Pedicure Basics...

Do It Yourself Tips

Performing any beauty regimen yourself should help your budget - in terms of time as well as finances. Nowadays, salon-quality products are everywhere and if you are not too choosy, you can easily purchase low cost pedicure products almost anywhere. This is how you can get a pedicure done at reasonable cost.

Start fresh. When you start on your pedicure, first ensure you have a blank canvas to work on. Use nail polish remover and get to hard to reach areas by using a Q-tip. When you are finished, there should be nothing on your toenails.

Clip your fingernails. Next, it's time to cut those toe nails. You should always use quality clippers or scissors to trim your toenails. The best way to keep from getting ingrown toenails is to trim straight across. While cutting toe nails, cut enough so that it doesn't extend beyond your toe but not so much as to cause pain. Get a simple, non-metal nail file. It should be brand new and for your use only. Run the smoother side of the file along the tip of your nail to dull its edge (the coarser side is for making your nails shorter.) Next file your nails in only one direction until all rough bits are removed. Get curve at the edge of your nails, but not so much that they could become ingrown.

Soak your feet. After you have finished trimming your nails, place your feet in a bowl of warm water. Soak for a minimum of ten minutes, using bath salts for a special touch. If your feet are cracked or extra dry, leave them in the soaking bowl longer. (A helpful tip is to add a cup of milk when soaking your feet to help exfoliate more dead skin!)

Trim the cuticles. Push down your cuticles with an orange stick then trim them off to avoid hang nails. Before trimming your cuticles it is important that you moisten your feet. Apply some cuticle remover to the base of each nail, rubbing it in as you go. Cuticle clippers are ideal for removing cuticle from the top of your toenails. You should always refrain from cutting the skin on your toes as this will be very painful. If you wish you could apply some cuticle oil to your cuticles to add moisture to prevent drying and painful cracking. Do so after they have been trimmed and dried.

Exfoliate dead skin. Slough off rough patches of skin. Exfoliating feet is the first step to a complete pedicure. To remove dry, dead skin from the bottoms of your feet try using a foot scrub, pumice stone or foot file. You may find it easier to do this while sitting on the rim of the bathtub. Cleanse until the surface no longer feels rough. Once you have used a pumice stone to slough off dry skin, rinse and pat your feet dry. Moisturizing is the last step.

To add some color and fun to your feet paint your toes. This is the best part about manicuring yourself. First pick your nail color and begin applying to your toe nails. Apply a broad stroke of polish on the inward mid-portion of the toe nail and drag it to the edge of that nail. Do your best not to get nail polish on your cuticle or other skin. You can take this right off with a swab and a touch of polish remover, if you do go over. Apply nail polish on all of your nails, let a minute or two pass to let them dry and then apply a second coat again on each. Then put a a clear coat on top of your nail polish.

Nails need a minimum of thirty minutes to dry completely, so be certain you have enough time. Finish it off with a slight spray of dry moisturizing oil over your foot, and you'll be walking pretty!

By Tiffany Provost About the Author: Tiffany Provost writes about Nails and Beauty tips for HowToDoThings.com.Source: www.isnare.com Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=376964&ca=Womens+Interest

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