A salon pedicure is nice, but you can get most of the result at home in about half an hour, for the price of a few tools you reuse forever. Done right, an at-home pedicure leaves your feet smooth, neat, and camera-ready. Here is the full process, step by step.
Gather your kit
Set everything out before you start so you are not hunting for tools with wet feet. You need nail clippers, a nail file, a pumice stone or foot file, a cuticle pusher, a towel, and a foot cream. Add a base coat, color, and top coat if you plan to paint. A bowl of warm water is your soak.
Soak your feet
Soak both feet in warm water for about ten minutes. Add a little mild soap or some salts if you like. Soaking softens the skin and nails, which makes everything easier and cleaner. Dry your feet fully afterward, especially between the toes.
Trim and shape your nails
Cut your toenails straight across, not into a deep curve, then file the edges smooth in one direction. Straight cuts keep ingrown nails away, and a quick file gives a tidy shape. Keep the length neat and even across all the nails.
Exfoliate and push back cuticles
Work the pumice stone over your heels and the balls of your feet to buff away dead skin, then rinse. Next, gently push your cuticles back with the cuticle pusher.
Moisturize
Massage a generous amount of foot cream into your feet, focusing on the heels. This is also the relaxing part, so take a minute. If you are going to paint your nails, wipe each nail clean with a little polish remover afterward so no cream is left behind, or the polish will not stick.
Paint if you want to
Painting is optional, but if you do it, thin coats are everything. Start with a base coat, then two thin coats of color, then a top coat, and let each one dry before the next. Thin and patient beats thick and rushed every time. For colors that look great in photos, see our guide on caring for your toenails.
FAQ
How often should I do a pedicure?
Every two to four weeks works for most people. Exfoliating and moisturizing in between keeps your feet smooth between full pedicures.
Should I cut my cuticles during a pedicure?
No. Push them back gently with a cuticle pusher, but do not cut them. Cuticles protect the nail from infection.
How do I make my polish last longer?
Wipe the nails clean of any cream before painting, use a base coat and a top coat, and apply thin coats that fully dry between layers.
Fresh pedicure? That is the perfect time to post. Head to the for-creators page to get your feet rated, or keep them smooth with our guide on getting soft feet.
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