A Guide To Pampering Pedicures
Vincent Platania
It is time for your hard working feet to take a break.
Whether your feet need a boost before going summertime bare or your pedicure is a gift you give to a loved one's tired toes, pedicures are easy to do at home.
Whether you are doing it for yourself or someone else, the procedure is the same, although it's easier to massage someone else's feet than it is to completely massage your own.
To start, you will need a footbath or large, wide bowl. Choose from a selection of bath and essential oils, foot scrubs, or fizzing bath bombs. Organize toe nail clipper, emery board, nail buffer, spongy toe separators (if planning to polish toenails), nail brush, and follow-up scented foot lotion. In addition, you'll need towels for catching spills, and drying freshly washed feet. If you have nail polish on your toe nails, remove polish thoroughly before starting the pedicure.
Take the bowl or footbath and fill it with warm to hot water. Give yourself the hottest water your feet can take for optimum softening of the tough heel skin, and to promote relaxation. Toss in a fizzing bath bomb. Most are made with scent and Epsom salts, and, when added to water, turn a simple bath, or in this case, a simple footbath, into a bubbling, tickling massage. Add a drop of your favoring essential oil - lavender is a relaxing choice.
While feet are wet, use a foot scrub to soften the calluses built up during everyday exercise and ordinary tasks. Be gentle. If the tough skin on your feet has been building up over a few years, realize that it may take a few weekly pampering pedicures to bring your feet back to softness.
Rinse foot scrub off feet in the cooling footbath. Feet can soften in the footbath for a total of about five minutes, or until water is too cool for enjoyment.. Gently dry off feet with an absorbent towel.
While skin and nails are soft, take a few minutes to gently push back toe nail cuticles with an angled cuticle stick. Use big toe nail clippers to cut toe nails straight across. A caution: do not clip them too short for this can cause problems with ingrown toe nails as the cut nails grow back. Grab the nail brush and scrub across the tip of nails and on the top of the nails. This is a safer way to clean out gunk under nails than to poke a stick underneath the tip and down the side of nails.
Now for the foot massage. If you are giving yourself a pedicure, don't skip this step no matter how awkward or difficult it may seem. Massaging feet increases blood circulation, relaxes muscles and relieves aches and pains. Any lotion will do but using a peppermint oil foot lotion brings added benefits: the peppermint also promotes blood circulation in the foot, and overpowers lingering foot odor. You can start at either end of your foot, but make sure the entire foot receives the benefit of the massage.
Pour a quarter-sized dollop of lotion into your hand and start at the heel, rubbing repeatedly with a light touch, softening skin and soothing stresses. Move up the foot, rubbing lotion in the bottom of the foot. Use thumbs to make small circles as you work your way over the sole. Pressure can be increased anywhere it feels good. In fact, ticklish feet prefer a firmer hand; it's the light touch that tickles most!
Pay extra attention to the toes. Rub between toes, using a gentle touch. Finish by rubbing each toe individually. Give both feet equal care.
Finish with the toe nails. File any jagged or sharp edges and shape the toe nail. Even if you do not want to polish the toenails, use a nail buffer to smooth nail ridges for a clean, healthy look.
If possible, use a nail buffer that has three separate finishes. Start with the roughest surface first and give each nail 20 strokes. Give each nail 20 more strokes with next surface, and finish with 20 buffing strokes with the finest surface on the nail buffer. Use that goofy looking sponge toe separator. This tool keeps polish from smearing as toes bump together.
When polishing toe nails, keep in mind the beating your feet take during the day. Start with a clear base coat of polish to prevent the yellowing on the toenails resulting from dark polish painted directly on the nail. Two coats of color will help the nails stay attractive for up to two weeks. Finish with two sheer coats of a protective top coat to keep your pedicure looking great.
Now that your feet look and feel festive, take those pampered toes out on the town.
