Pedicures at home

[Crafty Amanda]

Do it yourself pedicure at home


Pedicures are considered some of the most relaxing treatments around today. But before you run straight to the salon, consider this: you can do them yourself! All you will need is a few basic supplies and a relaxing place to pamper yourself in.


Before starting your pedicure, collect some pillows, a chair, and a stool to rest your feet on. You'll need an area that somewhat well-lit, and some relaxing music will set the mood. Make sure that your pillows are not shedding fluff, because that may stick to polish. Now gather a nail file, cuticle oil, a tub or warm water, nail polish, a hair dryer and a towel. Take all old nail polish off of toenails with polish remover. Wash your feet thoroughly, then get rid of any dirt under nails with a Q-tip. You are now ready to start.


File your toenails with the nails file. Make sure that you wait after washing them to do this, so that they are hard and firm. File vigorously back and forth. (The normal practice of filing in one direction is not applicable because the toenail is so thick.) Stop when mails are nicely rimming the curve of your toes, and brush away the nail dust left behind. Filing may take a little while to do, but relax and enjoy the time you have taken to pamper yourself.


Now place your feet in the basin of warm water and let them soak for a small while. Avoid soaking for too long, because they may begin to look like prunes! Take them from the bath and wipe them gently with a towel. Be sure that the towel leaves no hairs on the nails, or there may tangle with the polish. Take your cuticle oil and rub it into your nails when finished. Rub firmly, and make sure that you cover the surface of each nail. Let them dry. At this time, you may want to smooth some lotion over your feet as well.


Once your nails have dried from the water and the oil, take your nail file and rub their surfaces gently. This will allow the coats of polish to stick. When you have rubbed each lightly, it's time for your first coat of nail polish. This undercoat is called base, and usually is clear or light yellow. Smooth it over nails moving from the top of the toenail to the tip. Make sure the surface of each nail is covered. Using a base coat will make your coats of color polish last longer, and avoid chipping. It also protects the nail from the abrasive effects that drying and chipping color polish can have. To dry, use your hair dryer at low heat. Then apply color, using the same, long strokes to the tip. Apply as many coats as you need, but be careful, because too many coats can actually promote chipping.


When you are finished adding color, dry nails again with the hair dryer. Then add nail gloss to the tips of each nail, for a shine. Professional pedicurists usually finish off a manicure by buffing dried nails with a buffing stick. This makes sure that all residual nail dust and dirt, etc., has been brushed away.


When you are finished your nails should have a professional, cultured look. Take care to walk carefully to avoid abrasion, and make sure to show your shiny feet to everyone that passes by!



Written by genevieve thiers

Found here http://ar.essortment.com/pedicureyoursel_rhqu.htm

[DragonsPearls]

For the soaking part, try adding herbs and/or essential oils.

For using herbs, package them up in heat-sealable tea bags, musling drawstring bags, or even a circle of tulle tied with string or ribbon. Pour hot water over the bag, then let it steep until the water is cool enough to use. If you use a muslin bag, you can use it to scrub your feet.

For essential oils, add up to 15 drops total of one or more.

If you'd like to use both, place your herbs in a glass bowl. Add essential oil and mix well, then package.

Herbs and essential oils to try include peppermint, spearmint, rosemary, and tea tree. Use them individually or in combination. For a real pampering type of soak, use organic rose petals and a drop of Rose Otto, or several drops of Egyptian Rose Geranium. For a relaxing soak, try Lavender and/or Chamomile.

Carol

[Irish Angel]

I have tried to give myself a pedicue. In fact I bought a foot-bath/ spa last year.
My problem is that my heels are horrid! I have use a pumice stone, a file, kept socks on, used lotions, lard, cow cream, you name it.
My heels are always cracked and peeling. At best moist never ever smooth.
Ideas?

Hugs and Blessings,
Cathy

[MrsManiac]

Well, this is what I do--it works fairly well, and my heels were HORRID!! I soak my feet in some warm water with oil(almond, tea tree oil, even baby oil, whatever I have) and use a file on my calluses(I don't use pumice because it always disentergrates lol!). Then I put a big dollop of vaseline on my feet and put on some white cotton socks. The next morning in the shower I file my feet again and use baby oil before I dry my feet to seal in the moisture.

It's a lot of work, but my feet shaped up in a few weeks and now they're not cracked at all. I used to buff them every day in the shower, but the lady at the salon said not to--it makes it worse because your feet are trying to protect themselves!! She said the best thing is to wear cushy socks and shoes and don't forget to moisturize.

Hope this helps.

[Amayesing]

I too have HORRID heels with the peeling and cracking. The only thing that works for me to make them presentable during the day is Victoria Secret's lotion. I catch it on sale and use it. I also put lots of vaseline on my feet after a bath and then use cotton socks. This has helped some but if I don't keep it up, my feet will look bad.

Doris

[Lifestar]

Here is a link to a podiatriatic web page that talks about dry cracked skin on feet ( xeorosis in medical terms)

http://www.podiatrychannel.com/xeros...x.shtml#causes

It basically says.. too much moisture may not be the best thing for cracked dry heels, and that making sure you know what's causing your heels to be cracked and dry in the first place is probably a good idea.

If it's lack of moisture.. then there's a variety of different moisturizing creams that are recommended in the article.

But the article also mentions that sometimes the cause of this condition can be an underlying viral or bacterial skin infection.

Bottom line is.. if the drying and cracking is truly bothersome.. see a podiatrist rather than a pedicurist

Val

[Irish Angel]

Thanks bunches for all of the excellent thoughts and feed back
Sorry it took so long to respond....
I will look into the medical stand point but also try the vaseline. When I pumice and moisten, as well as keep socks on my heels seem to improve. It is when I start to wear no socks they get really bad