How to Do a Pedicure

Feet are the most used part of our body. Often stuffed in tight wedges, uncomfortable yet stylish stilettos or packed sneakers, they bear our weight throughout the day. They need to be pampered for all the hard work as well as to make them look pretty and clean. Clean, healthy nails and unblemished feet always look gorgeous in any kind of footwear. So go ahead and follow the easy steps below to give yourself a classic pedicure.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Nail polish remover
• Cotton balls
• A tub filled with hot water big enough to soak your feet
• 1 tsp. of shampoo
• 1/2 tsp. of salt
• A pack of marbles (usually used for decoration)
• A loofah
• A foot scrubber
• Foot scrubbing cream
• A rich moisturizer
• Cuticle remover
• Nail clipper
• Orange stick
• Nail file
• Buffer
• A nail varnish in your favorite color (optional)
• Clear nail coat (optional)

1. 
    

   Add the shampoo and salt to the hot (but bearable) water. Place the marbles in the tub. Remove all traces of nail polish from your nails and soak your feet till the ankles in the water rolling your feet on the marbles. This would relax your nerves and provide a massaging sensation to the feet. Fresh flowers can also be added to the water for fragrance.

2. 
    

   After soaking the feet for 15 minutes, use the loofah all over the feet to remove dead skin and soften them up. Now take a good amount of foot scrub and using circular motions massage it all over the feet, especially between the toes and the balls of your feet. You can use the foot scrubber to give a good scrubbing that leaves the feet soft and clean. Rinse off well and dry.

3. Massage a rich moisturizing cream on your feet to trap the moisture in the skin and keep them soft. Using a sharp nail clipper, cut the nails directly across keeping your desired length.

4. Use a few drops of cuticle remover on the toe nails and massage well, Now use the cuticle pusher to push back the cuticles softly. In case of ingrown skin, use the cuticle cutter to remove it from the nail bed. Use a cotton ball to wipe the excess cuticle remover from the nails.

5. 
    

   File the nails in any one direction to make their edges smooth and fine. Take the buffer and buff the nails across for 30 seconds or until they shine.

6. 
    

   Apply a coat of clear nail polish, let it air dry for 10 to 15 minutes. Apply the nail varnish in your favorite color, dry for 15 minutes. Put on your favorite pair of stilettos and your all set with a classic pedicure.

Tips & Warnings

• The length of your toe nails depend on your choice, however it is best to keep them short so as to avoid chipped nails that look terrible.
• If you do not like applying nail varnish, follow the procedure until Step 5, buff nails till you achieve a shine.
• If you apply nail polish, make sure to refresh it after every three days. Just apply a single coat on top to freshen it up.
• Check the temperature of the water before soaking your feet. It shouldn't be boiling hot as you might scald yourself.
• Make sure to air your nails by removing nail polish after maximum five days, otherwise you nails may turn slightly yellow.
• Be careful with the cuticle cutter, keep on the edges to avoid deep cuts which are extremely painful and may cause ingrown nails.