The importance of getting a pedicure & a step-by-step guide to a DIY Pedi for all
Sheet rippers? Yes, I’m talking about those cracked heels and long toenails that could help you climb a tree; and our entire body weight rests on our feet and toes.
Now I know it’s woman’s month but this one is for the men too and in some cases for a woman’s sanity too. Most men believe that getting a pedicure is too girly or just not a manly thing to do.
I have to tell you that paying attention to how you look and taking into consideration your foot health or any other type of grooming rituals isn’t going to dent your masculinity or make you less of a man.
You should change your perspective. Going for a pedicure session at the spa is a MUST-DO routine for every woman and as well as for every man. It should be part of your grooming routine, as much as taking a shower every day.
I’m sure some of you listening right now would be thinking “Why should a man get a pedicure?”
Or some would even make it a 'sexuality' thing and say, “Isn’t that for a sissy?”
WELL, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GENDER, RACE, OR SEXUALITY.
Pedicures are therapeutic treatments for the feet that are done to remove dead skin, soften your feet, care for often ignored cuticles, and treat and shape your toenails. Just like flossing your teeth and going to the dentist for an oral clean.
The average person should get it at least once a month. Depending on how quickly your toenails grow, you can get a pedicure as often as you want.
While there are different ways to spoil yourself, like going to the club with your guys or buying new expensive gadgets for your home, frequenting the local spa is also another less expensive way to pamper yourself.
I understand that some men feel conflicted about getting pedicures since beauty treatment has always been associated with women or homosexuals. Things have changed, getting pedicures or manicures is not always about beauty but hygiene, and caring for your hands and feet.
Here are some benefits:
Prevents infections There are a few ways you can get infections in your feet. If you don’t moisturize regularly, the dry skin on your feet is more prone to infection because cracks form in the skin more easily. Additionally, the clipping, cleaning, and cutting of toenails that takes place during pedicures prevents the nails from growing inward and causing an infection.
Promotes circulation During a pedicure, you receive a massage of your feet and lower legs. Massaging helps promote the circulation of your blood. Increased blood circulation can prevent things like pain, arthritis, and varicose veins. Healthy blood flow also helps evenly distribute heat throughout your body. Finally, increased blood flow can help your lymph nodes clear toxins out of your body.
Improves nail health Speaking of blood flow, pedicures increase blood flow in your nails as well. Not only does the buffing make your nails shiny and tidy, but it can also increase the flow of nutrients that would otherwise be unavailable to your nails.
They promote mental health Finally, pedicures help promote your mental health. Just like massages, pedicures can help reduce stress. Stress is known as the “silent killer” because it is the root cause of so many illnesses and diseases that people experience. Pedicures are very relaxing, putting your mind at ease. Pedicures can also boost your confidence because they make your feet look great, so mental health benefits in that category as well.
It’s not such a bad idea to take an hour out of your “busy” routine for a manicure or pedicure. After all, this is relaxing and therapeutic for you. Plus it will also help you take your mind off whatever stress you are going through. Getting regular foot care can help prevent any foot-related diseases and keep your feet looking smooth and healthy.
The steps you have all been dying to know about...How to do a pedicure at home in 11 easy steps. And...it's, like, shockingly easy.
I can confidently say that even if you’re a total newb when it comes to DIY treatments, it’s shockingly easy—and, uh, fun?—to get a legit pedicure in the comfort of your own home.
So if you’re ready to get on my level, keep reading for the ultimate guide to salon-worthy pedicures, including all my tips and tricks for getting baby-soft feet.
Before you set off on your at-home pedicure journey, make sure you have all the proper tools. (And because I know you're thinking it: Don't worry, we've got some really excellent product recs throughout this guide if you need some ideas.) You can decide how basic or fancy you want to get with your supplies, but in general, you'll want to at least have the following:
Nail polish remover
Foot Exfoliator
Foot file or pumice stone
Nail file and clippers
Foot cream and cuticle oil
Nail polish (including base and top coat)
Step 1: Prep your nails for your at-home pedicure
Time to finally get rid of the remnants from your last pedi and do a proper polish removal. To remove every last bit of colour, soak a cotton pad in nail polish remover and hold it on each nail for a few seconds to allow the paint to break down before you start swiping. If you want that perfectly smooth, lacquered finish at the end, don’t half-ass this step.
