Breaking News

Have Beautiful Feet At Home With These Home-Spa Steps!

, , , , , ,

 Have Beautiful Feet At Home With These Home-Spa Steps!

 

You don't have to go to an expensive salon to have pretty feet. With a little time and effort—and a few supplies you can find at your local drugstore—you can give yourself a fabulous foot makeover at home. 


 

In six steps, this article tells you everything you need to know about giving yourself a home pedicure. Following other foot care tips might even have people convinced that you spent a bundle at a prestigious spa. 

 how to take care of your feet at home

 

 

A Step-by-Step Foot Care Guide

It's hard to match the heady feeling of being pampered. But who says you can't match that feeling—and get similar results—by pampering yourself with a home pedicure? Before you do, make sure you have the following products at home before heading to the drugstore:

What You Will Need

  • Non-acetone polish remover
  • Aromatherapy oil
  • Emollient moisturizer
  • Toenail scrub brush
  • Pumice stone, callus file, or emery board
  • Stainless steel nail nipper
  • A cuticle pusher or orange stick
  • Four pounds of food-grade paraffin wax
  • Double boiler or portable paraffin wax bath
  • Reliable candy thermometer
  • Pair of socks
  • Box of plastic cling wrap
  • Towels

Step 1: Remove Your Toenail Polish

Stripping nail polish allows you to inspect your toenails and look for any problems, such as onychomycosis (nail fungus) or hangnails. It's best to use a non-acetone polish remover. Polish removers containing acetone are very harsh on the nails and may cause the thinning of the nail plate and the formation of unsightly ridges.1

Every now and then, you should give your toenails a break from nail polish. Keeping your toenails constantly painted may cause them to become discolored, usually with a reddish or yellowish hue. If your nails do turn colors, leave them bare for a couple of weeks. They should soon return to their normal color.2

Step 2: Soak Your Feet

A relaxing foot soak for 15 to 20 minutes will do wonders for your feet, whether or not they're aching. You can add aromatherapy oils to the tub of water if you choose, but it's not necessary. Soaking your feet will loosen dry scales and soften the thick, hardened layers of skin on your heels, toes, and balls of your feet.

Do not use water that is too hot. It can cause the skin to become dry and crack as the water quickly evaporates and draws moisture from the outermost protective layer of the skin.3 Use a toenail brush to gently scrub your toenails at the end of the soak.

Step 3: Trim Your Calluses and Corns

After the soak, use a pumice stone, emery board, or callus file to gently reduce corns and calluses. It may take a few trimmings before you can remove all of the hardened skin. Take care not to cut or file your skin too deeply.4

Removing calluses can help prevent cracks from forming, but trimming too much can cause the skin to split if pressure is applied to overly thin tissues. This not only causes pain and bleeding but also can increase the risk of infection. Remember that your goal is to remove dead skin cells, not healthy tissue.

Take It Slow

If it has been a long time between pedicures, don't try to remove calluses and corns in one sitting. (You may not be able to do so anyway.) Instead, break up the task over the course of two or three treatments every four to six weeks.

Step 4: Trim Your Toenails

Use a stainless steel nail nipper to trim your toenails. To prevent over-trimming, cut the toenails straight across. Then gently round the corners with an emery board.

You can push your cuticles back, but make every effort to avoid cutting them. Most dermatologists will tell you that there is no good reason to cut your cuticles (also known as the eponychium ). Cutting cuticles not only increases the risk of splitting and bleeding but also provides bacteria and fungus easier access to the nail bed.5