10 Steps for a Perfect Pedicure

Step 1:
Make sure that you remove all previous nail polish from your nails before using a non-acetone nail polish remover (acetone can be very damaging and strong).  Then using a buffing block you can smooth the surface of your nails to make them look even.

Step 2:
Soaking is an important step because it will soften your feet making it easier to effectively remove any dry skin.  You will need to fill a tub with warm water and add some Epsom salts to it.  Soak your feet for about 10 minutes.  After the 10 minutes is up rinse your feet and dry them carefully.

Step 3:
Next is to exfoliate your feet.  You can wear exfoliating gloves if you want to while massaging your feet in a circular motion to eliminate dry and loose skin.

Step 4:
Once your feet are looking as good as new and free from all that unnecessary dry skin, it is time to make them soft again by moisturising them.  Try giving yourself a mini massage when applying the moisturiser and making sure it reaches in between your toes, ankles and up your leg a little bit.

Step 5:
Now that your feet are smoother than ever it is time to start grooming your toenails.  Make sure you never clip too close to the skin, leaving some room for you to file afterwards.  cut each nail evenly making all of them the same length.

Step 6:
After clipping your toenails make sure that your toenails are extra dry before you start filing.  Place the file directly under the nail and start filing very gently.  You can give your nails a square shape or a soft shape (round) whichever you prefer.

Step 7:
Use cuticle oil to soften your cuticles.  Let it soak for a few minutes and then start pushing the cuticles back.  you can use an orange nail stick to do this.  Do it very gently and carefully so that you don’t damage them, pushing towards the nail base and holding the stick at a slight angle.

Try to avoid cutting your cuticles as they work as a protective barrier keeping fungus away from underneath your nails, especially your toenails.

Step 8:
There must be no traces of moisturiser on your nails for this step.  The key to a long lasting pedicure is clean nails, so rub nail polish remover on your toenails with some cotton balls to ensure that whatever colour you choose will adhere properly and last longer.  If you want to you can use toe separators to make the painting process a little bit easier

Step 9:
Start applying the base coat first smoothly and evenly.  Try to make it as thin as possible when applying and always apply nail polish like professionals – start in the middle and then work your way to the sides.  When the base coat is dry you can now apply two coats of the nail polish colour of choice.  The first colour coat doesn’t have to be perfect just make sure it covers the whole area of your nail.  For the second coat, the aim is to apply it thoroughly.  You can choose whether you want to leave a small colourless space between the polish and the base of the nail or if you want the polish to be as close to the base as possible.

For the final step add the top coat which will give your nails the shine and flawless finish

Step 10:
Now it is about trying to keep your toenails beautiful for the next couple of weeks.  After the first week, apply a second coat of top coat polish this will refresh the shine and make your pedicure last longer