Pro tip: If you’re left with any weird stains or a yellow tinge (you’ll usually see this after removing darker colours, like red or black), rub cuticle oil over the surface of your nails to lighten any residue.
Step 2: Soak your toes and feet
Before you start soaking, your first job—and this is important—is to go around your house and gather every candle you can find. Oh, and get yourself a glass of wine while you’re at it. The trick to making an at-home pedicure feel like a spa experience instead of, you know, rubbing your own feet in your too-small-for-comfort apartment, is setting the "mood" at your makeshift pedicure station.
Soaking your feet—which softens tough skin and cuticles (and is downright relaxing). I suggest using a basin. Fill her up with warm water and add a liberal scoop of skin-soothing bath salts or just use a cup of Epsom salt or Himalayan pink salt. Let your feet soak for a 15 minutes.
Step 3: Exfoliate & Clean Under Toe Nails
Use a foot exfoliating scrub or if you don't have simply mix sugar and coconut or olive oil together and scrub away. Next, use a nail brush or an old toothbrush and scrub under your toenails with normal soap.
Pro tip: Add a cap of Dettol in the basin at this point.
Step 4: Get rid of any dead skin
It's way satisfying to see how smooth your feet get after rubbing everything off. Grab a foot file or a pumice stone and go ham on your calluses, removing any and all thick dead skin. Be sure to really focus in on your heels and any other calloused, hard areas. Scrape until your feet feel smooth, but don't scrub your feet raw—you could end up causing irritation.
Step 5: Trim your toenails
Once your feet are smooth AF, it's time to whip your toenails into shape. Reach for classic nail clippers to trim and cut your nails. Don't worry about getting the edges perfect—you'll take care of that in the next step.
Step 6: Shape your toenails
Now that your toenails are at a perfect length, it's time to smooth them out. Pick up a nail file and shape the corners and edges. There's no need to rush during this step—take your time filing until all of your nails are even.
Step 7: Add a few drops of cuticle oil
Don't forget to pay special attention to your cuticles on each toe. While you can use an orange stick to push back your cuticles, save the trimming or cutting for the pros. Cuticles protect your nails from bacteria, and you shouldn’t trust yourself to mess with them—especially with that glass of wine in hand.
Instead, show them some love by working in a few drops of cuticle oil or use coconut or olive oil. It'll make a major difference in their shine, health, and the overall strength of your nails.
Step 8: Massage your feet with lotion
With a foot cream or body lotion, begin massaging your toes, feet, and calves until, well, you wanna stop. Not only will this massage feel amazing, but it'll also help hydrate your feet after all that scrubbing and soaking. Finish off by grabbing a cotton pad soaked with rubbing alcohol to clean the surface of each nail, removing any oily residue that could prevent your polish from sticking.
Step 9: Apply a layer of base coat
If you're thinking that you can skip this step, forget it! A base coat acts as a barrier between the natural oils that come from your nails and your actual polish, it's super important to swipe it on if you want your pedicure to last. And who doesn't want that?
Step 10: Paint your toenails
If you have toe separators, grab them. Otherwise, tear off a piece of paper towel, rolling or twisting it into a rope, and weaving it through your toes to prevent the polish from smudging. Apply two thin coats of your color of choice, letting the paint dry for a few minutes between each coat. If you kind of suck at painting inside the lines, use an orange stick to clean any mess-ups.
Step 11: Finish with a top coat
Unless you want your pedicure to chip the next day, you don't want to skip this step, either. Layer on a top coat to seal in the nail polish. You'll be left with a super shiny and long-lasting finish.
The final look
And there you have it: a salon-quality pedicure in the comfort of your own damn home. What are we spending our extra money on?!