I’m one of those people who has had my toenails painted since Kindergarten. Really. My toenails look very odd to me without any polish on them {in the rare moments between polish changes} and I’m always experimenting with new brands & colors of polish. While it’s a rare treat for me to get a pedicure in a salon {something I didn’t even discover before I was pregnant with C} I have all but perfected the home pedicure. If you don’t have the time/babysitter/funding for a full-fledged salon pedicure but are dying to get your feet ready for summer espadrilles, here is my go-to-guide for an at home pedicure:
- Soak your feet in a tub of hot water & Epsom Salt {1/2 cup}.
- Once your feet have had a good soak, towel them off and remove your old nail polish.
- Clip your toenails {straight across}, and use a nail file to shape your toenails into a square shape {round the edges a bit} before you put your feet back into the tub for a few more minutes.
- Dip a foot file into the hot water before you use it to buff your heels & the balls of your feet. Rinse off & pat dry.
- Rub thick, moisturizing lotion all over your feet and calves. Once it has dried, put toe separators between your toes & get ready to paint.
- Use a base coat first, then two coats of color, followed by a top coat. Voila! Pretty toes. {Let them dry a few hours so you don’t smudge your pedicure.}
{image via Flickr}.
Allison
Hello there! I'm Allison Czarnecki, founder + editor of Petit Elefant, a blog all about style on a budget for every part of your life: style / home / travel / family. I do a lot of how-to beauty + style tutorials, travel posts, easy recipes, home remodel projects, and cool DIY crafts you totally want to try. I'm super happily married (to a hot Polish immigrant) and am the mother of two kids, a daughter and son, all of whom are featured here on the regular. We live in the country but we're a little bit rock + roll. Welcome!
Sounds like a great plan…..except that it assumes you can REACH your feet and, when you do, that you can actually SEE them well enough to apply the polish. This getting old stuff is challenging…..
I’m the exact same way. My toenails have never seen the light of day. And that’s fine with me! :)
I can’t learn to pedicure myself…going to the nail salon is the biggest part of the bonus for me. Just having someone rub my feet with hot rocks…mmmm… you could paint my toes any color, I don’t care. Just give me the foot bath and some peace and quiet.
I love an Elizabeth Arden pedicure, but hate the $50+ price tag! I now only treat myself a few times a year and do the others at home.
Hi Allison!
Your blog is beautiful. I love the banner and everything else :) I will place a link to it in my blog so I can visit you more often.
Saludos!
Elsita :)
Hi Allison!
Thanks for stopping by. may i add you to my list of fun friends??
Love your blog!!
Thanks for popping by my blog and leaving a comment the other day :o)
I might have to try giving myself a pedicure now you’ve inspired me – normally I don’t bother because my toes are always wrapped in socks but now the sumer weather is arriving I might have a go!
Also I loved the crayons you made and showed in a previous post – what sweet little gifts!
You have a lovely blog – thanks for letting me know about it.
And you’ve gotta use OPI polish!
I hate getting pedicures at the salon..I’ve gotta do it myself!
We love a good pedicure…thanks for the tips!
Hope you have a great week!
smiles, kari & kijsa
I am the same way. I love polish on my tootsies. Thanks for the tips.
Ooohh nothing I like better than painted toe nails and trying new colours/brands. And a pedicure?!? Wonderful!! Thanks for the “how to”