Pedicures make your feet look more sandal-ready, but they're also a good way to reward your feet for the hard work they do every day. According to "Good Housekeeping" magazine, the average person takes more than 8,000 steps every day--adding up to more than 127,000 lbs. of pressure on your feet.
Add Milk to Your Foot Soak
To amp up the smoothing power of your pre-pedicure foot soak, add equal parts milk and water to your soak tub, recommends "Glamour" magazine's The Girls in Beauty Department blog. Milk is rich in lactic acid, which can smooth calluses to improve the softness of your feet. If you like, add a few drops of essential oil to the tub.
Make Your Feet Comfortable
Place a folded towel at the bottom of your foot soak tub for your feet to rest on during their soak, recommends Marsha Bialo, a celebrity manicurist based in Los Angeles, in "Marie Claire" magazine. It's an easy way to make soaking more comfortable, Bialo says.
Exfoliate Right
You'll get the best exfoliation if you choose a scrub that contains medium-sized grains, according to "Women's Health" magazine. Salt is one option, but because it can be irritating, sugar is usually the best option for most people. Also look for an exfoliant that contains moisturizers like jojoba oil or almond oil in addition to scrubbing ingredients, recommends "Women's Health."
Cut Straight Across
Trimming your toenails at an angle or clipping them too short can cause ingrown nails, warns Joseph Caporusso, a podiatrist in McAllen, Texas, in "Good Housekeeping" magazine. Use a clipper that's comfortably sized to clip your nails straight across. If you need to round the edges, do it with a nail file after you've finished clipping.
Go Easy on Your Cuticles
Don't try to trim your cuticles yourself--there's a good chance you'll end up with ingrown toenails if you do, warns Bialo. If you must clip, schedule an appointment with a salon professional to get it done. But Bialo says you can significantly improve the appearance of cuticles at home by pushing them gently back after your soak and then exfoliating the area where skin and nail meet with a gentle exfoliating scrub. Finish with a little cuticle oil or olive oil rubbed into the cuticle.
Member Comments