A salon pedicure is nice, but you can get most of the result at home in about half an hour, with a few tools you reuse for years. Done right, it leaves your feet smooth, neat and ready for the camera. If you post your feet, that care is part of what keeps fans following you, chatting with you and, for the ones who want more, coming into your backroom.
Here is the full process, step by step.
Gather your kit
Nail clippers, a file, a pumice stone, a cuticle pusher, foot cream, and polish if you want it.
Soak your feet
Soak for ten minutes in warm water to soften skin and nails before you start.
Trim and shape your nails
Cut straight across, then file the edges smooth.
Exfoliate and push back cuticles
Buff heels and soles with a pumice stone, then gently push back cuticles. Never cut them.
Moisturize
Massage in foot cream, then wipe the nails clean before any polish.
Paint if you want to
Base coat, two thin coats of color, then a top coat, letting each one dry.
Gather your kit
Set everything out before you start, so you are not hunting for tools with wet feet:
- nail clippers and a nail file;
- a pumice stone or foot file;
- a cuticle pusher;
- a towel and a foot cream;
- a base coat, a color and a top coat, if you plan to paint;
- a bowl of warm water for the soak.
Soak your feet
Soak both feet in warm water for about ten minutes, with a little mild soap or some salts if you like. Soaking softens skin and nails, which makes every next step easier.
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 even across all the nails: in a close-up, that is what reads as neat.
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 the relaxing part, so take a minute.
If you are going to paint, wipe each nail clean with a little polish remover afterward. Cream left on the nail stops polish from sticking.
Paint if you want to
Painting is optional, but if you do it, thin coats are everything:
- A base coat.
- Two thin coats of color.
- A top coat.
Let each one dry before the next. Thin and patient beats thick and rushed every time.
A pedicure that looks good on camera
- Glossy beats matte. A good top coat catches the light and reads as fresh.
- Classic colors photograph reliably. Reds, soft pinks and warm neutrals flatter most skin tones.
- Clean up the edges. A cotton swab dipped in remover fixes any polish on the skin; on camera, it shows.
- Wait a day. Polish fully hardens overnight, and any cream has sunk in.
For colors and nail care in more detail, see our guide on caring for your toenails.
FAQ
How do I give myself a pedicure at home?
Soak your feet, trim straight across, exfoliate, push back the cuticles, moisturize, then paint in thin coats. It takes about half an hour.
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.
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? Show it off
That is the perfect moment to post. On RateMyFeet you can post your feet for free, anonymous if you want, and the community rates them. Fans follow the creators they like and come back for the next one. Keep them smooth with our guide on getting soft feet.