Every man knows that a woman should be beautiful from the tips of her hair to her toes. This means that a woman’s legs need no less care than all other parts of her body. The only pity is that not every woman understands this, and does not attach much importance to the pedicure procedure. And even though your feet are mostly hidden from the eyes of other people, you need to take care of them just like your hands. To instill a little desire, I will say that getting a pedicure is necessary not only for beauty, but also in order to cleanse our feet of dead keratinized cells that interfere with the normal functioning of nerve endings (and there are a lot of them on our feet). Surely many have already sighed, because to get a pedicure, you need to go to a salon and spend money. All this can be avoided if you learn how to do a pedicure at home. There is nothing complicated about it, all you need is the desire and a little free time.

Equipment

So, first, let's figure out what we need. We need to prepare tools for a pedicure. To do this, you can use a ready-made set for manicure and pedicure, which is not difficult to buy in a store. The most important thing we need is scissors, a wooden stick for removing cuticles and a nail file. We’ll figure out what else is needed as we describe the work.

Steaming and cleansing

Before you start doing a pedicure at home, your feet need to be steamed. To do this, prepare a bath with warm water. To make the procedure more pleasant and beneficial, you can add a decoction of chamomile or oak bark to the bath. They will relieve inflammation in the legs and also reduce sweating. You can also add sea salt, which will help heal small cracks and wounds. You should steam your feet until their skin turns pink. Typically this procedure lasts 15-20 minutes.

After steaming, they need to be cleaned. To do this, you need to remove one foot from the water, apply a scrub to it and slowly rub it into the skin with a metal brush. Pumice will help remove dead skin cells. The same must be done with the other leg.

Cuticle removal

Let's do a pedicure at home next. Now you need to remove it. To do this, you need to lubricate it with a special cream, wait a couple of minutes and push the cuticle with a wooden stick to the base of the nail. It is not advisable to trim the cuticle; nevertheless, it protects the nails from damage and infection.

Nail cutting and painting

Now you need to get your nails in order. They should be cut in a straight line. Rounded nails (especially large ones) can grow into the fingers and create discomfort. And it is extremely difficult to get rid of them; you will have to seek help from a doctor. Please note that the legs should be filed from the edges to their base. Moving back and forth can lead to splitting and unsightly nails. If the surface of the nails is uneven, it can be made smooth using a soft file or a buffer, which should have the slightest shape.

Before you start painting your nails, apply a base coat first. It will correct minor irregularities on the nails. Next, the varnish itself (colored or transparent) is applied directly. Apply a protective varnish to the already dried surface.

Additional care

We will finish off the pedicure at home with a little care. It is as follows: you need to apply moisturizer to your feet and rub in with gentle movements. If your legs still look painful and sloppy, you can try oil wraps. They are done like this: the heated oil must be applied to the skin, wrapped in a bandage, and cellophane put on top and sit in all this for thirty minutes. The condition of the skin of the legs will noticeably improve after 2-3 treatments.

We will conditionally divide all types of home pedicure into classic, technological and chemical. Each has its own pros and cons!

Classical

Steam, file, treat your feet: this is the most familiar home pedicure to us, about which many people say, “It still doesn’t work out like in a salon.” And they say it right! To do it yourself like a pro, first get the right set of accessories for a pedicure at home.

1. Glass file

It is the glass file that is optimal in terms of price-quality ratio; in addition, it is actually the only one among the variety of files that does not injure the nail at all, allowing you to process it in any direction.

Popular

2. Wire cutters

If your nails have grown too long and a file won’t help, shorten them to the desired length using clippers.

Recognized manufacturers include: Zolingen, Zinger, Stalex, Wusthof, Alpen and Merz. Choose an option with fairly long handles and wide blades.

3. Grater

How to do a pedicure at home yourself? After steaming your feet, don't forget to dry them thoroughly with a towel before starting the process. Under no circumstances should you keep three legs in the water! You may damage the skin, not see some areas that need treatment, and most importantly, wet skin is less easily removed. After wiping your feet, carefully rub the whitened areas with a grater: this is where the dead cells are most concentrated.

Don't buy pumice! It is better to pay attention to double-sided graters with varying degrees of abrasiveness. The optimal combination is 80 and 150 grit. The rougher side will cope with calluses and corns, the more delicate side will deal with keratinized skin.

4. Cuticle remover

To make your nails look neat, you need to remove the cuticle. Do not cut it under any circumstances! Choose the right cuticle remover, it could be Orly Cutique, Sally Hansen Problem Cuticle Remover, be natural's Cuticule Eliminator or The Edge Cuticle Remover, or any other. Apply to the cuticle, wait 5 minutes and remove all “lost” skin using an orange stick. Ready!

