Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Creature Comforts - The Perfect At Home Pedicure



     It is extremely cold outside. Too cold for snow, too cold to want to be out there (though not as cold as yesterday). Time to pop in a movie, make some cocoa, and indulge in some creature comforts - in this case a pedicure, at home.


    Step 1. Establish your space. The movie - check. Cocoa - check. Nail supplies? Here are the basics: 

  • Polish remover - non-acetone is a good gentle choice, bump it up to the heavy duty stuff if you are removing a lot of polish
  • Cotton Balls
  • Cuticle Pusher
  • Callous Remover
  • Cuticle remover gel & tool
  • Lotion
  • Base Coat
  • Polish 
  • Optional - Nail Art Stickers
  • Top Coat
  • Toe Separators
  • Optional - Quick Drying Polish Drops, Spray, or top coat
  • Clippers
  • Nail Files
  • Optional - Foot spa mmmmm
Step 2. Do the pedicure!!
  • Immerse in foot spa, or clean feet well in some other way.
  • Trim toenails straight across to prevent ingrowns and not terrible short. 
  • File with course end, then smoother end.
  • Use callous remover - the ped egg is good, but don't be too rough - or a simple pumice stone can do the trick. 
  • Apply cuticle remover gel and let sit for the instructed time, usually 1 minute. Wash off well, push up cuticles with cuticle pusher, and trim if desired with trimmer. 
  • Lotionize!
  • Wetten cotton puff with nail polish remover, wipe down each toenail with puff - this preps for polish. 
  • Insert toe separators - in a pinch use t.p. 
  • Apply base coat. 
  • Apply two coats of a high quality polish - I prefer OPI, China Glaze, or Essie (in that order). Make sure it is free of the nasty chemicals the FDA warned about - it should say "toulene free, DBP free, phosphate free," or something like that.
  • Let the polish dry a few minutes before applying a sticker (with tweezers) if you want stickers.
  • Apply top coat. 
  • If you want, apply quick-drying drops (OPI & Essie make great ones) or spray (OPI & Sally Beauty have good ones). 
Step 3. Relax, keep your feet up, and watch your movie!

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