The power of a pedicure is a magical thing. The one summer beauty splurge I’d recommend to anyone. In fact, I’d say it’s pretty much compulsory. For relatively little money, the results of a professional pedicure far outweigh what I can achieve at home. All that buffing and filling and polishing is hard work, and I’m never that happy with the end result.
For lots of us, this is a treatment for the summer months only – the time we bring our toes out of hibernation. There’s nothing I like more than looking down at my feet – strapped into my favourite pair of sandals – to be greeted by a bright pop of professionally applied colour. With that said, I do try to look after my toes all year round. Prevention is better than cure, after all! And let’s face it, our feet go through a lot. From miles of walking to being stuffed into high heels, they deserved to be pampered in return. So, in case you needed anymore convincing, here’s my roundup of how a professional is the best person to look after our feet.
In growing toenails. If you’ve ever had one of these, you’ll know the pain they can cause. A pedicurist will spot the first signs of these, and treat them before they cause a problem. And then there’s dry, cracked heels. Softer, more supple feet are easily achieved through a good soaking and filing away of any dead skin. For extra stubborn areas, try a paraffin wax treatment. This involves leaving the feet wrapped in wax for ten minutes, and when it’s removed you’re left with silky soft toes. And for feet in need of extra attention, try a medical pedicure at Margaret Dabbs (margaretdabbs.co.uk). A qualified podiatrist will skilfully remove any dry, dead skin, while taking care of corns and calluses too.
Consider a shellac varnish. I had one before a holiday – recommended to me by nail guru Kat who works at Neville Hair and Beauty (nevillehairandbeauty.net) – and I’m so glad I took her advice. At the end of a two-week holiday, my toes usually look worse for wear. Though this time the varnish stayed put – perfect for showing off tanned toes and feet! When deciding on a nail colour, I consider what events I have coming up, and what outfits I’m likely to be wearing. This ensures my varnish doesn’t clash with anything. If in doubt – go with classic red, or choose a natural tone.
So, aside from all the practical benefits a pedicure has to offer, there’s also nothing more relaxing than being pampered for an hour. Having your feet soaked and scrubbed by a professional, each nail filed and painted, and your feet massaged, is a treat I think we should all indulge in. But if home pedis are still your treatment of choice, then here’s my list of tried and tested products for getting happy feet from the comfort of your own home.
First up is Deciem Heel Chemistry Stop the Hard Skin Cycle (£15 for 100ml, available at chemistrybrand.com). Apply this fast-absorbing and ultra-hydrating cream two times a day, and you’ll notice cracked skin is healed after two weeks of use. So worth it!
Next up is Famous Names Dadi Oil (£2.95 for 3.75ml, available at nailpolishdirect.co.uk). This oil is amazing for both fingers and toes, helping you to achieve stronger nails and softer cuticles. Win-win!
Last up is the Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File (£12.50, available at feelunique.com). Keep this nail hero in your handbag at all times. It’s incredibly gentle and one of the best files around.
Have you got any nail tips and tricks to share with the readers of You Glow Girl? If so, pop them in the comments box below!
LSx