Trim Your Tootsies

Top Tips for Pedicures
and Polish

If you want fantastic-looking feet to compliment your cutest pair of sandals, plan a pedicure for every three to four weeks, says Nicole Brown, a pedicurist and a reflexologist at Hausfeld’s Salon and Spa in Beavercreek, Ohio, who also offers these tips:

Your home pedicure begins with clipping and filing your toenails straight across to avoid ingrown nails.
Follow with a few minutes of luxurious soaking in warm water and antibacterial soap.
“Remove your feet from the water bath and towel off and let your nails dry for a few minutes,” says Brown. “This is an important step because if the nail tissue is full of water when you apply polish, then the polish won’t last as long. As the tissue shrinks, the polish tends to flake off.”
Then gently treat calloused skin with an abrasive file.
Apply cuticle remover and leave on for a minute. Rinse cuticle remover and push back cuticles with an orange stick.
For a bonus “spa touch,” use a nice scrub on your feet and legs all the way up to the knee. Wash off the scrub, and you’ll notice how refreshing a little exfoliation can be!

“People think that the cold winter months are the hardest on feet, but that’s not what I’ve seen,” says Brown. “Many of my clients have problems with dryness and cracking during the summer months because feet are exposed.”
To combat dryness, slather on a rich moisturizer after your pedicure and each time you bathe. One of Brown’s favorites is Dermalogica’s ultrarich body cream, which her clients use at night before slipping on a pair of cotton socks for a super-smoothing treatment.
Next, wipe toenails with a damp cloth to remove excess moisturizing products. Create a space between your toes with a foam separator. Apply a base coat, using a three-swipe strategy: drag the brush down the middle and then stroke one side of the nail followed by the other. Apply polish with the same method. Clean up any mistakes with a Q-tip or an orangewood stick wrapped in a lint-free cotton square that has been moistened with nail polish remover. Allow polish to dry for 45 minutes.
When choosing a color to paint your nails, precious metals define polish for warm weather this year. Tassel, a soft gold from Sally Hansen’s Salon line, is one option to make your tootsies sparkle.

— Michele Deppe

Treat Your Feet to These

Sally Hansen Salon Intensive Callus Remover, Mineral Foot Soak, Ultra Smoothing Foot Scrub, and Hydrating Foot Creme are just a few of the sweet feet solutions from Sally Hansen. (www.sallyhansen.com)
Burt’s Bees Peppermint Foot Lotion and Coconut and Honey & Bilberry Foot Cremes (www.burtsbees.com)
From True Blue Spa, Tough Love Spa-Strength Callus Treatment, Shea Cashmere Foot Cream, and Heel of Approval Cracked Heal Treatment (www.bathandbodyworks.com)
Pür Minerals Pür Body Butter, especially good for dry heels, and Pür Balm for the nails (and lips and skin, too) (www.purminerals.com)
Microplane Personal Care’s Foot Files (www.microplane.com)
NZP (New Zealand’s Purest) Peppermint Foot balm (www.nspnaturals.com)
From Avon, Planet Spa Hawaiian Thermal Volcano Paraffin Hand & Foot Treatment and Foot Works Thermal Exfoliating Scrub (www.avon.com)
Miss Oops Pedicure in a Bottle, an all-in-one exfoliator, smoother, and hydrator (www.missoops.com)
Lisa Hoffman Spa Bath Hand and Foot Butter and Body Crème (www.lisahoffmanskincare.com)
From Borghese’s extensive nail care line, Delicato Exfoliating Cleanser, Satina Softening Callus Remover, and Crema Divina Hydrating Leg & Foot Crème (www.borghesenailcare.com)
Curél Targeted Therapy Deep-Penetrating Foot Cream (www.curel.com)
Cushion and support your feet with Sof Sole Adapt, a moldable performance insole that provides a personalized fit (www.sofsole.com)