How To Give Yourself a Pedicure

I know it seems like I’m obsessed with the approach of summer weather, but I live in a place where there is snow on the ground eight months out of the year.  Humor me.

My latest beauty project is getting my toes ready for sandals.  I work a lot of hours, so it’s not always convenient to get myself to a salon for a pedicure.  But it’s so easy to give yourself a pedicure at home, so why not?

• First, remove any old nail polish from your toes.  Then, soak your tootsies in a bowl/bucket full of warm water.  Add some soothing bath salts and relax for 10-15 minutes.  If you’re lucky enough to own a foot spa, now’s the time to break it out! Ahh.
  

• Dab cuticle cream on your cuticles.  While that is soaking in, clip your toenails, if necessary, then file down any rough or pointy edges.  
  
• Push back your cuticles using an orangewood stick or other cuticle-pushing device.
  
• Use a pumice stone to exfoliate and smooth out rough skin on heels and balls of your feet.  If a pumice stone feels too rough for you, try a loofah.
  
• Rub a rich cream into your feet.   Many lotions especially made for your feet have a minty, refreshing feel to them.  Sit back again for a few minutes to let the cream soak in.  Isn’t this fun?
  
• Swipe nail polish remover across your toenails again.  Residual oils from the creams you used could keep your polish from adhering properly, so in order to ensure that your pedicure lasts as long as possible, you want to remove those oils from the nailbed.
  
• Apply base coat and let it dry.  Apply two coats of polish, allowing a minute between coats.   Remove any stray polish with a Q-Tip dipped into polish remover.  Finish it all off with a coat of top coat.
  
• Be sure to allow adequate drying time before sticking your feet into shoes!
   

  Now your toes look great and it's time to show off those cute new sandals!  Happy feet!