I absolutely love the pampering of a professional pedicure, but I can’t always slap down the dough it takes to get one. Luckily, I got through the pedicure section of cosmetology school and know how to give a professional one myself. Here, I’ll walk you through my basic pedicure procedure so you can do it at home too. I’ll also throw in some add-ons if you want to take it to the next level. And just a tip- most men (and other ladies!) love pedicures and would love a little pampering as a gift. I do them often for my guy- I like him to have soft tootsies too! haha. Before you get started, be sure to grab a tub to soak your feet (I use a Rubbermaid bin) and to sanitize all of your tools thoroughly. Even if you’re the only one using them, bacteria is still there lingering (I use barbicide because I’m a germaphobe). With that said, here we go!
Sorry my feet are so not cute. Oi.
Step two can be varied depending on your preferences. I like to use a muscle soak by LIFE that I adore (it smells like eucalyptus) to soak my feet, but you can use epsom salts, bubble bath, oils, flower petals, tea, or anything else you want to. Make it as fancy or as basic as you like. I only recommend 10-15 minutes of soaking because you don’t want your nails getting too saturated and soft, since you’ll be painting them soon after.
Before you pull your feet out of the tub, I recommend using a pedicure scrub. It really preps your feet for removing the dead skin and they usually smell and feel great. I like the OPI pedicure scrubs (many fragrances available) and the Sally Hansen one too (lavender).
I really recommend getting a nice callus remover. I love this one from Earth Theraputics ($10, available at Ulta). It has a double sided plate and a smaller double sided file that slips out of the base. Be gentle when filing and take your time, so you don’t take off too much. Ouch. For the lotion massage, I recommend a heavy lotion. Be sure to sweep your hands up your calves and focus on the arch of your foot. This promotes blood flow, relieves pressure, and obviously helps with relaxation. Be sure to show some love- at least four minutes. You can jazz this step up by wrapping your freshly massaged feet in a warm, wet towel. I just run two small dishtowels under hot water, wring them out, and wrap up my feet. It really helps the lotion soak in and just feels plain old amazing.
Can I just say that that cuticle pusher gives me life? Because it does.
Be sure to add a base coat and topcoat to have a longer lasting pedi. You’ve come this far, go that extra mile! Haha. At least there are drying drops! You can also add a little cuticle cream to your toes if you’d like. If you have lotion residue on your nails, dip a cotton swab in some acetone and run it over each nail before painting.
Clean your tools later, after all, your toes do have to dry. All you have to do is slip on a face mask, some cucumber slices and throw on a cozy bathrobe.
Sounds good, eh?
xxx&o Meg
childoftheuniversebeauty 