How to Give a Great Pedicure

Giving yourself or a close friend a home pedicure can be a wonderful treat. If you are on a budget, a home pedicure can be a great way to relax. Come summer time, you can show off your pampered feet with a touch of style.

Things You'll Need

• Orange stick
• Cotton
• Nail clippers
• Nail file
• Basin of warm water
• Moisturizing pedicure tablets or liquid
• Towel
• Sea or bath salts
• Pumice stone
• Foot sloughing cream
• Cuticle stick
• Toe separators
• Base coat polish
• Nail polish
• Top coat polish

Instructions

Clip and File Your Toenails

1. Clean under your toenails using an orange stick wrapped in a piece of cotton. You can purchase one in any drug store or beauty shop.

2. Clip your toenails using a straightedge set of nail clippers. Try to leave some length near the edges to avoid ingrown toenails.

3. File your nails by stroking the file in the same directions. Sawing back and forth could result in weakened nails.

Soak Your Feet

1. Prepare a basin of warm water that's deep enough to soak your feet completely.

2. Add moisturizing tablets or liquid to the water. These are available from your local drugstore or supermarket and can soften your feet and deodorize them prior to treatment.

3. Soak your feet for 20 minutes, and don't forget to relax!

4. Dry your feet and discard the water.

Complete the Pedicure

1. Prepare your basin with fresh warm water and a few tablespoons of sea salt.

2. Soak your feet for another 20 minutes. This step will loosen dead skin for removal.

3. Remove your feet from the basin of water and pat your feet dry with a towel.

4. Discard the used water in the basin.

Pumice Your Feet to Remove Dead Skin

1. Begin to remove dead skin cells by swiping the pumice stone gently across rough areas.

2. Concentrate on rough calluses and the balls of your feet by using the pumice stone more in these areas. You won't need to apply extra pressure.

3. Try using a foot sloughing cream next, which contains small abrasive particles, to decrease flakiness. Rub it on and rinse with cool water.

Polish Your Nails

1. Push your cuticles back with a cuticle stick to allow for even polish application.

2. Separate your toes with toe separators.

3. Choose a base coat for your polish and stroke it on. Allow it to dry for the amount of time listed on the bottle.

4. Apply the first coat of colored polish by stroking it on. Allow to dry and apply a second coat in the same manner.

5. Stroke on a protective top coat and allow to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• In a pinch, you can add baking soda or a few drops of olive oil to the water to soften your feet.

• Avoid rough pumicing, which can harm your feet and cause sore spots.

• Soaking feet is not recommended for those with diabetes.