DIY - HOME PEDICURE

Are your heels dry and cracked and your toenails neglected? Remember that spending time caring for your feet should be an essential part of your beauty routine.





REMOVE VARNISH


Remove old polish from the nails of both feet with nail varnish remover. Gently rub cuticle oil into the cuticles.


FILE NAILS

File toenails straight across, rounding slightly at the corners to conform to the shape of the toe. Use a fine file to smooth the underside of the corners and to bevel the free edge. Use the toenail nippers to remove the underside of the corners so they do not dig into your flesh to cause ingrown toenails. Buff nails to smooth out ridges and leave them shiny and healthy (great if you are not applying polish).



APPLY CUTICLE SOFTENER

Apply cuticle softener and massage into the cuticle.



PUSH BACK CUTICLES

Use orange stick or metal cuticle pusher to push back the transparent cuticle and to clean under the free edge. Never dig into flesh, which may cause an infection. Do not use excessive pressure to push back your cuticles as this could result in damage to the matrix.



NIP HANGNAILS

If you have loose cuticle skin or hangnails, remove this by nipping with the cuticle nippers, being very careful not to cut any live tissue.




Repeat steps 2-5 on the other foot.


FILE CALLUSES

If you have a build-up of callused skin, file it with a foot file paddle. Never use a corn or callus trimmer to cut or remove callused skin; it is too easy to remove healthy skin along with the callus. Never try to remove all of the callused skin in a single session. Depending on the depth of your callus, it can take several months or more for the healthy skin to show through.



EXFOLIATE

Exfoliate the feet, including the soles, using dampened sea-salt or a suitable exfoliator to rub off rough skin patches and rev up your circulation.




SOAK

Place feet into warm water in the footbath; flip on the massage button if your machine has one. Allow feet to soak for five minutes, adding either oils such as peppermint, or a specifically designed foot soak to soften and relax feet.

Dry feet thoroughly.


SCRUB
Scrub your feet and toenails with the nailbrush, being sure to cleanse the side nail fold and under the free edge. Use a soft towel to dry your feet, legs and toes, not forgetting between the toes.

MASSAGE
Massage both feet by applying lotion, cream or oil to the palms of your hands and then to your feet. Massage feet, lower legs and toes, then put both feet back into the footbath to remove all traces of oil or lotion. Wipe each toenail with a cottonwool or gauze pad saturated with remover or alcohol to ensure the nail plate is free of oils.



APPLY BASECOAT

Apply a thin basecoat.



APPLY VARNISH
Apply two thin coats of colour and a thin topcoat for a long-lasting finish. Allow a minimum of one minute between coatings for each coat to dry. To prevent smudging, use toe separators. Leave in place until the enamel has dried completely.



SPRITZ WITH WATER

Apply a spritz of refreshing mist, followed by moisturizer. Finally, empty the footbath and clean it, as well as all implements, with disinfecting solution. Make sure you dry them well before storing them in a sealed container.