Beautiful Feet: The No Effort At Home Pedicure (5 Simple Steps!)

Its summer so that means pedicure season! Or is it?  You can skip those pricey pedicures altogether just by following a few steps.

Photo courtesy of womenhealthmag.com

Although I'm a fan of freshly polished toes and baby soft feet, I'm not keen on some of the methods used at some nail salons.  I've noticed that many nail salons use jetted foot baths that can't be cleaned properly therefore can harbour bacteria and dirt from previous clients, not to mention your own.  Also, the use of foot razors to remove callous and excess skin makes me extremely nervous- a blade is a blade and accidents happen.  Even if the nail technician doesn't use a foot razor, many nail salons use pumice stones and foot files that were 'cleaned' and reused.  The same thing applies with cuticle clippers- every time you cut your cuticles you are taking a small risk.  Unless you bring your own pedicure tools or verify every tool used is brand new, you have no way of knowing you won't be exposed to something that can cause a skin infection.

I admit a pedicure in a high end salon or spa once in a while can be a great way to be pampered but here are some things you can do to keep your feet in top condition so you can go longer in between treatments or skip them altogether:

EcoTools Foot Brush & Pumice.
Photo courtesy of Amazon.ca

• Exfoliate, exfoliate, EXFOLIATE! I can't stress the importance of exfoliation enough.  The toes can be overlooked when think of exfoliating our bodies, but doing it regularly will prevent buildup under the nails, keep the nail bed clean and encourage healthy growth.  This is especially important if you currently have ingrown or pincer nails.  Gently scrub the toes and the tips of the toes using a foot brush every time you shower or bathe will make all the difference.

• Foot brushes often come with the pumice stone on the other side, so flip it over after you're done scrubbing your toes and give your heels and feet a good rub with the pumice.  

• Moisturize deeply after every shower or bath and rub the lotion/oil in well.  Prop your feet up if you can while the lotion absorbs.  If you're in a hurry, try to moisturize your feet at night before bed.  This may seem like a hassle, but its particularly important in the summer, when your feet are most likely to dry out in sandals. You can even wear spa socks to lock it in, which is particularly cozy in the winter time.

• Most people know to cut their toenails straight across but almost equally important is forgoing nail polish and wearing natural nails as much as possible.  Your nails will be much stronger and healthier if you can only wear nail polish on those special occasions.  

• Use a cuticle remover and gently push back your cuticles rather than cutting them.

There you have them, my five simple steps to beautiful feet all year long.  If you follow these steps diligently, you won't have to dread that first pedicure of the summer and you might even skip it all together because your feet are already in top shape!