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Leaving the salon with soft feet and painted toes may feel like a luxury, but in fact, it’s a necessity. Elaine Linker, a dermatologist and one of the co-founders of DDF skincare, reveals that having regular pedicures can actually prevent future foot problems. “Pedicures treat the foot from heel to toe,” Linker says. “Podiatrists treat common ailments such as corns, calluses, and ingrown toenails—all of which can be avoided or prevented with regular salon visits.”
However, taking time out of your busy schedule for a visit to the salon isn’t always convenient. We’ve rounded up 5 top tips to keep your feet happy and healthy in between appointments, meaning you can master the at-home pedicure in next to no time.
1. Wash: It’s important to wash your feet every day during the summer, especially if you’ve been outside in sandals. Take time to remove any dust and dirt from between your toes and underneath your nails.
2. Soak: Fill a bowl with warm, soapy water and soak your feet for at least 10 minutes. If you can find some marbles, pop them in the bowl and roll your feet back and forth over them for a blissful DIY massage.
3. Exfoliate: After soaking your feet, use a foot file like the Tweezerman Step-Two-It Foot File (US $12; AED/SAR 44) to gently remove calluses. Never use a razor to remove them. Unlicensed practitioners cannot use razors at a salon, but many still do.
4. Trim: Use nail clippers to trim your nails straight across rather than into a curved shape. A curved toenail can have the nail grow into your skin and cause a painful ingrown nail.
5. Moisturize: To finish, rub a deep moisturizing cream such as the L’Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream (US $28; AED/SAR 102) into your feet and nail beds.
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