How to Fix a Sloppy Pedicure

Crazy pedicure

A pedicure can be a glorious enhancement to your feet, or it can end up a terrible mess. Perhaps you were in a hurry, in very dim light or put your shoes on too soon before your toenail polish was fully dry. You can fix a sloppy pedicure with a few simple tools and a few simple steps. Here’s how.

Things You'll Need

• Nail polish remover
• Cotton balls
• Cotton swabs
• Nail file

Instructions

1. Soak feet to soften. Fill the bathtub or a clean, large bowl or bucket with warm water. Add a dab of baby oil of you wish. Soak your feet for about five minutes to soften any excess polish, making it easier to remove. File any rough edges on the nails at this point, which will also help remove flyaway polish.

2. Remove polish from skin. Pour a small amount of nail polish remover into the bottle’s cap or other small dish. Soak the tip of a cotton swab in the remover. Carefully run the cotton swab around the perimeter of each toenail to remove sloppy polish.

3. Rinse any remover from feet. Once all excess polish has been removed, dump the bucket or empty the tub and remove all remover residue from your feet. Dry feet thoroughly, especially the tops of the nails.

4. Fix smudges. Using the same small amount of remover you put in the bottle cap, dab the pad of your finger into it. Lightly smooth your finger over any smudges, cracks or bumps in the toenail polish.

5. Touch up with more polish. If any of the dabbed toenails need a little fixing, swath a thin layer of polish over them.

6. Turn it into a crazy pedicure. If your toes are still lacking a smooth, finished look, make it crazy on purpose. Use different shades of polish and enhance the toenails with polka dots, stripes or other outlandish designs. If you make it look like you wanted your pedicure to be crazy, it will not look sloppy.

Tips & Warnings

• If a polish is way too dark and you don’t have time to remove all the polish, apply a thin topcoat of a sheer lighter color.

• If polish is too light, use a thin topcoat of a darker shade in the same color family.

• Cuticle cream massaged around the nail beds will also soften any polish that was hard to remove with a cotton swab.