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How to Pedicure at Home

Tired of paying way too much for a pedicure? Not to mention the potential health issues (the spread of fungus in some salons). Pedicures can cost upwards of $85. Why pay the money when you can do it yourself in just a few steps?

There are a few simple tools that you’ll need to complete the job.

#1 – Nail Polish Remover

#2 – Nail Polish (a deep red is my favorite color)

#3 – Nail Clippers and an Emory Board

#4 – Soaking Foot Massager to soak feet (spoil yourself).

#5 – Moisturizing Lotion (Quality Counts)

The first step is to completely remove all the existing nail polish. Use a lint free cotton pad rather than cotton balls to avoid leaving lint on your nails. Thoroughly remove all the nail polish paying close attention to the creases where the nails meet the toes.

Next clip your toenails. IMPORTANT: Make sure your nail doesn't extend over the tip of your toe. Long toenails are not attractive and can inadvertently damage your partners’ legs at night. Use an Emory Board to clean up the nails and remove pointy edges. Shape the nails to your liking.

After clipping your toenails and shaping them. It’s time to spoil yourself. Grab your Soaking Foot Massager and fill it with warm water. Throw in some bath salts, Epsom salt, and/or aromatherapy oils. Soak your feet for at least 10 minutes. The more cracked & calloused your feet, the longer they need to stay in.

Trick of the Trade: Add a quarter cup of milk to your bath along with the essential oils & salts. The lactic acid in the milk loosens dead skin.

After soaking your feet, pat dry with a soft towel leaving your skin still moist, not completely dry. The use of a cuticle remover is recommended. A cuticle remover helps remove excess tissue to give your nails an even, attractive outline. Leave on for a minute, use an orangewood stick to gently push with a circular motion everywhere where skin meets the nail (including the sides). Be careful to remove skin only on top of the nail, don't touch the toe flesh.

Apply an exfoliating body or foot scrub to a foot file or wet pumice stone to slough away the dead skin on the balls & heels of your feet. Scrub the balls, bottoms & sides of your heels & around the toes. Remember smooth, don't remove. You'll want to stop if your foot turns bright red, which means you’ve scrubbed to hard damaging the skin.

Massage your feet with a high quality moisturizing lotion or foot cream. Pay attention to the rough areas of your skin and in between the toes. Take your time and moisturize thoroughly.

HINT: Most men know that women love foot massages. Try asking your partner to give you a foot massage while moisturizing your feet. It’ll feel great and help relieve stress.

You can also rub in a little cuticle oil to rehydrate your cuticles.

Apply a thin base coat using 3 strokes, one down the middle, and one on each side. Don't paint the cuticle. Wait a minute before adding two coats of your favorite polish, then finish with a thin top coat. Clean up any errors with an orangewood stick wrapped in cotton & dipped in nail polish remover. It's good to paint any polish remaining on the brush over the front nail edge to prevent chipping.

Wait at least 40 minutes to allow your nails to dry. To make your pedicure last longer apply a clear topcoat.

Now that your feet have had a fresh pedicure, grab your digital camera and take a few snapshots of your pretty piggies. Then get on your computer and go to www.WorldsPrettiestFeet.com and enter in the World’s Prettiest Feet contest. Who knows you might just win a professional pedicure kit.