10 Steps to the Perfect At-Home Pedicure

Getting a great pedicure is one of those luxurious little things we all like doing for ourselves. However, with our ever demanding work schedules, parenting, and whatever else lies in wait of getting done in our daily routines, it's often something that we end up putting off or just not getting done often enough. Our feet, as well as ourselves in general, deserve a little pampering. With a few simple and very inexpensive steps, we can set up our own pedicure salon at home and within a few minutes we can feel as pampered as we deserve to be!

1. Add some warm water to a container large enough to fit both of your feet in comfortably. You should be able to fill it so that the water completely covers your feet and preferably reaches ankle level. Small basins can be found at your local dollar store, do you don't have to invest in one of those fancy, at-home pedicure machines.

2. You can create moisturizing and great smelling suds in your foot soak by adding lavender oil as well as a non drying soap product like Palmolive or even some shampoo. Leave your feet in the soaking tub for 10-15 minutes in order to soften calluses. This is easy to do at home since you can sit in the comfort of your own couch and catch up your favorite TV shows.

3. If your feet are particularly rough, you can use an oil based body scrub to exfoliate your feet. Just use a small handful for each foot and massage into soles and ankles.

4. After soaking, pat your feet dry and smooth out rough spots with a pumice stone or a product like the PedEgg which removes calluses and dead skin cells quickly and effectively. Make sure to use these products in a gentle, circular motion. You don't want to over do it and end up with irritated, broken skin.

5. After you are done removing the rough skin from your feet, you can start working on your toe nails. If your toe nails have become yellowed due to wearing darker colored nail polish, try rubbing white vinegar on them with a cotton ball. This will help to lighten any discoloration you may have. If your nails are yellowish and thick, you may want to talk to your doctor as these are signs of a fungal infection.

6. Use a nail file to file away any uneven edges on your toe nails. You may want to use clippers to shorten your nails if they are getting too long. In order to avoid painful hangnails, make sure to clip and file your toe nails in a straight rather than rounded fashion.

7. Use a cuticle stick to push back overgrown cuticles for a neater appearance.

8. Use a buffing block to add shine to your nails and help even out roughness or rippling on the surface of your nails.

9. Choose your favorite shade of nail polish and apply the first coat. After the first coat dries you can choose to add a second coat or go straight to applying a clear top coat which will maximize the life of your polish.

10. Once your polish has dried use a thick moisturizing cream, petroleum jelly, or a vitamin E based oil to massage into your feet. Once done, put on a pair of socks to help retain the moisture. For best results leave the socks on overnight. In the morning your feet will be baby-soft.

These ten steps make it simple to have spa pampered feet in the comfort of your own home and without having to take time out from a busy schedule to trek over to a salon. With a few products and 15 minutes you can have blissfully pampered feet at the end of any busy day. As an added bonus, you will know that your feet will always be sandal ready. No more needing to wait to get in to see your pedicurist in order to have feet worthy of showing off!