By Elizabeth Wulfhorst
They’ve been cooped up in thick socks and boots for months but now it’s time for your toes to shine. When summer hits and many days require nothing but bare feet or flip-flops, making sure your tootsies are in top shape is the first order of business. Nothing beats a salon pedicure, with a relaxing soak, a massage, trimming, filing and expert polish application – aaaaahhh! – but if you don’t have the time or money for a pampering treatment, you can achieve great results at home.
For the best DIY pedicure, gather all your tools before starting: a basin for soaking, Epsom salts and a gentle liquid cleanser, a hand towel or washcloth, moisturizing lotion or oil, a nail trimmer and a file, and some reading material.
It’s best to set up shop in the bathroom where potential splashing water won’t be an issue. Fill the basin with warm water and Epsom salts (add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, if you like) and a squirt of your favorite bath gel, agitate the water to get some bubbles going, find a comfortable position and slip your feet into the warmth. You’ll be here for about 15 minutes so grab that book or magazine now and relax.
If you don’t have Epsom salts – which will help soften tough skin – a mild acid works, too. Some slices of lemon or a few teaspoons of white vinegar in the warm water can have a similar effect.
Once you’ve soaked, rinse your feet and pat them dry. An inexpensive wooden foot file (like gentle sandpaper for your feet) can help remove any loose skin that has softened during the soak. Podiatrists advise against using a file or rasp at home – leave that to the professionals in a medical setting as a wrong move can lead to skin damage and infection.
Now is the time to trim your nails while they are more flexible from the soak. The National Institutes of Health and the American Podiatric Medical Association recommend using a toenail clipper with a straight edge and trimming straight across the nail to avoid developing ingrown toenails. After trimming, use an emery board or nail file in one direction – filing back and forth can weaken the nail – to remove any sharp edges. A wooden manicure stick can also be used to clean under the toenails and to gently push back the cuticles.
Using a little lotion or oil, massage one foot at a time, paying particular attention to the plantar fascia, a band of tissue that runs from your heel to your toes on the bottom of your foot. The plantar fascia is a workhorse, absorbing your weight and the shock of walking and running on different surfaces. Depending how supportive your shoes are or how long you are on your feet each day, the plantar fascia can take a beating and deserves a little loving care. Work your thumbs gently along the sole of your foot, noting any areas of tenderness. Give each toe a gentle tug and wiggle to finish.
If you aren’t into polish, you can stop there, remembering to keep your feet pampered all summer with a good cleaning and some moisturizer after a day at the beach or pool. And don’t neglect the tops of your feet when applying sunscreen; a burn on the sensitive skin there won’t make wearing strappy sandals any fun.
If polish is your jam, a quick trip to the drugstore will net you more colors than days in the summer. Be on trend by choosing a lovely lavender, a metallic or even vivid magenta, Pantone’s color of the year. Remember to pick up a non-acetone remover as well and a set of foam toe separators.
For the longest-lasting polish, make sure nails are clean and dry, swiping each with a remover-soaked cotton pad to get rid of any residual oils.
If your nails have ridges, a base coat or ridge filler will make the polish go on smoothly. And as with much in life, less is more. Apply a thin first coat of color, swiping once down the middle of the nail and then once on each side. Run the brush along the top edge of the nail, too, which will prevent chipping. Let that coat dry for about five minutes and then apply another – thin – coat using the same method. A third coat may be necessary for some colors; follow with a quick-drying top coat and your pedicure should be looking good for at least 10 to two weeks.
The article originally appeared in the May 18 – 24, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
