Sometimes, you just need to have a relaxing escape from your daily pressures. The problem is, your daily pressures won’t stop just because you’ve jetted off to Bermuda for two weeks (yeah, right!).
This is real life, and if you can steal 20 minutes for yourself, you know you’re lucky. So we’ve pulled together some of the best gadgets you can use to treat yourself to a pampering pedicure in the precious few minutes you have. We’ve picked one gadget for each step of the pedicure process, so you could buy all of these and not waste money on gadgets that essentially do the same thing.
Read on, then, for the best home pedicure gadgets and how to do a great home pedicure.
Soak your feet with the Babyliss foot spa
When you give yourself a pedicure, start by removing old nail varnish and washing off any visible dirt, if you have any. Once you’ve got pretty clean feet, it’s time to give them a good soaking – ideally for around 20 minutes, but really for as long as you can spare. Giving your feet a clean and a soak is essential to a high-quality pedicure, as it softens up hard skin, removes the natural oils that can keep varnish from sticking as well as possible and makes it easier to exfoliate.
The Babyliss foot spa (£29.99) is a retro piece of kit that will do this for you almost automatically. The water heats up, and bubbles massage away any stress. You can even add drops of essential oil to create a spa-like atmosphere.
Exfoliate your feet with the Scholl Instant Hard Skin Remover
After you clean and soak your feet, you need to exfoliate. You can do this with pumice stones, foot scrubs and large foot files, but those work best on feet that are regularly moisturised and treated nicely. If you have really hard skin on your feet, you may need to use something a bit more hard core on those areas.
The Scholl Instant Hard Skin Remover (£9.39) looks like some kind of cooking device, but you use it to slough the toughest skin off of your heels, toes and other parts of your feet that tend to have really rough skin. If you use it regularly and moisturise your feet often, you should no longer have hard skin after just a few weeks.
Trim your toenails with these Sure Manicure nail clippers
If you need to trim your nails, do so now. Toenails can be very thick and hard to remove with standard fingernail clippers, so you may need to use something a bit sturdier. Make sure you don’t cut your nails too short, or you will increase the risk of getting infections under the nail.
These Sure Manicure barrel spring clippers (£1.80) have the power to quickly and easily snip off even the thickest toenails.
File ingrown nails with the Tweezerman ingrown toenail file
Now you should treat any ingrown toenails that you may have.
The Tweezerman Master Tech Ingrown Toenail File & Cleaner (£19) can help with any ingrown nails you have. One side files the underside of the ingrown nail, and the other side helps clean under the nail.
File your toenails with the Stylfile nail file
Once you have clipped your nails and filed any ingrown ones, file the rest of your toenails.
The Stylfile nail file (£4.49) is probably the most famous nail file in the UK. Invented by Apprentice winner Tom Pellereau, it has an S shape that follows your nails’ natural curve, making it easier to create a natural, smooth curve.
Get ready to paint your toes with the Easyped pedicure shoes
Before you get the varnish out, wipe your feet down to get the debris from exfoliating your feet and filing your nails off. These can keep your varnish from sticking as firmly as it can.
Once your feet are completely clean, slip on the Easyped pedicure shoes (£5.95). These shoes have toe posts that will keep your toes nicely separated, making it easier to apply varnish. They are designed to handle indoor and outdoor use, so you won’t be stuck indoors, waiting for your nails to dry. They can also help with hammer toes, as the posts will help stretch out your middle toes.
When you are ready to paint your nails, start by applying a basecoat. Let it dry completely, then paint one coat of colour. If it is thin, apply more coats as needed. Finish with a clear top coat, letting the coats dry completely in between painting.
Moisturise your feet with the John Lewis moisturising socks
Last but certainly not least, you need to moisturise your feet. Apply moisturiser after your nail varnish has dried, and you will be ready to go.
To keep your pedicure looking great, you will need to moisturise your feet nightly. Smooth on your favourite foot cream, then slip on these moisturising socks from John Lewis (£5.25). These are made with a cotton specially chosen for its ability to utilise your own body heat to make your skin as receptive as possible to the moisturiser you use.
If you use these pedicure gadgets, you should be able to get professional results in your own home. You don’t even have to use them all in one go to feel the benefits, so you can make your pedicure fit into your schedule.
So which of these pedicure gadgets would you use? What are your best pedicure tips?
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