DIY Pedicures: Look after your toes at home

If you can’t reach, have someone help you with your pedicures.

Doing a pedicure at home is a great way to relax and pamper yourself, and it’s much more affordable than going to a salon. The need for pedicures is not exclusive to women. Both men and women can benefit from proper foot care, including pedicures. While the term “pedicure” is often associated with women due to societal beauty standards, the reasons for foot care are universal and not gendered.

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Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do pedicures at home for everyone with feet:

1. Gather your supplies.

Foot basin or tub: You can use a special pedicure basin, or simply fill a bathtub or large dish with warm water. Choose something that allows your feet to fit perfectly while lying flat. You have to be comfortable because soaking takes a while.

Epsom salts or bath bombs: Dissolve ½ cup of Epsom salt in a small tub of warm water. Soak your feet in the solution for 10 minutes. These will help soften your skin and relax your muscles. If you have access to essential oils such as tea tree oil, you can also add that to your foot soak.

Soap or body wash: Choose a gentle soap that won’t dry out your skin. Dry skin is what brought you to this point in the first place.

Foot scrub: A good foot scrub will help exfoliate your skin and remove dead cells.

Pumice stone: This is great for removing calluses and rough patches. You will also need elbow grease, depending on how severe your situation is. A foot rasp can also get the job done, if you can’t find a stone.

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Nail clippers and a nail file: For trimming and shaping your toenails. Having long nails and wearing closed shoes is a recipe for disaster. Trimming your nails regularly will save you a lot of discomfort and complications in the long run.

Cuticle pusher and remover: These are optional, but they can help you push back your cuticles and make your nails look neater. Please refrain from cutting your cuticles by yourself, you might expose yourself to harmful bacteria.

Towels: You’ll need one to dry your feet after soaking, and another to protect your surfaces from spills.

Nail polish remover: This is to remove chipped and old nail polish. If you’re planning on painting your nails, you’ll need a clean base to lay down a solid paint job.

Nail polish: Choose your favorite color or colors! Looking down at your cute toes with a colour that you like is an instant anti-depressant. Experiment with a couple of colours to see which ones best suit your complexion.

Cotton balls or pads: For removing nail polish.

Lotion or moisturiser: To keep your feet hydrated after your pedicure. a good moisturiser should provide aftercare for your feet after a session of scrubbing and rubbing.

2. Soaking and exfoliation.

Fill your dish with warm water and add Epsom salts or a bath bomb whichever you prefer and soak your feet for 10-15 minutes. To get the skin smooth and soft. Sit in a comfortable place. You can even do this while watching your favourite TV show. If you work from home, you can do this under your desk while you’re working.

3. Exfoliate your feet.

After soaking, use a scrub to massage your feet and focus on your problem areas, the heels and balls of your feet. Once you are satisfied, you should rinse once or twice.

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— Nat (@malaikadiva) November 23, 2018

4. Remove calluses.

Get a pumice stone (ilitshe) you can literally get these on the side of the road in the CBD. Be careful not to scrub too hard, you don’t want to irritate your skin and of course rinse again.

5. Trim and shape your toenails.

Use a nail clipper to trim your nails, then use a nail file to shape your toe nails to your liking.

6. Push back cuticles.

Gently push back cuticles with a cuticle pusher.

7. Remove nail polish if you have any (optional)

8. Paint your nails (optional).

You don’t have to paint your nails if you don’t want to it’s not a force matter. Did you know that good quality nail polish can help your nails grow longer and stronger? If you don’t like colour, you can opt for transparent/colourless nail polish.

9. Moisturise your feet.

Take your lotion/foot cream and apply. Before bed, you can lather your feet with Vaseline to soften your feet.

10. Relax and enjoy your pedicure!

Additional bonus tips (that you didn’t hear from us!)

• Get silicone socks from your Shein or Amazon runner.
• Wear socks to bed after applying Vaseline to your feet
• Get silk/satin sheets, they will keep you honest and let you know when you need a pedicure
• Add a dash of vinegar (yes, the one in your kitchen) to your foot soak water
• Mix glycerine and Vaseline and apply to the feet then wear socks
• Using banana peels on your feet can efficiently cleanse, remove dirt and even serve as a DIY pedicure for soft and clean skin. Use brown bananas as a foot mask in a plastic bag and let sit for 90 minutes.
• Throw a dry teabag into your smelly shoes overnight and you won’t have to worry about the stench again

Everyone can benefit from proper foot care. Focusing on the health and well-being benefits of pedicures can help move away from outdated gender stereotypes and encourage everyone to prioritise taking care of their feet. I hope this helps!