How to Do a Pedicure at Home

Pedicures have a cosmetic appeal. Doing pedicures at home are a great money saver, can be fun when done with a group of friends and, with some practice, can replicate the results of the professionals. Here's how.

Things You'll Need

• Foot bath
• Polish (optional)
• Toe separaters (optional)
• Nail buffer
• Cuticle nippers (optional)
• Nail trimmer
• Nail file
• Foot brush
• Ped Egg or Foot file
• Warm water
• Cotton
• Polish remover
• Orange stick
• 2 Towels
• Body lotion
• Comfortable chair
• Foot rest (optional)
• About 30 minutes of uninterrupted time

Instructions

1. 

   Gather all the items needed. Pedicure bubble / vibrating baths may be purchased in local beauty stores and some corner pharmacies. However, a large basin big enough for both feet will be fine. The Ped Egg is a new product and well worth every dollar. In local Tampa, FL pharmacies, it sells for less than $15 dollars so if it is not out of your budget, it will save you tons of scrubbing time and give salon-smooth results. Polishing toenails are optional and since men enjoy pedicures just as much as women do, they may opt to forgo the polish.

2. Prep your feet for the experience. Using a nail polish remover soaked cotton ball, remove all traces of polish from nails. Wash feet and toes, preferably with a brush and antibacterial soap.

3. Exfoliate feet. If you have a ped egg, then use it on dry feet first to remove any deep, hardened cracks. If not, continue as noted below.Place a towel under the footbath in case of splash or spills. Soak feet in footbath filled with warm water. This is also a good time to add a favorite oil, such as lavender, or a tea bag for a spa-like experience.

4. Once the skin is softened, pat dry and use a foot file to buff to smoothness. Apply cuticle cream around the nail beds and push cuticles back with the orange stick. Carefully use cuticle nippers to remove the excess cuticle, or better yet, buff them away with a soft file. Rinse feet and pat dry.

5. Trim and file nails to desired length. Longer toenails have become fashionable recently, so trim and file nails to the desired length. Cut nails straight across to avoid getting ingrown nails later.

6. Finishing touches: Lather feet in your favorite lotion in massaging motions. Use quick strokes to buff nails to a natural high shine.

7. Polish nails (optional). Use a polish remover-soaked cotton ball to remove any lotion or other residue from the toe nails. Let dry.Separate toes with foam separator. Start with a clear or nail strengthening base coat. Let dry. Put on one coat of your choice nail color. Let dry. Put on second coat of polish. Let dry. Take a small portion of cotton and twirl it on the edge of the orange stick. Soak with polish remover. Carefully clean around the edge of each nail to remove extra polish. Put on clear top coat to protect color from chipping. Let dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Mood music, candles, and scented oils turn any pedicure into a spa experience. Having a partner so you can take turns pampering each other enhances the relaxation factor even more.

• If you have a foot fungus or want to avoid getting one, it is best to use your own pedicure equiment and supplies. One used, sterilize them by boiling in hot water after, or soaking in a bleach solution.

Resources

• Nail disease information