Tamika Nelson, Contributor
THERE ARE times when we can't have our feet professionally done, because our budget just doesn't allow it. Here are the steps to getting that professional look at home.
Checklist
An hour to spare
A towel
A pan or pedi bath.
Cotton
Nail polish remover
Top and base coat
The desired nail colour
Orangewood stick
Foot scrubber (a wooden device with a sand paper end)
An exfoliating foot scrub
Cuticle oil
Toe separators
Lotion
Nail clipper and cuticle trimmer (optional)
Nail file and block buffer
Step 1
Soak feet in warm water for three-five minutes Remove feet one at a time and towel blot. Use orangewood stick to remove/scrape any excess matter from the surface of the nail and push back the cuticle. For those who have a build-up of cuticle, use the cuticle trimmer to remove it. This is done by gently gliding the trimmer along the sides and top of the nail (cuticle) in the direction away from you, carefully removing the unwanted cuticle. Repeat the process with other foot.
Step 2
Applying some pressure, scrub the bottom of your feet with the foot scrubber. Thoroughly and vigorously scrub the entire foot, this will stimulate blood circulation. You you can now apply the exfoliating scrub to the entire top side of the feet. The sand like particles in the scrub will remove the dead skin to reveal revitalised and rejuvenated skin. Make sure to scrub the back of the heel and the toes and in between the toes.
After doing the both feet you can now wash the scrub of and use the nail brush to remove any that may be left in the crevices of the nail. Rinse feet off with clean water and dry thoroughly.
Step 3
Now that feet are dry, you can clip nails to desired length if necessary and then file them straight across, rounding them at the corner so as not leave any sharp edges to tear hoisery or scrape your sleeping partner. Buff nails with block buffer to smooth the nail surface and prepare for smooth application of polish.
Step 4
Apply cuticle oil and rub into cuticles. Lotion feet and proceed to give yourself a mini-massage.
Step 5
Put on toe separators and more importantly, dampen a piece of cotton and remove any oil left on the surface of the nail. If oil is left on the surface the nail, polish will chip quickly because it would not have adhered to the nail bed properly. On the clean surface apply the base coat lightly one foot at a time, then apply also a thin layer of the nail colour, by applying the polish sparingly it allows the polish to dry quickly. Apply a second coat of the nail colour allow to set and then apply the top coat to add sheen, seal and protect. Relax and allow nail polish to dry. It is advisable not wear stockings, socks or closed toe shoes until the following day as it still possible for nails to smudge at this time.
Nail tips
To maintain the sheen and protect the polish from chipping, apply topcoat to the nail every three days.
If your nails are not strong, use a garlic base coat or a calcium base coat. If it is hard to find a garlic base coat, you can simply dice small pieces of garlic to your base coat.
If your cuticles after a while become dryish, just apply some cuticle oil; this also gives the nails freshly done look.
Tamika Nelson - Image Consultant for comments and questions, e-mail me at tami_chic@yahoo.com.
