By Yemisi Suleiman
In our day-to-day hectic lifestyle, we often neglect to take care of our feet. Just imagine the amount of hard work our legs and feet do –walking, jogging, experiencing new shoe bites – the list goes on!
Surely, our feet need more care and attention than we tend to give them.
Dedicate a few hours a week or every two weeks to pamper your feet. However, if you do not have the time to go to the spa, you can pamper your feet with a pedicure at home, using all natural ingredients.
Follow our simple, quick, step-by-step guide for doing your pedicure at home naturally.
Remove the Old Nail Paint
The first step to start with, the is to remove the remnants of your old nail polish. Just dab nail polish remover on the cotton pads and massage on your nails to remove the paint.
Soak your feet
If you have a foot bath, now is a good time to pull it out. Otherwise, fill your basin with warm water, add Epsom salt, it is a great choice, especially for sore feet, and dip in your feet. Let your feet sit for five to 10 minutes to soften your cuticles, then dry one foot at a time. If you have cuticle remover at home apply it around the cuticles and onto heels to help smooth rough feet and remove calluses.
Trim and file your nails
Begin with trimming your nails with nail clippers. Then, grab your file to soften and shape. If your heels or toes feel a bit rough, use a foot file or a pumice stone to gently smooth the skin and any calluses you might have.
Give yourself a little massage
Now, for the best part: Once both feet are dry and treated, apply a dollop of moisturizer for dry skin onto each foot. Massage your feet and toes for a few minutes—or as long as you’d like! Bonus points if you have an electric foot massager (in this case, skip the lotion!) or a partner who can help you out with a longer at-home massage.
Prep your toes.
Use a cotton pad to remove any excess oily residue, this helps polish last longer. Toe separators are most convenient, but there’s a workaround if you don’t have any: Simply grab a piece of paper towel and twist it into a rope, weaving it through your toes.
Apply a thin layer of base coat
Don’t skip this step, it’s crucial if you want your pedicure to last, since the base coat is what provides a barrier between the natural oils from your nails and the polish.
Apply polish
Once the base coat has dried, apply to a thin coat of your colour of choice. Let dry, then apply a second thin coat of colour. If you’re having trouble painting tiny toes, try to separate them more, to get a better vantage point. Putting less polish on the brush can also help keep things tidy.
Don’t forget the top coat
Another crucial step to make polish last: the top coat. A thin layer of top coat helps seal everything in and prevents premature chipping. Let dry, touch slightly to test at 10 to 15 minutes, though 20 to 30 minutes is ideal, particularly if you’re putting shoes on.