Between Pedicures – Caring for Your Pedicure so it Lasts Longer

I have a confession. I don’t enjoy getting pedicures. My feet are extremely ticklish and so all the scrubbing and handling is just painful to me. Plus, I haven’t found a nail salon I just love. But I absolutely love the results of a good pedicure. There’s nothing better than beautifully sculpted toenails adorned with shiny, dazzling polish in a trendy, seasonal color. And I do love for my feet to feel smooth to the touch and look well groomed and lady like. That’s why I wanted to know what I could do between pedicures to keep my feet looking and feeling great until the next time I have to endure another pedicure. Really, y’all! I just don’t like the process!

Here are the pedicure maintenance tips I’ve discovered that help me keep my feet looking and feeling great between pedicures…for as long as possible!

At the Pedicure Appointment:

My first tip is simply to either take your own polish to the nail salon for the technician to use or buy some of the same shade. That way you’ll have a bottle of polish at home with which to touch up your toe nails. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve regretted not following my own advice here. I can make my pedicures last a lot longer if I have the same polish at home.

Daily Between Pedicures:

• Wash your feet daily. Please don’t be insulted by that advice. I’m sure you take daily baths. But I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes I rush through washing my tootsies. We really need to spend a little time here.
• Apply a good body lotion to your feet in the morning, prepping feet for a long day.
• Apply a good foot cream like Gold Bond Ultimate Softening Foot Cream in the evenings. I like this cream because it’s a little heavier than the lotion I use in the morning. I always put on a pair of cotton socks after applying the lotion. By the time I climb into bed I can take them off, but the socks help my feet absorb the cream and keep me from slipping on my tiled bathroom floor.

Weekly Between Pedicures:

If possible, I try to do the following once a week.

• Soak your feet for about 10 minutes in either mildly soapy water or water with epsom salt. I love this Tree Hut Fig & Olive Epsom soaking salt.
• Exfoliate feet with a good smelling foot or body sugar scrub. I like the Tree Hut Sugar Scrubs in various scents. Just sit over the tub or a soaking tub and rub the sugar scrub into each foot in circular motions. Concentrate on the heels and the pads of your feet or other callous prone areas.
• After rinsing and somewhat drying your feet from the exfoliating scrub, continue to remove dead skin by using a file made for this purpose. I just use something like this one from Ulta, but you might want to invest in something like this one from Amope. After filing calloused areas, rinse your feet thoroughly again. Be sure to wash your file after each use as well.
• Occasionally I indulge in a foot mask like Que Bella’s Intensive Foot Mask. This sock style foot mask contains apple and shea butter that penetrates and deeply moisturizes the skin. I don’t suggest foot masks that act as chemical peels or exfoliates because they can irritate your skin.
• If your toe nails need to be shortened you can either file them straight across or carefully trim with clippers the same way. Don’t curve nails at the edges as this can lead to ingrown nails.
• Touch up the polish if needed by simply adding another coat on top of your professionally applied coats. I suggest doing this only once between pedicures.

Let’s Talk Nail Polish:

I’m an OPI gal through and through. I’ve just found that it has the most staying power on natural nails. And I love the shades and the shiny finish, especially the shine I achieve with the OPI Infinite Shine system. I posted a pretty extensive blog post about how I use this long-lasting polish in my home manicures. But I also like OPI’s regular nail enamel as well, and it’s a little less expensive.

Here’s to beautiful feet all summer long! Even between pedicures. Because, y’all, I just can’t handle too many of those pedicures!

Blessed for My Day

When was the last time you told someone about how God has worked in your life? You don’t have to look way back to a time when you first realized there was a God or when you met Jesus. Of course you can do that, but I think it’s even more beautiful when we share with someone what God is doing in our life right now. Maybe you could encourage someone with how God is teaching you a hard lesson, how He’s walking through a difficult time with you or how He’s giving you courage for a new venture. How has God recently answered a prayer or spoken to you through His Word? Nothing will make your feet prettier than going and sharing the good news.

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” ~ Isaiah 52:7