Owing to daily wear and tear, your feet become dull, rough, and unhealthy. Dry air, dirt, wearing improper shoes, and various other things affect the health and appearance of your feet. If you are about to go on a date, do you think just dressing good and looking attractive is enough? Do you think you can neglect the appearance of your feet? Well, no! The love of your life might see your feet and it can be a turn-off. However, if you opt for a regular pedicure, you won’t have to worry about embarrassing feet anymore.
A proper pedicure has a very important role to play. However, opting for the same in a beauty salon can cost you quite a bit, and you would not feel good about it (unless your boyfriend wants to pay the bills). It would be better if you treat your feet at home by yourself.
How to perform a salon-like pedicure at home
You can treat your feet at home and get the nail salon results by following 10 simple steps. But before you follow these steps, you need to know the items you will need. A tub of hot water, a pumice stone,and a bath soak (if you do not have one you can prepare it at home by mixing milk and water in 1:5 ratio). Other things you require are olive oil, a cuticle softener, a cuticle pusher, a foot or face scrub, a foot cream or heavy body cream, nail scrubber or toothbrush, a buffer, and nail polish of your choice.
1. Soaking your feet
Fill your tub with warm water and keep it in some place where you can sit comfortably for a while. Your nails no longer need that leftover nail polish, so clean them up. Add your choice of foot soak in the water, and stir to create some bubbles (you will love doing this).
Immerse your feet in the tub, at least up to your ankles. Now you just need to relax. You can take a small 30-minute nap, spend 30 minutes talking over phone, read a book, or watch your favorite television show to pass the time. When the water temperature reaches the room temperature, it’s the end of your relaxing foot soak.
2. Apply cuticle softener
Towel dry your feet gently. Apply a little cuticle softener at the root of your nails. If you do not have any cuticle softener, you can use some olive oil on each nails. It will soften your nails, and then you can push them back.
To make cuticle softener at home, you can slightly warm up olive oil in a double boiler. Add coconut oil and a little glycerin to it. Remove from heat and add your choice of essential oil. Your cuticle softener is ready. Apply it on each nail and let it stay.
3. Shape your nails
If you have always been fighting to cut your hard nails, now is the stage when you can cut them off easily and shape them, as your nails are very soft now. The nail style you choose depends on your general lifestyle. A squared shape looks great but makes your toes look shorter. So those with shorter toes should opt for rounded tips.
You should file your nails only in one direction or else you will end up with split nails. You can then use a buffer to smooth the edges and surface of your nails.
4. Cuticle care
After leaving the cuticle softener on your nails for about 5 minutes or more, you need to give some attention to this area. Using a cotton ball, remove the cuticle softener from the base of your nails.
Do not try to nip or cut the cuticles as that can be dangerous if not done the right way. Just push back the cuticles using a cuticle pusher.
5. Scrub your feet
After pushing the cuticles back, you need to scrub your feet. With a pumice stone, gently scrub the dead skin away. If the skin on your feet is hard, then use a little pressure.
You can use a scraper to scrape the dead skins on your heels, but do it only if you know how to handle the scraper properly.
6. Scrub your nails
Using a nail scrubber or an old brush, gently scrub over your nails. Your nails will get clean with the bristles of the brush. Make sure to also clean the under side of your nails with the brush.
Now scrub between your toes, under your toes, and near the balls of your feet. This can give you a nice tickling sensation if you are really sensitive. So, you are going to enjoy this stage giggling away. However, the step needs to be performed the right way to enjoy the proper results of a home pedicure.
7. Use a foot scrub
If you have a foot scrub, use that. Or you can use a face scrub to scrub your feet right up to the ankles gently. Use a generous amount and scrub your feet completely.
If there is too much dead skin present on your ankles, then make sure you scrub this area properly. Use counter-clockwise and clockwise directions to achieve the right results at this stage.
8. Oil massage
After you have completed scrubbing, wash your feet with water and pat it dry using a soft towel. Now, you need to massage your feet. Do not hurry at this stage, as all the efforts you invest will make your feet look more attractive.
Use foot oil or any massage cream to gently massage your feet. If someone can do this for you, nothing can be better. After some time again, wash your feet and pat them dry.
9. Apply your choice of foot cream
Apply some foot cream, and if you do not have one, you can use any heavy cream to massage your feet. If you have cracks on your feet, then you can use specially formulated cream for cracked feet.
While massaging the cream, make sure you do not apply it on your nails. If it happens accidentally, clean it with a cotton ball. Now let the cream soak in your feet for sometime.
10. Apply your favorite nail polish
Now comes the easiest part, something all girls love to do. Pick your favorite nail polish shade and apply a base coat. Allow it to dry. Once the first coat dries, you may apply another coat to intensify the color or apply nail designs to enhance the beauty. This stage completes the session.
Enjoy the results!
Will you make your own Pedicure at Home?
Even before your boyfriend gets to see your feet, you will fall in love with your lovely, healthy feet. Having well-groomed feet not only is hygienic and makes you look good, but also says a lot about your personality. So, make sure you treat them with a pedicure at home at least once in a while, as someone might be assessing you going by their appearance.