by Kim Snyder

Created on: March 03, 2007   Last Updated: April 17, 2007

It's been a hard day and your feet are tired. How about giving them a
pedicure? We all want healthy happy feet and to get them we need to
start by giving ourselves a professional pedicure is an but in the
comforted of your home. Your feet will feel good and so will you.

Start off by filling a large basin with warm water for a long foot soak. Add
some rosewater or essential oils for a true deep relaxation as well as

soften calluses and corns. The more cracked and calloused your
feet, the longer they need to stay in.

Remove the any old polish from your nails. Clean under the toenail and
then clip.
It's best to use high quality clippers made for clipping toenails. To avoid
ingrown nails, cut nail straight across, leaving about 1/8" of length.
Make sure your nail doesn't extend over the tip of your toe.
To create a soft square shape, file nail around the corners slightly using a
emery board in one direction. Don't use metal files, they'll rip your
nails if you're not really careful. Basic emery boards are best for
smoothing away any tears or breaks.
Emory boards usually come with two sides, the fine-grade surface is for
smoothing the nail edge, while the coarser surface is for shortening
and shaping nails.

Rub cuticle remover to the base of each nail and rub it in. Leave on for a
minute, then use an orangewood stick to gently push with a circular
motion everywhere where skin meets the nail (including the
sides). If you want to trim cuticles, do so carefully and sparingly with
sterilized trimmers. You will want to do that ahead of time so
that the sterilized trimmers are cool to the touch. It is just safer for
your toes.

Using a skin file or loofah, remove dead skin from soles of feet, zeroing in
on heels and balls of feet. Pumice stone also can remove calluses
and dry spots. You'll want to scrub the balls, bottoms and sides of
your heels and around the toes.

Massage an exfoliating cream into the skin, rubbing it all the way up the
calves. Rinse off, and dry feet thoroughly including between the
toes and then apply a moisturizing lotion especially made for feet.

Re-hydrate cuticles by rubbing in a dab of cuticle oil. Wait 2 to 3 minutes.
If your going to polish your toes then use acetone remover to get rid of
any excess oils on the nails (including the cuticle oil you just applied).

Apply a neutral base coat to fortify and protect the nails using 3 strokes,
one down the middle, then one on each side. If your nails
are prone to chipping and splitting, use a base tailored to these
needs. Don't paint the cuticle. Wait a minute before adding two coats
of your favorite polish, then finish with a clear protective top
coat. Clean up any errors with an orangewood stick wrapped in
cotton and dipped in acetone remover.

Let nails dry for at least 40 minutes.

You have now just gave yourself a professional pedicure at home and
think of all that money you just saved! If you get real good and
comfortable with doing it then why not get your girlfriends together
and have a girl party doing each other toes and nails? If you might
need supplies then check out Overallbeauty.com for all of your
nail/toe needs.
Have fun and be more experimental with the colors your have painted on
your toes. Bright and unusual colors not appropriate for your hands
due to work can be real fun to have on your toes.

Just remember one thing if you have no time for a pedicure or manicure,
at least remove the old color completely rather than walk around with
chipped polish.

Learn more about this author, Kim Snyder.
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