Technological pedicure

An excellent option for those who are too lazy to bother with a classic pedicure: automation of the process speeds it up significantly. You don’t even need to steam your skin to do a pedicure yourself!

1. Electric saws

The Scholl brand offers 2 types of files: for removing rough skin from the feet and for treating the more delicate skin of the fingers and removing cuticles. Simple, fast, safe! Replaceable attachments will help you choose the optimal processing intensity, and detailed instructions will help you do everything as accurately and efficiently as possible.

2. Kits for home pedicure

Multifunctional hardware pedicure kits look like complicated equipment, but in reality even a beginner can handle it. Each nozzle is supplied with instructions for use.

The standard option is to use sanding attachments to process the skin of the feet, narrow cylindrical attachments to use the periungual ridge, and the thinnest one to remove the cuticle. Polishing attachments will help add shine to your nails.

The cost of devices for home pedicure starts from 1000 rubles; the brands LAICA, beurer and GEZAtone have proven themselves well.

Chemical pedicure

Pedicure socks are an Asian innovation that turned the world upside down: acid peeling for feet, which allows you to achieve results that are impossible with any other type of pedicure. The only negative is from our ownHowever, the procedure will take about 14 days to see the results.

The principle of operation of the socks is simple: they contain a solution of lactic, glycolic or linoleic acids (or combinations thereof). By putting on socks and walking in them for 2 hours, you provide the acids with sufficiently deep penetration into the keratinized layers, and then, for 3-5 days, they work at a deep level, separating dead tissue from the inside from the young. On days 3-5, the skin on the feet begins to peel off, and then literally peel off in rags. Under no circumstances should you rip off the skin or use graters or scrubs! The process must proceed on its own. In the evenings and every time after a shower, massage your feet with a terry towel. If your appearance bothers you, walk and sleep in socks. After 7-10 days, the old skin will completely come off, and you will be amazed by the appearance of your legs: literally, like a baby’s! Socks cope with corns, chafing, calluses, rough skin, releasing delicate and smooth skin. The effect lasts from a month to six months - depending on your luck.

Experts say that it is advisable to do the procedure once over a period of one and a half or two weeks, in this case the legs will look very well-groomed and beautiful. Let's look at the main steps of carrying out this procedure, so beloved by many women, and get acquainted with the secrets of doing it at home.

Step by step to beautiful legs

1. Initially, in order to begin processing the skin, it is necessary to soften the integument on the feet. A bath of warm water, where you can add a little gel or shampoo, is ideal for this. Ideal for steaming is adding a small amount of sea salt. In order to tone your legs, you need to keep them in water for 15 minutes. Due to this, the dead cells will go away without injury, and then it is quite easy to remove them from your feet with pumice.
2. Now you need to properly treat your toenails. To do this, use nail scissors and possibly wire cutters. You can cut the nails in a straight line. Using a nail file, try to give the nail a more rounded rather than square shape. Otherwise, there is a high probability of the nail plate growing into the skin. Remember that the cut must be carried out in one direction, it is advisable to do it from the edge of the nail to the center
3. The cuticle is pushed back when using a pusher or an orange stick. Some girls choose a special device for themselves, which quickly helps remove dead skin particles and shorten nails. Remember that it is important not only to push back the cuticles and file your nails, but also to gently clean the space under your nails. Metal objects are not suitable for this, because by damaging the surface under the nail, you can increase the likelihood of dust and dirt getting there, which will then be quite difficult to wash out.
4. In order to make your nails smooth and shiny, use a special double-sided file or polisher for pedicure. Thanks to this, the polish will lie on the nails more evenly, and it will last an order of magnitude longer.
5. One of the main steps in a home pedicure is treating the skin on your feet. It is necessary to remove dead cells; pumice stone will help in this matter. A softer and more delicate removal of dead skin cells is possible if a special treatment of the nails is carried out first. Additionally, you can use a scrub or peeling. However, first consider the effectiveness of the drug.
6. When you have completed all the necessary steps and done a pedicure, do not forget to moisturize your skin. For this purpose, special moisturizing creams or remedies for the appearance of corns are used.

