Taking care of your feet should be on your personal care list because the feet are considered the foundation of the body and are very useful for productive work and regular physical activity.
Nowadays, there are many types of pedicure; french pedicure, spa pedicure, ice cream pedicure, gel pedicure, and many others. If you are new to pedicures, knowing the one suitable for you can be difficult. This article will focus mainly on french pedicures aka french toes.
What is a French Pedicure?
A French pedicure is a cosmetic treatment that involves decorating your nails with a thin white horizontal strip of nail color on the tips of your nails with the plate of the nail painted in either clear, pink, or neutral nail polishes.
Most women opt for a french pedicure at the beginning of the warm weather months so that their feet look attractive in sandals and open-toed shoes, while others opt for a french pedicure all year. A french pedicure is a classic pedicure or a spa pedicure, and the only difference is the addition of painting thin white stripes on the tip of the toes.
How To Do A French Pedicure
Anyone who wants an elegant and classy pedicure should do a french pedicure. A common misconception is that the natural toenails must be long to create a french pedicure. However, when the toenails are too long, they can rub the shoes, and this can cause discomfort and nail damage.
Tools You’ll Need
- Nail Separator
- Cuticle Trimmer
- Nail Polish
- Drying Spray
- Nail Polish Remover
- Cotton Balls
- Nail Filer
- Nail Cutter
- Towel
- Exfoliating Cream
- Moisturizer
- Cuticle Trimmer
- Warm Water
- Tub
- Pumice Stone
- Epsom Salt
Step 1: Prep Your Nails
Before you start, you first need to clean your nails. Wash your nails, saturate a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover and gently rub the polish off your nails.
Wash your feet again and let your nails dry. Once they are dry, start filing your nails. File from one side to another until they are even and smooth.
Step Two: Soak Your Feet In Water
Take a tub of warm water and add Epsom salt to it. You can also choose to add a few drops of lavender oil to it.
Soak your feet for about 10-20 minutes to help soften the skin on your foot to make it easier to deal with. It will also help the skin relax and heal.
Step Three: Scrub Your Feet
Once you remove your feet from the warm water, grab an exfoliator and start rubbing your soles. Go in circular motions to scrub away the flaky dead skin. You can also use a pumice stone to clean the ends, tips, and back of your feet, then rinse and pat dry.
Make sure you do not scrub too hard. If you don’t have a pumice stone, try using a foot file. Note that most foot files have two sides; the coarse and fine sides. Ensure you use the rough side to loosen the dead skin and the delicate skin to smoothen the filed area.
Step Four: Moisturize
Apply a foot scrub to the top and bottom of your feet. Use small and circular motions to exfoliate and remove any dead cells.
After scrubbing and massaging your feet, dunk them back into the basin, rinse and wipe the scrub off your feet. Dry your feet with a towel and wash your hands with soap and water.
Step Four: Cut, File, And Shape Your Toenails
Grab your nail file and file your nails down carefully until they’re straight. Take your time to file your nails until they are even properly. Try not to cut them too short, as it will help to prevent hangnails and ingrown toenails.
Step Five: Apply Cuticle Oil And Trim Your Cuticles With A Cuticle Trimmer
Hold your cuticle trimmer carefully in one hand and cut any hangnails as close to the base as possible. Also, trim the cuticles starting to lift away from the nail bed.
Moreover, if you don’t want to trim your cuticles, you can use a cuticle pusher to move them back. If you don’t have cuticle oil, you can use honey as an alternative. Afterwards, apply foot cream to moisturize your feet.
Step Six: Paint Your Toenails
Take toe separators and place them on your feet. Toe separators are foam pieces that space out your toes and make painting your toenails easier. If you don’t have toe separators, you can use cotton balls as an alternative.
Then paint your nails with a clear base coat to protect your natural nails. Start at the cuticle, walk your way up with vertical brush strokes, and leave to dry for a few minutes.
Pick out either baby pink, beige or other skin color shades and paint your toes as you did with the base coast using thin layers. This time, wait for a maximum of 15 minutes for each coat to dry.
Step Seven: Add The French Tips
Take an opaque nail polish and spread the nail paint horizontally from one side to the other. Let it dry, then apply the second coat. Make sure the color is creamy and pigmented because you’d need to get a thin white line at the tip of your nails.
Leave to dry for a few minutes; if you’re in a hurry, you can dip your feet in cold water to help dry the polish faster. Once dry, apply a second coat of nail polish in swift and even strokes.
Finish up with a drying spray. This helps to dry your toenails faster without smudging the nail polish.
How Long Does A French Pedicure Last?
French pedicures can last for a good number of 15-20 days. However, longevity depends on the quality of the pedicure and how well you maintain your feet.
One of the many ways to make your french pedicure last longer is to reapply the topcoat every five to seven days for protection. Another way is to allow plenty of drying time and protect your toes outdoors and indoors.