I see going for a pedicure as a triple whammy act of self care. It’s not just TLC for your toes. For my mood and wellbeing when I’m feeling stressed and frazzled, nothing beats escaping to the nail bar with a Starbucks Mocha in one hand and a magazine in the other. It’s like a sanctuary where you can have some peace and indulgence. When the massage chair kicks in with it’s muscle-kneeding action, your stresses can seem a million miles away, even if it’s only for one precious hour. Afterwards, I always leave with my shoulders a little further away from my ears and with a renewed spring in my step.
Nothing can beat a foot and leg massage to ease tension. Allowing someone else to look after you, when you’re usually so preoccupied with making sure everyone else is fine, is the ultimate act of self care.
When it comes to baring our feet in strappy shoes or flip flops, it looks and feels good to have well presented toes.
I’m afraid I’m terrible boring when it comes to choosing a shade. For the colder months it’s always classic red and come summer, coral. I used to deliberate over deviating from my trusted favourite colours but would regret it whenever I did. I now save myself the headache and go with what I love, even if it’s not the most adventurous.
Now here are my tips for keeping your pedicure in top condition so it lasts as long as possible in-between appointments to enjoy the benefits of your treatment for longer:
Take Your Own Polish
If like me, you go for regular polish rather than gel, take a long-lasting polish with you. You can buy gel-effect polishes with a special top coat that remove just like regular polish. Take your own and get them to use this as part of a regular pedicure (cheaper than a full gel pedicure and you can remove it easily at home if you want!). If you get any chips a few weeks down the line, you can also fix them easily with the same colour. If your struggling to get your toes done and they are looking far from their best, slick a coat over the top as a temporary fix. I love Essie Gel Couture Nail Colour in Rock the Runway and seal it with the Essie Nail Topcoat Gel Couture.
Get A Foot File
Especially in the summer, you’ll find that your heels get drier and harder than usual. Once a fortnight or so, before I get in the shower, I give my heels a quick rub down with a metal foot file. This helps keep your feet baby soft and smooth in-between pedis. Margaret Dabbs, a leading podiatrist and the queen of the medi-pedi created the budget but brilliant Bare Feet by Margaret Dabbs Foot File with Marks & Spencer which I love. You can also buy her professional Foot File from her own website.
Hydrate Your Feet
Keep a pair of socks you don’t mind getting foot cream on or buy specialist ones especially for this purpose like The Heel Deal™ Snooze Socks by Soap & Glory. Once or twice a week, apply a foot cream like Ameliorate Intensive Foot Treatment which contains Lactic Acid – a naturally occurring Alpha Hydroxy Acid – that breaks down rough skin through chemical exfoliation and stimulates the renewal of healthy skin cells. Sometimes I simply use Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Body Lotion as it’s super hydrating and such good value.