The Perfect Pedicure

It’s that time of year again, a time to really focus on friends and family, so put on that party dress and get ready for the gauntlet of festivities headed your way. But before you slip on those heels just yet, what about that Perfect Party Pedicure? Running around can often leave us last on the list of people to pamper. Many a time, we just skip it and throw on a quick coat of red and hope no one spots the mess that is our cuticles. Well this is my gift to you, a simple step by step for the perfect at home pedicure that will leave your tootsies feeling divine and looking beautiful.

Step 1: Clip your toe nails straight across, then using a nail file, file side to side straight across again slightly rounding the corners of your nails. Please note that you can file back and forth on toenails, but only in one direction on fingernails. To avoid ingrown toe nails keep them straight at the edge and slightly round at the corners.

Step 2: Soak your feet in warm soapy water for about ten minutes. If you have a foot buffer then buff away some callus, but not too much, you need it to last in those cute party shoes.

Step 3: Dry your feet. Push back your cuticles and remove any loose debris using a cuticle pusher, orangewood stick or your thumb nail if you don’t have anything else.

Now is the time to nourish your nails and cuticles with a little cuticle oil. No cuticle oil, sub a bit of argon oil or even olive oil. Using a q-tip, place a very small drop of oil on each nail then rub it in with your thumbs. I stress using less as you will remove it later anyway.

Step 4: Separate your toes with tissue and neutralize them. Neutralize is the industry term for removing all oil and dust that might cause your nail polish to lift. Dip a q-tip in acetone or alcohol and remove all the oil on each toenail. Really get in those side walls and under the tips.

Step 5: Now it’s time to paint. It's a good idea to always paint your toes in a specific order giving them the same amount of time between each coat. The industry standard is left to right pinky toe to big toe. Start by painting on your base coat. A base coat not only helps protect your nails from darker pigment polish, it also acts like double sided sticky tape holding the colour to your nails. Follow up your base with 2 coats of colour making sure to cap the free edge (paint the free edge tip). Try to keep the colour out of your cuticles and side walls. If you made a mess just use a q-tip in polish remover to clean up any mistakes. Finish with a quick dry top coat to add shine and seal in the colour. Let it dry for a full hour before you attempt shoes. Although the surface might be dry you don't want to get any indentations in your finished work. Now you have an hour to wrap gifts!

Try it and let me know how it went!

Caio for now,

Koren Marisha Heron

Lavender Lady Nails

#pedicure #homepedicure