It’s summertime – so of course we’re going to make the most of showing off our feet in cute sandals and flip-flops! Along with the joy of freeing your toes from their sock prison comes the pleasure of painting your toenails pretty pastel shades or colorful bright hues.
We’ve got some quick tips for you to save your cash and treat yourself when doing an easy home pedicure!
Do: Buff your feet with a foot filer to even out any roughness.
{via The Body Shop}
Your feet have survived a year of being crammed into boots, socks, and high heels – they’re bound to be a little rough around the edges! To remove that tough skin, soak your feet in warm water (maybe even invest in a nice, refreshing foot soak). Then, get a sturdy foot file and buff out any thick, dry skin. It’s a painless process and will leave your feet feeling super soft!
Don’t: Start your pedicure while your feet are still wet.
Let your feet dry after a warm shower or foot soak before doing any work on them. Obviously, this includes painting them – but did you know that buffing your feet while they’re wet is ineffective and may pull away more skin than you want? It’s best to work on completely dry feet.
Do: Clip your toenails in little snips instead of longer cuts.
{via Sporty Afros}
Toenails are harder to cut evenly because they tend to be thicker than fingernails. Invest in a good toenail clipper and work your way across each toenail in little snips. Trying to cut your toenail in one giant snip will result in ragged edges and might even result in you breaking your nail!
Don’t: Forget to file!
Always file your toenails after you’ve cut them. Even if they don’t look like they have ragged edges, round out each toenail with a filer. Much like how you’d file your fingernails, your toenails can snag on tights or other articles of clothing if they’re not smooth.
Do: Moisturize!
After you’ve scrubbed and cleaned and clipped your toes to perfection, you’ll want to keep them feeling soft and refreshed for as long as possible! One easy trick to moisturize your feet overnight: slather them with lotion (peppermint is great), then slip on some thin socks to let the lotion absorb into your soles as you sleep.
Don’t: Disregard safety hazards.
While pedicures are a lot of pampering and fun, they can be hazardous to your health if you’re not careful. Watch out for the ingredients in your scrubs/lotions/etc. You’ll want to avoid artificial fragrances that may irritate your skin and any hidden ingredients that you may be allergic to.
Never cut your cuticles or force them back to expose more of your nail – this could lead to cuts and infections! And always avoid applying polish or any non-water based lotion to an open cut or scratch.
And if you go to a nail salon, make sure it is clean and products are sterilized.
Do: Use topcoats and base coats when you paint your toenails.
{via The Body Shop}
Although it seems like your fingernails are subject to more daily abuse, your toenail polish is actually more likely to chip! Since you’re walking around barefoot or in sandals, your toes have a lot more contact with the world outside your shoe. Use a base coat before applying the polish and apply a clear topcoat on top of it to make sure that your pretty pedicure lasts you a long time!
Don’t: Neglect your feet!
It’s easy to forget that our feet require care and attention too. We tend to overlook applying lotion to them as we do to our hands and skin, and we can forget to wash them when they’re dirty. Take care of your feet by applying a foot cream to your heels regularly, and always rinse off your feet before you jump into bed if you’ve been walking around with sandals or flip-flops.
We hope this summer is full of fun nail polish and even more fun activities to show off your chic pedicures! Keep this tips in mind to make your dainty handiwork last long and your feet stay strong!