By Funmi Azike

A pedicure is a cosmetic treatment of toes and feet usually carried out in a salon. The basic pedicure process involves cleaning, trimming and shaping of nails along with the application of nail polish. During the pedicure process, cuticles are pushed back, calluses are removed and dead skin sloughed off. The treatment usually ends with some foot massage. Regular professional pedicure can help prevent so many foot conditions like calluses, ingrown nails, foot odour, etc. You can also have this relaxing treatment at home by following the steps below.

Home Pedicure

• Remove nail polish with cotton wool and nail polish remover.
• Cut toenails using nail clippers.  Cut the nails straight across with careful little snips rather than all at once, which can cause the nail to split/break.
• File with an emery board so that the edges are very slightly rounded and smooth.
• Fill a basin with warm water; throw in some bath salts or Epsom salts and a few drops of your favourite essential oil.
• Soak your feet for eight to ten minutes.
• Apply an exfoliating body scrub or homemade salt scrub to a loofah or wet pumice stone and scrub to slough off dead skin.
• Use a nailbrush to scrub around and under the toenails.
• Massage your feet with a moisturizer or cuticle oil and use a rubber hoof stick orangewood stick wrapped in cotton wool to gently push back.
• Don’t cut cuticles, leave that to professionals. The cuticles provide protection for the nail bed, which is a mass of blood vessels and damages easily.
• Rinse, pat skin dry and moisturise feet massage in your lotion/cream to give them an instantly smooth appearance and softness to touch.
• If you don’t want to polish your nails, massage your toes with almond oil or any available body oil you have.
• If you are going to apply nail polish, clean nails with soapy water and dry thoroughly.
• If you don’t have toe-separators, you can separate the toes with rolled up tissues or cotton wool balls.
• Apply your base coat, polish and then top coat. Allow two minutes in between applications. Always work from little toe to big toe to avoid smudging, polishing from bottom of the nails to the tips.
• It is best to wait at least 45 minutes or more before putting on a closed-toe-shoe. If you are in a hurry, when the nails are touch-dry, apply a dot of baby oil at the base of each cuticle and massage into the nail. This will help prevent smudging.

Home pedicures might not be as luxurious and relaxing as professional ones but they can do magic for your feet. You can also pamper your feet at home with soaks and scrubs that will not only make you feel good but will improve the health of your feet and your body as a whole. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or comments, I would love to hear from you. Till next week, stay beautiful!