuticle creams to soften the cuticles. Once the cuticles have softened, use the orange sticks to push back the cuticles gently.
  • Trim the nails with the help of toenail clippers and the file. Shape the nails by cutting them straight across with the help of a toenail clipper or a nail cutter. Use the toenail nipper to trim any loose skin.
  • Now moisturize your feet with a feet cream or lotion. Also, rub the cuticles with a small amount of cuticle oil to moisturize them. Remove the excess oil with a towel before applying the nail polish.
  • Seal the new beautiful look of your nails with the nail polish of your favorite color. First, apply a thin base coat and let it dry completely, before applying the nail polish.
  • If you are fond of the classic look of French pedicure, then apply a coat of pink, peach, or pearl-colored polish, followed by the application of a small strip of white polish on the tip of the toenails. Finally, apply a clear coat to seal and complete that neat look.

Pedicure Recipes

The basic pedicure recipe is very simple, as it requires only bath salts to be added to water, as has been mentioned already. However, many people prefer to mix a small amount of milk with warm water to make a foot soak, as lactic acid found in milk is known to have exfoliating properties.
Another recipe is the lemon olive oil recipe, which combines the goodness of both lemon and olive oil. Add lemon juice from a freshly cut lemon and 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the basin filled with warm water. Soak your feet for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Another popular and simple recipe is the milk and honey recipe. Just add 2 teaspoons of honey and a cup of milk to the bowl of warm water. Also, add a small amount of sugar and a few drops of almond oil to make this foot soak.
In addition to these, you can use other ingredients like buttermilk, almond extract, and cucumber to make your own foot soak.