Secrets of painless creation of a beautiful pedicure

There is a considerable amount of advice from famous cosmetologists, manicurists and manicurists who have been involved in this business for many years. Many of them reveal useful secrets to their clients so that they can do their own nail design at home. Let's look at the main secrets of creating perfectly smooth legs at home:

1. If there are small cracks on your feet, you need to be very careful with scrub or peeling. The fact is that the strong and active substance of a cosmetic product may not react very well to the delicate skin on the legs. This is fraught with dermatitis or allergies.
2. Constantly disinfect the tools you use for pedicures. Try to keep them away from your household.
3. Have you purchased a new product to soften the skin on your legs - peeling or scrub? Great! Before using it fully, test for allergies.
4. If it's autumn or winter outside, and you want to get a pedicure, try not to go outside in the next couple of hours after treating your feet.

What to do with the cuticle?

This question is asked by many girls and women. Let's look at three main cuticle care options and choose the best one for each woman:

1. Standard circumcision cuticle nippers. Suitable only if a classic pedicure was performed. There is a category of women whose cuticle grows back quite quickly, and it is almost impossible to remove it by other means. When carrying out work, be as careful and attentive as possible - there is a high probability of cutting yourself or damaging some capillary. Don’t forget to properly treat your instruments and thoroughly disinfect them. Always use one wire cutter per family member.
2. SPA manicure. It is also called unedged. In this case, after the skin of the legs has been steamed, the cuticle will be pushed back with an orange stick or pusher. It is necessary to trim the skin only in the place where it is clear in advance that a hangnail will appear. This must be done as carefully as possible.
3. Acid manicure. To do this kind of manicure, you will need a special product for treating the skin. Most often it is a light peeling based on fruit acids. The essence of its use is simple: before your legs are steamed, you need to push back the cuticle with an orange stick, and also apply this preparation to it. The nails will be submerged in water for a minute or a minute and a half, after which you need to use a special pumice stick to remove all the particles of skin that have been treated. This way you will see that absolutely all dead cuticle cells begin to wear off and disappear. In isolated cases where there is a high probability of burr formation, it is necessary to use wire cutters.

Modern girls are accustomed to taking care of their legs, especially their feet, not only during the summer holidays, but throughout the year. Well-groomed nails and smooth skin give ladies self-confidence, and a beautiful pedicure is an impressive detail of the look. Pedicure treatments are highly sought after in beauty salons, but they can be expensive. But nothing prevents beauties from learning how to perform pedicures at home.

How to make it at home?

Doing a pedicure yourself is not so difficult if you follow step-by-step instructions and take into account the characteristics of your skin and nails. For beginners, it is good to practice at least once a week. Gradually, you will learn to independently take into account all the nuances and gradually give your feet a well-groomed appearance. Regular pedicures will give you the opportunity not only to restore and protect your skin from damage, but also to create a fancy design on your nails with your own hands.

To do a pedicure correctly, you need to remember that it is a step-by-step process that requires preparing the feet and a certain amount of time. There is no need to rush into treating your feet, especially for beginners. At home, take care in advance of the cleanliness of the room and good lighting where you will carry out the procedure.

What do you need?

In order for the pedicure procedure to be successful, you need to take care of the equipment and devices for its implementation in advance. Every girl should have a pedicure set. Among the components of the set, the following mandatory elements are distinguished:

• tweezers;
• nail file;
• pedicure scissors;
• orange stick;
• cuticle tweezers.

Sometimes the list includes a larger number of devices - various types of scissors and cuticle devices. Some kits contain skin care products - creams, scrubs, balms (and even special masks for feet). Such sets are quite expensive, so every girl can make an alternative to purchased products with her own hands - using products that are used in everyday life.

There are two remedies that will transform your feet - hydrogen peroxide and ordinary baking soda. They are used for baths.

If you have serious problems with corns and calluses, then do not neglect the use of keratolytics - products based on salicylic acid, an alcohol solution and other substances that help remove dead skin. Some remedies help get rid of fungus.

Rules and stages

It is very important to follow a certain sequence of actions in creating a pedicure. Before starting the procedure, remove old nail polish from your nails using nail polish remover.

At the first stage, you need to take care of the shape of your nails. This must be done using pedicure scissors and a special file. Nails should be trimmed only in a straight line, without rounding the ends. Otherwise, ingrowth of the nail plate will occur.

It is most useful to use a glass file, because it has a soft texture, carefully corrects the shape of the nail and is durable.

To ensure that the entire surface of the nail is smooth, use a polishing file. Start with the rougher side and sand the surface with the soft side of the file.

An important step is the foot bath. It can be done both before and after adjusting the shape of the nails. If you start a pedicure with this procedure, then remember that you can use a file only after the nail plate has completely dried.

