There is something about getting your hands and feet done at the salon that is therapeutic. I know one of my favourite part of getting dolled up as a lady is having my a mani-pedi (manicures and pedicure). I get so giddy whenever I glance at my feet and hands —it’s such a great feeling I recommend all girls have as frequently as they can.
However, life can get in the way of that joy and we won’t always have the time or money to always have pretty nails and toes. Its not all bleak though, as you can definitely get a superb manicure and pedicure at home if you have the right tools at your disposal. What’s more, you get to indulge in self care by spending your day staying home and pampering yourself.
Below, I have written down step-by-step instructions on how to get the perfect mani-pedi from the comfort of your home.
Tools You’ll Need:
- Nail polish remover
- Cotton balls
- Nail cutter & filer
- Nail buffer
- Cuticle oil & stick
- Hand & foot scrub
- Epsom salt
- Foot bath/Sizeable bowl
- Foot scrubber/Pumice stone
- Body butter/Moisturiser
- Base coat nail polish
- Nail polish
- High-shine top coat
- Toe/Finger separators (optional)
The Manicure:
- Use the nail polish remover and a cotton ball to get rid of previous nail polish on your nails. If there aren’t, still use the polish remover as it’ll give your nails a clean surface a.k.a blank canvas to work with.
- Soak your nails in a bowl of warm water (lukewarm) to soften the cuticles.
- Afterwards, use a nail brush to clean under your nails and around your nail beds.
- Push back the cuticles mildly with a cuticle stick. Avoid cutting the cuticles because they help protect the nails from bacteria and infections.
- Apply cuticle oil and rub for 3-5 minutes. Cuticle oil is well known for speeding up and strengthening nail growth so it is a good idea to make this a regular habit.
- Trim your nails to the desired shape and length.
- File your nails. Avoid filing them from side to side as it weakens the nail beds, instead, file from one side to the centre and then from the other side back to centre.
- Apply your moisturiser or body butter and thoroughly massage your hands and forearms to get your blood circulation going.
- Remove oil or lotion residue on your nails by wiping them with cotton buds and nail polish remover.
- Apply your base coat. Give it 3-5 minutes to dry before applying your chosen nail colour (two coats of this should be applied moderately). Allow the nail polish to dry for 5-7 minutes before applying a top coat.
Tip: Multiple thin layers is the key here. If you daub on one or two thick layers, it will slow drying time and lead your nails to smudge.
The Pedicure:
- Find a foot bath or sizeable bowl that you can fit both your feet into. Fill it with warm water, and some Epsom salt and soak your feet.
- Scrub from your toes up to your calves with a foot scrubber or pumice stone to give them a good exfoliation. This step shouldn’t be painful. Afterwards, scrub your toes with a nail brush to clean your nails.
- Push back your toe cuticles just as you did with your hands. Then, apply cuticle oil and massage your feet.
- Trim your toenails to the desired length. Avoid trimming them too short as this sometimes leads to painful ingrown nails.
- File your toenails from one side to the center and then from the other side to the center.
- Apply body butter to your feet to get them feeling baby soft. Then get rid of any residue from the toe nails with nail polish remover before painting.
- Separate your toes to make your work easier with the toe separator.
- Alternatively, you can weave cotton or tissue between your toes.
- Apply the base coat. Give it 3-5 minutes to dry before applying your chosen nail colour (two coats of this should be applied moderately). Allow the nail polish to dry for 5-7 minutes before applying a top coat. Allow your nails to sufficiently dry for about 15 minutes before walking around.
Takeaways:
- Always moisturise beforehand
- Clean your tools after every manicure and pedicure session
- Avoid shaking your nail polish bottle, instead roll it to avoid creating air bubbles.
- Perform your manicure and pedicure in a cool, dry environment so your nail polish dries faster.
- Always use a base coat and a top coat for best quality nails.
