With summer here, it’s time to kick off your shoes, slip out of your socks and slide on a pair of sandals. Before you take your toes to the streets, we want to help you prepare your little piggies with a simple, relaxing and luscious do-it-yourself pedicure. It’s time for your feet to shine!
The Prep
To make this a truly soothing and luxurious pampering, start by pouring yourself a warm and wonderful bath. Use essential oils or Epsom salts and light a Glade® Scented Oil Candle in your favourite fragrance to add a beautiful aroma. Set up a place to sit where you can easily reach your feet after the bath. Soak for 10 to 15 minutes to relax your body and soften your skin and nails. If you need to shave your legs, this is a great time to do it.
Soften, Smoothen, Moisten
As a first step, make sure you get rid of any left-over nail-polish with an acetone nail-polish remover. Once you’ve cleaned them completely, put some cuticle oil on each toe and rub it in. Using a wooden cuticle stick, push any dead skin on the nail plate to the sides.
Once you’ve treated your cuticles, it’s time to exfoliate! To make this a truly luxurious experience, use a foot scrub and gently massage along the bottoms and sides of your feet all the way up to your knees. Soften calluses and dry skin by increasing the pressure when rubbing these areas. After you’ve finished both feet and rinsed thoroughly, use a pumice stone and emery board to softly smoothen rough and dry areas on the bottoms of your feet.
After you’ve softened and smoothened, the next step is to moisten! Use your favourite foot lotion or a nice rich cream and massage it into your feet and calves. If you want to add a refreshing and tingling sensation, try putting some peppermint oil in the cream.
Next the Nails
Now that your feet are nice and moisturized, let’s get down to the nails. In order to avoid ingrown nails, trim the corners of each nail at a 45 degree angle. Any long toenails can be cut straight across the end and then shaped with a fine flat file.
When your nails are the perfect shape, add your favourite colour to your ten little toes. Begin by applying just a thin layer of a base coat. Add two thin coats of nail enamel and a final layer of a shiny top coat. In between layers, let each coat dry for about 2 minutes. If you find you have a hard time keeping your hand steady when applying the polish, a great trick for tidying up your toes is to use a cotton swab or fine paint brush with nail polish remover on it for that perfect line.
And that’s it! A simple do-it-yourself pedicure is a wonderful way to take a break from a busy schedule, relax before bed or get ready for a night on the town. Our feet do so much for us and can often go unrewarded. This is an easy way to say “thanks” and make them feel great!
