Swing into summer with happy feet following these pedicure Don’ts and Do’s!
Pedicure Don’ts:
Never cut your toenails too short
This can cause ingrown which are very painful. Instead, use a clipper to cut your nails straight across, in line with the edge of your toes. Then file them to your desired length using an emery board, which gives you more control.
Never cut your cuticles
Instead of cutting your cuticles, use cuticle oil or remover onto each nail to soften them. Then, use a nail stick to push back the skin on the nail plate.
Never apply a thick coat of polish
When applying the nail polish in thick layers, you are just making it more prone to chipping. To get the color the way it looks in the bottle, here is what you should do: First apply the base coat, and then apply two thin layers of lacquer using three strokes per nail (center, side, side). Wait for 2 minutes between coats so the polish can dry. Seal in color with a topcoat.
Pedicure Do’s:
Soak your feet to soften and get rid of dead skin before exfoliation.
Use a pumice stone to get rid of the rough spots on your feet. Do this at least twice a week.
Use a cream or lotion that contains lactic acid or urea to moisturize your feet and eliminate calluses.
Use a cotton pad soaked in rubbing alcohol to swipe the surface of your nails to remove any residue before applying the base coat.
When applying nail polish always start with the left pinkie toe, working over to the right pinkie toe if you’re right-handed. Do the opposite if you are left-handed. This way you will prevent your hand from gliding over wet polish.