Given the hectic schedules of women today, hardly anyone has a chance to do something special for themselves.No wonder the body tires from all the stress and one craves some much needed ‘me’ time. Given the entire body, it is the feet that are stressed out the most for obvious reasons. All that running around from dawn to dusk takes a toll on the delicate feet and even more so if one fails to take care of them on a regular basis. It is not possible always to go to a salon every week for a pedicure. Such situations call for some self-pampering which can be done from the comforts of one’s home. Today we are revealing some easy pedicure tips which you can implement at home…
Pedicure: the way to keep your feet happy and healthy
Not many of us are aware of the fact that some of the most vital nerves of our body end in our feet. These nerves help in the functioning of the vital organs like spinal cord, heart, and stomach. In fact, acupressure massage is based on the theory of relieving body stress through the feet. Moreover, while we tend to concentrate on grooming our face all the time, it is equally important to have well-groomed feet for creating the right impression.
Image: Clicksunlimited Photography
Easy tips to do pedicure at home
1. Trim and file your nails
First and foremost, cut your nails before you start your pedicure. Use a nail clipper to clip them and use an emery board to file corners. It is advisable to not use the clippers to shape the corners as it can lead to deep cuts resulting in pain. Keep your nails short. You can also soak your nails in lukewarm water before clipping to make them soft and easy to cut.
2. Soak in a foot bath
Fill a bucket or a small basin with warm water to cover the feet and ankles. Add bath salts or regular salt along with a few drops of your favourite essential oil. Soak your feet in the mixture for 10 to 15 minutes. You can also soak your feet in water infused with fresh lemon slices or marigold or rose petals. After a long, tiring day at work, this rejuvenating foot bath will give you much-required relaxation.
3. Exfoliate
Once your nails and feet are softer and supple, it’s time for exfoliation. After the foot bath, pat your feet dry with a dry towel. Before scrubbing your feet, apply some cuticle cream on your toe nails and leave that for 5-6 minutes. Meanwhile, scrub the feet with a mild foot scrub and a pumice stone to get rid of all the dead skin cells. This step is extremely important as all the piled-up dead skin cells create a hard outer skin which, if not treated on a regular basis, will turn harder in the future. Next, wipe your toenails clean and push the cuticles back using a cuticle pusher
4. Moisturise your feet
It’s time to moisturize your clean and scrubbed feet. This will not only hydrate and soften the skin; it will also prevent those ugly cracks from surfacing up. Instead of a moisturizer, you can also use olive oil or almond oil as these oils help nourish the skin naturally while improving the blood circulation. Cover the feet with socks to prevent your floor and sheets from staining. Leave the oil on the feet for a few hours or overnight.
5. Repeat once a month
To keep your feet soft, crack-free and healthy, follow above steps once or twice each month as time permits.
Of all the benefits you get by doing your pedicure at home, the most important one is the hygiene check that is not always otherwise possible at salons. At the same time, who wants to wait for hours after a hectic day at office? To book an appointment at a salon near you, click here.
Featured Image Courtesy: Onkar Photography