Remember the Fuller Brush man? Quality brushes that last for generations were their trademark. Fuller Brush continues that tradition with brushes for every job in the house, plus cleaning supplies, personal care items and more. Visit Vincent Platania at http://www.fuller-brush-products.com to find the best products for cleaning anything, any time of the year.
About the author: Author Vincent Platania represents the Fuller Brush Company. Fuller Brush has been in business since 1906, and offers safe, environmentally friendly products for keeping your home and your body clean. Visit http://www.fuller-brush-products.com
The latest information and news on Skin Care:
Image is Everything: Don't Let Acne Scars Prevent You From Looking and Feelin...
Image is Everything: Don't Let Acne Scars Prevent You From Looking and Feeling ...
24-7PressRelease.com (press release)
Epione Beverly Hills helps men and women put their best face forward with cutting-edge acne scar removal treatments; Coolaser laser resurfacing and dermal ...
and more »...
Acne ? It's What's Inside That Counts! - PR Web (press release)
Acne ? It's What's Inside That Counts!
PR Web (press release)
Many acne sufferers spent hundreds, even thousands of dollars in the effort to find a cure for their embarrassing and uncomfortable acne. ...
and more »
Acne launches range for transvestites - The Vine
wallpaper.com
Acne launches range for transvestites
The Vine
by penylane on Sep 08 2010, 06:00AM Acne has teamed up with Spanish magazine Candy to launch a small range of shirts targetted at transvestite, transgender, ...
Acne launches a new transexual collectionwallpaper.com
all 2 news articles &ra...
FDA Grants Market Clearance for Erchonia's Zerona Laser - Marketwire (press r...
FDA Grants Market Clearance for Erchonia's Zerona Laser
Marketwire (press release)
Currently thousands of Erchonia's lasers are used daily to reduce body fat, eliminate pain, accelerate healing, and treat acne. For additional information ...
and more »
Seaweed extracts as acne prevention, studies reveal - Seer Press
MedIndia
Seaweed extracts as acne prevention, studies reveal
Seer Press
In effort to address the rising problems of teenagers who have acne, researches were conducted to assess the efficacy of seawee extracts in fighting acne. ...
Seaweed extract fights acne woesTimes of India
Seaweed beneficial as acne ...
skin care - Google News
New Jersey Housewife, Caroline Manzo, Shaves Her Face - Skin Care Revelation ...
Kansas City Star
New Jersey Housewife, Caroline Manzo, Shaves Her Face - Skin Care Revelation ...
TotalBeauty.com (blog)
This season on the reality show, the no-nonsense redhead revealed her skin care secret: She shaves her face. That is not a typo. ...
See you later Danielle StaubAdrian Daily Telegram ...
Skin Care - Slovenia - Market Report - New Market Report Published - Official...
Skin Care - Slovenia - Market Report - New Market Report Published
OfficialWire (press release)
by Press Office In 2009, the skin care sector managed to sustain positive growth at 1%, thanks mainly to facial care and hand care, which were the key ...
Skin Care - India - Market Report - New Market Repor...
Hit Morning Show ?The Balancing Act? Welcomes Christine Heathman, Founder of ...
PRLog.Org (press release)
Hit Morning Show ?The Balancing Act? Welcomes Christine Heathman, Founder of ...
PRLog.Org (press release)
Heathman is so passionate about skin care that she created eight professional product lines and also founded the GlyMed Plus® Institute of Skin Science?, ...
and more ...
Issaquah-based skincare company wins national award - Issaquah Press
Issaquah-based skincare company wins national award
Issaquah Press
Prevention enlisted seven dermatologists to test 35 skincare products on 175 women who were 40 or older for a period of up to eight weeks. ...
Prestigious international skincare and spa range launches exclusively at Chua...
PRLog.Org (press release)
Prestigious international skincare and spa range launches exclusively at Chuan ...
PRLog.Org (press release)
Set to be the talk of the town, NATURA BISSÉ was welcomed to Chuan Spa, with a glittering Spanish influenced soirée, inspired by the jewel in its skincare ...