How to Do a Hot Rock Pedicure

Add hot rocks to your at-home pedicure for a spa-like treat.

The at-home pedicure can be as decadent as it is thrifty. After a long day on your feet or a long week of stress, locking yourself away with your favorite bath salts, foot cream and nail polish seems like a dream come true. However, you don’t have to settle for an ordinary massage. Add hot rocks to your pedicure routine for a muscle-relaxing, knot-busting massage.

Things You'll Need

• Small pot
• Candy thermometer
• 4 to 8 palm-sized, smooth massage rocks
• Foot-soaking tub
• Bath salts
• Oil-based foot scrub
• Towel
• Nail polish remover
• Nail buffer
• Nail polish

Instructions

Heating the Rocks

1. Fill a small pot with water and heat it to 120 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a candy thermometer to measure the temperature precisely. Make certain that the temperature is stable before moving to the next step.

2. Test the water with your fingers. If you feel the water is too warm, reduce the temperature. The rocks will heat to the temperature of the water.

3. Add the massage rocks and allow them to warm in the water while you begin your pedicure.

Pedicure

1. Soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes. Add a cup of your favorite bath salt to the water to relax tired muscles.

2. Rub your feet with an oil-based foot scrub to exfoliate dead skin and moisturized your feet.

3. Wipe off the foot scrub with a towel, but do not rinse. The oil will help lubricate the foot massage.

4. Bring the pot of water with the stones to your pedicure station.

5. Remove one of the stones from the water. As the stone in your hand cools, replace it with a new stone.

6. Lay the stone flat against the calf of one leg and work in large circles over the entire calf. If you feel any knots, you can use the edge of the rock and work in smaller circles over the knot.

7. Rub the edge of the rock up and down both sides of your ankle on either side of your Achilles tendon, five times on each side and then circle around your ankle five times on each side.

8. Rest the foot of the same leg on the opposite thigh to access the sole of the foot.

9. Start at the ridge just below your toes and run the edge of the rock down the center of your foot. Press firmly, but not hard.

10. Repeat for both sides of the sole.

11. Knead the muscles of the arch of the foot using the edge of the rock and small circular motions.

12. Place the rock between each of your toes and move the rock slowly back and forth. If you wear high-heeled shoes on a regular basis, this will help relieve the tension and pain in your toes.

13. Repeat steps 5 through 12 for the other leg and foot.

14. Remove any oil on your toenails with nail polish remover.

15. Buff or paint your toenails as desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Invest in a small slow cooker with a temperature setting and plug it in near your pedicure station so you don’t have retrieve your hot rocks after the foot soak.

• Allow 30 minutes to an hour for this pedicure. Not only will you have time to massage your feet, but you will also have time to allow your muscles to relax and your nail polish to dry.

• Purchase the palm-size, smooth rocks at a spa supply store.

• Do not soak your feet in hot water or use hot rocks if you are diabetic, pregnant or have any problems with sensitivity or insensitivity to heat.

References

• Real Simple: Easy At-Home Pedicure Shortcuts: If You Have 35 Minutes...
• Parenting: Feel-Good Foot Rub
• Massagetherapy.com: Stone Secrets
• DIY Stress Relief: DIY Foot Massage