There are different types of baths:

• Refreshing and toning– with the addition of peppermint essential oil and sea salt.
• Disinfectant- with baking soda. It is suitable for the prevention and treatment of fungal diseases.
• Relaxing- with chamomile. Suitable for ladies whose feet are exposed to heavy loads throughout the day - especially for those who love high heels.
• Health-improving- with sea salt. It helps to disinfect the skin of the feet.

Some ladies make a foot bath right at home using spa technology. This pedicure will take a little longer, but the effect will be unforgettable. The special feature of the spa bath is that it includes aromatic oil. Then a foot massage is done using a scrub. Thanks to the combination of these procedures, girls receive effective exfoliation of rough skin cells on their feet.

To soften the skin of your feet correctly and safely, you should consider certain recommendations:

• The bath should not be very hot, make sure that it does not burn the skin.
• If there are wounds or damage to the skin, delay using salt.
• Use a waffle towel after the bath. It perfectly absorbs moisture and helps dry your feet.
• Use foot baths with caution if you have circulatory problems.

Remove rough skin

When your feet are steamed and soft, it's time to remove rough skin.

The area where the skin becomes rough most quickly is the heels. To get rid of dead cells, pumice is most often used. Pumice with sufficiently large grains is suitable for the most compacted and dry areas of the feet. Most often, these are the edges of the heels where corns appear. For other areas and for sanding, fine-grained pumice is suitable.

One way to soften the skin of your feet is with foot masks. The most affordable option is to apply a moisturizing and softening cream to steamed feet before bed. After this, you need to wear warm socks throughout the night. As an alternative, you can use ready-made masks; they are sold together with special plastic bags in which you need to hold your feet to achieve the effect.

To thoroughly care for all areas of your feet, use a special foot scrub. It will help you completely get rid of rough skin even in hard-to-reach places.

If your feet are prone to sweating, use a special foot deodorant after removing excess moisture from the skin.

Cuticle treatment

When your foot skin care routine is complete, it's time to take care of your cuticles. As in manicure, in pedicure there are two options for nail treatment - trimmed and untrimmed. But cosmetologists do not recommend removing the steamed cuticle on the legs with tweezers, arguing that it is much easier to push it back with an orange stick. Particularly scrupulous young ladies can use a special softening cream for the cuticle - and then remove it with a napkin. The likelihood of injury to the cuticle during pedicure is very low, since after water procedures it is very soft and elastic.

Nail care

Immediately before applying varnish, it is important to carry out a special nail care procedure - degreasing them. During the previous stages of pedicure, the nails were subjected to repeated contact with creams, so the polish may not adhere well. To get rid of this problem, thoroughly clean your nails with nail polish remover. It is very important that it is without acetone. After this, wait 10 minutes, wipe your nails with a dry cloth - and you can proceed to the next stage of the pedicure.

Coating

An important aspect of foot transformation is the choice of nail coating. In terms of the variety of coating options for pedicure, they are almost as good as those for manicure. Finger separators provide convenience when applying the coating. They help prevent polish from smudging due to nails touching each other.

If the durability factor is not very important to you or you are just starting to practice pedicures, choose regular nail polish. First, apply a base clear varnish, and then apply as many layers of color as you see fit. The choice of color depends on the season and your preference. The polish should be applied in the direction from the root of the nail to its tip, so that the entire width of the nail plate is painted over.

For the full effect and durability of the varnish, paint your nails with a fixative, which will help the pedicure last longer.

Shellac coating was not spared during the pedicure procedure. Its main difference from regular varnish is the need to first apply a primer. This coating can last 5 times longer than regular varnish. It's perfect for holidays and offers a huge variety of design options. The disadvantage of shellac is the drying out of the nail plate, but its degree is not critical.

As in manicure, the technique of applying gel polish is common in pedicure. This coating can last up to 6 weeks! Remember that the gel-based coating procedure is only possible with a UV lamp. The duration of the procedure will depend on the power of the lamp. Be sure to apply a base coat of varnish. The base varnish of your chosen color is applied in two layers, then the top coat is applied. The disadvantages of this procedure are its duration and the cost of materials, but they are compensated by the opportunity to create nails with an exclusive design for a long time.

Fashionistas are offered a huge number of nail design options, among which every girl can choose a design that suits her.

Fashion trends and design ideas

To make your nails look well-groomed, it is not at all necessary to load them with a huge amount of sparkles and sequins. Sometimes it is enough to carry out just basic pedicure procedures and cover the nail plate with transparent varnish. To turn your nails into a beautiful detail of your look, you should take care of such nuances of the pedicure as the color of the varnish and the design.

