At at home pamper session is just what you need.
Take time out at home to pamper yourself with this practical DIY pedicure.
Cheap and cheerful nail bars are popping up everywhere, but the impersonal environment in shopping malls can make the experience more stressful than restful. Take time out at home to pamper yourself with this practical DIY pedicure.
Tool Kit:
Foot basin
Aromatherapy oil
Towel
Cuticle Nipper
Cuticle sticks
Foot file
Nail file
Nail buffer
Foot moisturiser
Tissues
Clear base coat
Main coat
Clear top coat
1. Fill a wide, low basin with very warm water and add a few drops of aromatherapy oil. Soak your feet in the basin for 15 minutes.
2. Dry your feet with a towel and gently push the cuticles back with a wooden cuticle stick. If your cuticles have grown too far over your toenails, use a cuticle nipper to gently cut away cuticles. This should only be done if absolutely necessary as it can damage the skin around your toenails.
3 Use a foot file to buff the hard, dry skin around your heels. Use the rough side first to smooth stubborn spots, and finish with the finer side. Don’t press too hard — you don’t want to sandpaper your skin away.
4. Shorten your toenails with nail scissors if necessary, then use a nail file to shape them. Start with a coarse texture then use a fine file for a smooth finish.
5. Lather your feet in moisturiser and wrap them in a warm, damp towel. Leave for 10 minutes for an intensive moisturizing treatment.
6. Wipe the moisturiser off — making sure it’s completely free of the nail bed so the polish will adhere properly. Insert a set of toe separators on each foot before you start painting.
7 Apply a clear base coat in smooth strokes from the top to the end of your nail beds. Let it dry properly then apply your chosen top coat.
8. Finish with a clear top coat. This adds shine and makes your colour last longer. Try not to wear shoes for at least an hour afterwards, as they could damage your nail polish.
By Cleo Staff
