Give yourself a pedicure at home

A pedicure is a girl’s best friend. After a long day at work, a full day of cleaning, or even a day playing nonstop with your kids, a pedicure is a great way to kick up your feet and relax. Don’t have the time or funds to splurge on a salon pedi? It’s time to learn a few tricks to give yourself some beautiful toes at home.

Soak, soak, soak

Start your pedicure with a nice long soak in warm water. After removing all old nail polish, set up a bathtub or large bowl to begin your soak. Add hot water and your favorite oils. Tea tree oil is an especially popular choice. Keep your feet in the water for at least 20 minutes and spend that time doing something relaxing. Whether you read a good book or watch your favorite TV show, make sure you do something you enjoy. This is the best part of the pedicure and gets your feet prepared for exfoliating.

Scrub away

Pick your favorite foot exfoliant. Create your own blend to exfoliate away dead skin. Massage the cleaner into your feet, starting at the toes and working up to the ankle. To create a mild exfoliant, follow these instructions: Mix 1 cup sea salt, 1/2 cup uncooked corn meal, and 1/2 cup olive oil, and apply the mixture to your feet. Wash off with cold water.

Callus care

To create truly smooth skin, use a pumice stone to attack calluses. Cover the stone with a mild body wash, and scrub lightly. Be gentle, as you do not want to scrub away too many layers of skin. Rinse your feet in cool water when you’re finished.

Trim, file, and moisturize

Use toenail clippers to cut your nails straight across, and file the edges to make them slightly rounded. Moisturize with plenty of lotion, and massage thoroughly. Rub the lotion into your feet and legs until it is gone, adding more lotion if your feet were extra dry. This step of the pedicure is important to keep your feet smooth, and it will feel great. If a significant other is around, ask him or her to help with massaging in the lotion so you can truly relax.

Clean and polish

The last step is simple. Rinse off feet with cold water and dry with a washcloth. Apply two coats of your favorite nail polish color and finish with a clear top coat. Relax and let your toes dry. You will have a beautiful pedicure that looks like you just stepped out of a salon.