Color solutions

When choosing a shade of varnish for a pedicure, you should be guided by the following factors:

• skin tone;
• season;
• compatibility with manicure;
• fashion trends;
• specific image;
• shape of the nail plate.

Skin tone plays an important role when choosing the shade of nail polish. It is very important that it contrasts moderately and does not create an unnatural effect. Those with warm skin tones should choose different shades of orange and red. For ladies with cool skin tones, the colors of the blue palette are suitable.

The types of pedicure for the winter and summer seasons differ significantly. During the holidays, beauties choose bright and rich shades. Nails in yellow, pink and mint colors have been favorites of the summer season for many years now. In winter, rich red, dark and metallic shades are often preferred.

Nail designs never go out of style. Themed images are popular for special occasions. Sometimes girls decorate their nails on their toes and hands in the same style. The drawing is applied using the same devices as in manicure - dots, toothpicks, hairpins, cotton swabs and other improvised materials.

Types and techniques

As in manicure, various nail design options are popular in pedicure:

• Spot pedicure done with dots. Trending designs are ladybug, watermelon and flowers.
• Lace pedicure done using lace appliques or needles.
• French pedicure presents a variety of color options. The classic style involves simulating the overgrown part of the nail using white color. You can combine colored shades in this manicure or combine it with other techniques - for example, with dotting.
• Pedicure with rhinestones– ideal for a special occasion or party. Rhinestones can be arranged in the form of lines or patterns, alternate in color and form fancy compositions.
• Striped pedicure implies many variations, from an ensemble of two shades to alternating all the colors of the rainbow. Marine pedicure, a summer fashion trend, definitely includes this technique.

• Lunar pedicure involves painting the nail hole with one color and the rest of the nail with another. It is beautiful in combination with the French manicure technique, when the nail hole matches the shade of the regrown part.
• Matte pedicure- ultra-fashionable trend. This option looks restrained and quite simple, but at the same time original and expressive.
• Multicolored pedicure will provide a positive mood. Each nail is designed in an individual color. As a rule, there is contrast between all colors. This pedicure is perfect for a beach party.
• Leopard print never goes out of style. It is created using the dot manicure technique. Colors may vary depending on your desire. You can arrange the spots randomly, or you can maintain strict symmetry.
• Water pedicure- one of the simplest options. It is created by applying a pattern to a water surface with varnish and then transferring the resulting film onto the nail. The result must be secured with transparent varnish.
• Pedicure with ombre effect can be done using the gradient technique. Choose two varnishes that contrast in color or saturation. Decide on the direction of the gradient and make a smooth transition. Remember that ombre involves a not too thick transition line and the dominance of a light shade over a dark one.

Using all these techniques, you can create a huge number of drawings. It is even permissible to combine some techniques. You can choose a variety of colors.

Special attention should be paid to alkaline pedicure. It has gained great popularity in beauty salons and is performed only by specially trained professionals. This pedicure is fundamentally different from the classic procedure with steaming and multi-stage processing. The skin of the feet remains dry, but is heated in a towel, and then peeling procedures are performed on it (using an alkali solution). The procedure ends with a massage that helps remove all rough skin particles from the feet.

Useful secrets

How to quickly get a pedicure?

It happens that you have to create a pedicure in an accelerated mode. But real masters can do a high-quality professional pedicure even in a limited time. When every minute counts, ladies should remember a number of tips that will help not only not to spoil the image, but also save time:

• Even after taking a shower or bath, the skin on your feet noticeably steams. Getting a pedicure right after your shower can save you time in the bath.
• Don't blow dry your nails. This is not the easiest or safest way. It is easier to hold your nails under running cool water. This will significantly speed up the drying process of the varnish.
• Quick treatment of nails with Sellac coating or gel polish is only possible if you have a powerful UV lamp. If you don't have one, give preference to regular varnish.
• The ideal option for a quick manicure is a coating using a simple design. If you apply a drawing in a hurry, the result may not be very neat. Therefore, it is better to choose a plain or transparent varnish. If you still cannot do without an ornament, purchase a varnish with a cracking effect. It is quite easy to apply - and at the same time very original.

How to prepare the place?

In order for the pedicure procedure to be effective, it is worth taking care of such a component as the place where it is performed.

The place should be well lit so that you can see all the details. This can be either daylight or artificial lighting. Don't neglect to use glasses if you have poor vision. Otherwise, you may even get injured.

Your feet should be level with your body if you are doing your own pedicure. For a more comfortable position of the foot, purchase a pedicure stand.

All instruments should be disinfected in advance to avoid infection. Take care of the cleanliness of the room.

Place all the accessories so that they are located at hand in a convenient sequence for you.