The Perfect at Home Pedicure
When nail salons were closed, I was reminded how capable I am of doing my own nails. Yes, it's so nice to be pampered and have someone massage your feet and legs, but I can also have a luxurious pedicure at home for much less. Sometimes I actually enjoy not leaving my own home, hiding out in my bathroom, and not having to worry about what shoes I have to put on after my nails are painted.
I've been painting my nails, my friends' nails, even my mom's nails for most of my life. Even when I get a manicure, I choose to do my own toes some of the time just to save some money. But, a great at home pedi is about more than just the strokes of a brush. Here are a few of my top at home tips to make your bathroom pedicure more like a spa experience.
Take off your old polish. While this might be obvious, it's important for smooth polish application. If you have your nails painted already, pop on some gloves to protect your mani!
Hot water - a shower, a bath, a foot soak. It might not include jets like the nail salon but don't skip the warm water. It's relaxing, soothing, and softens up skin and cuticles.
A good scrub! My favorite part of a pedicure is the exfoliating jelly they use on my legs. Find a good exfoliator to use on your legs and feet while you're enjoying your soak. I LOVE LimeLife's exfoliators. For a pedicure, I prefer the Scrubitini. It's a sugar scrub with a fresh lemon scent; it screams spa. I also like Bamboo Renew, which I mix in my face wash occasionally, so if you want a product that can do double duty I think it's a little more versatile. For a cheaper option, I've tried the scrub by Love and Planet at Target. This one is a little creamier but has much more scent, warning for my sensitive skin friends like myself.
Take some time to really rub the exfoliator in and don't forget your feet. Then, if you're in the bath or shower go ahead and shave.
Pumice - Don't overdo this step or your feet will be raw, but I have one by Mr. Pumice I keep in the shower. A time or two a month I give the bottom of my feet a little scrub.
Trim AND file nails - That's right take the extra minute or two to actually file your nails. Not only will they look smoother, but when they don't catch on everything they won't chip as easily.
Push back your cuticles. This is one thing that I think really makes your pedicure look more like a pro did it. When you gently push back your cuticles and create an even line for the polish to go up to, your pedi will look so much sharper.
Paint your nails. Pick your color and a decent quality polish. I love snagging OPI or Essie from the checkout line at TJ Maxx. Make sure your coats of paint aren't to thick and gloppy. A couple thinner, even coats should do the trick. If you tend to make a few stray marks use a small, firm makeup brush with some remover on it for easy clean up.
DO use a top coat! Once your polish has dried a little, apply a top coat. The shiny top coat is another way to really make your pedi look professional. This is hands down the most common comment I receive when I tell people that I did my own nails - "But they're so shiny!"
Come back and moisturize. This is the part I most often skip, but after nail polish remover and exfoliating, your skin needs you to come back and hydrate it. Let your polish dry then use a good cream or body oil. You don't want to have painted beautiful nails only to have them surrounded by dry legs and feet. I really love Forty Cure Creme for this. It smells like a spa with its natural ingredients and is thick enough to really work even on calloused feet.
Even with all these pedicure tips and tricks, the hardest part is picking the perfect color! I love that I can get endless at home pedicures for the cost of one or two in a salon. Then, I can save the spa experience for a real treat.
Do you have a go to pedicure color? Clearly, I'm a fan of the light/nude pinks. Share your favorite in the comments!
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