Want a spa-quality pedicure without the high price tag? Wrap yourself in a terry robe and settle in for an easy, at-home pedicure. Really want the spa treatment? Pour yourself a glass of Chardonnay and gossip with your best pal on the phone (in which case we can't possibly vouch for the results).
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 30 Minutes
Here's How:
- Remove Old Nail Polish
Choose an acetone-free remover (which is gentler) to get rid of all traces of your last pedicure.
Shop Removers:
- Soak Your Feet
The perfect time for a pedicure is after a bath or shower, but you can soften your skin in five minutes in a pinch. Use warm (not hot) water, and be sure to pat dry before the next step. - Remove Dead Skin
This is when the ladies at the corner nail salon take out one of those scary razor blades and the spa ladies rub expensive scrubs on your feet. We like to use both a foot scrubber (such as a pumice stone) and an exfoliating rub. Pay special attention to rough heels and rinse away sloughed-off skin when done.
Shop for a Scrub:
Buy a New Pumice Scrubber: - Clip and Shape Nails
Long toenails are creepy, so get yours back to a respectable length with a pair of clippers and a file.
Shop Toenail Clippers: - Tackle Your Cuticles
By this, we mean for you to reach for one of those angled wooden tools and push overgrown cuticles back into place. - Trim Excess Skin
Perhaps the most important step, you'll need a cuticle trimmer or nail "nipper" to help you remove dead, rough skin from all around your nails. Be careful - these tools are sharp!
Shop for a Nail Nipper: - Moisturize
Slather on a coat of rich moisturizer and give your feet a mini-massage. Wipe any lotion off your nails with a before applying polish. - Polish
Choose a fab nail color and apply two even coats to each nail.
Shop for Nail Polish:
Tips:
- Use cotton pads - not cotton balls - for tidier polish removal, as the balls tend to shred on stubborn polish.
- When filing, move from each edge to the center (don't zig-zag a nail file back and forth) and don't file the sides of your nails.
- Use a Q-tip with nail polish remover to clean up any excess polish.
What You Need
- Polish Remover & Cotton Pads
- Nail Clippers & File
- Nail/Cuticle Nipper
- Cuticle Pusher
- Pumice Stone & Exfoliating Scrub
- Moisturizer
- Nail Polish
