Give yourself a little TLC with the perfect pedicure
After months of shoving your feet into thick, slouchy socks — and boots, if you ventured out — it’s past time for your toes to see a little sunlight. But they’re likely to need at least a little TLC, lest you risk offending the members of your quarantine pod.
Follow this step-by-step (no pun intended) guide to give yourself a safe summer pedicure.
Assemble and sterilize your tools.
You’ll need a pair of nail clippers, a cuticle pusher and a nail file; depending on how thorough you want to get, you’ll also need a dry foot file, exfoliating scrub and moisturizer. If you really want to treat yourself, have a foot basin filled with warm water ready.
Don’t skimp when it comes to the nail clippers and cuticle pusher. Krista Archer, a podiatric surgeon based in Manhattan, recommends using as many all-metal tools as possible so that you’ll be able to properly disinfect them before each use. To sanitize your tools, soak them in a shallow dish in 91% alcohol for at least 10 minutes.
Also, grab cotton balls and nail polish remover to get rid of remnants of pedicures past. And finally, you’ll need your base, color and top coat within reach.
Landscape your nails
Spray your feet with rubbing alcohol, focusing on the nail and cuticle.
“So if something does happen and you do nick yourself, you’re not going to get infected,” Archer said. Then pat them dry.
Next, cut your toenails for length. No matter your preferred nail shape, experts agree you should always cut straight across to avoid ingrown nails.
Then use a file to gently shape the sides of your nail, she said, getting rid of any sharp corners by following the lunula, the lighter colored half-moon shape at the nail base.
Archer recommends leaving the cuticle cutting to professionals too. Instead, gently push back the cuticle with a metal cuticle pusher.
Ditch your dead skin
Some nail salons buff out calluses after feet have had a good soak. But Margaret Dabbs, a foot care specialist in London, said to avoid wetting the skin first.
“You’re going to mask the area that needs to be treated, and you’re not going to see the dry skin, the cracks in the skin or the hard skin,” she explained.
So use your foot file before you soak your feet. Rub the heel and balls of the feet, which are typically the most callused parts, with your dry foot file in a back-and-forth motion.
The soft parts of the skin, those in between the toes and the arch of your foot, will be taken care of by an exfoliating scrub.
Now, soak your feet
You’ve made it to the relaxing part.
Both Archer and Dabbs suggest using Epsom salts, which can relax the muscles in your feet. Archer also recommends adding drops of essential oils, such as tea tree, for an aromatherapy experience.
Rub your wet feet with an exfoliating scrub to remove any lingering dead skin, then pat dry and moisturize with a thicker cream, such as L’Occitane en Provence’s Shea Butter Foot Cream ($29). If you’re looking for lower-cost and more natural options, Archer recommends coconut oil, olive oil or shea butter.
Finally, polish your nails
Get into position: You might want to elevate your feet on a stool or rest them on a windowsill so you can reach them better. If you don’t have a toe separator, which does exactly that and is available for a low cost at most drugstores, Edwards recommends cutting makeup wedges and placing them between your toes, as they are sturdier than cotton balls or paper towels.
Start by applying a base coat, which smooths the nails so that your polish sticks better and lasts longer. Edwards uses a simple base coat rather than the strengthening base coat that she uses for manicures.
Then apply two coats of your color. Work parallel to the nail, from the middle of the nail outward, and don’t put the brush at an angle, Edwards said.
Lastly, use a topcoat, which adds a layer of protection to prevent the color from chipping.