Pedicure - tingletoes

What is a pedicure?

A pedicure is a beauty treatment for your feet. A pedicurist removes dead skin, softens hard skin and shapes and treats toe-nails, and also massages softening and soothing oils and creams into your foot to make it feel as though you are walking on air.

What is a pedicure good for?

Good foot care treats and prevents skin problems such as callouses, as well as in-growing toe nails and related infections. A pedicure can help your posture by enabling you to walk more comfortably. Combined with massage, hot stones, a herbal or aromatic rub or a soak in scented oils, a pedicure can also soothe and relax you generally.

Is it the same as chiropody?

A chiropodist is a medically-trained professional who is qualified to treat diagnosed medical problems and do preventative care on your feet. This may involve minor surgical procedures such as cutting off dead skin, and treating ingrowing toenails. A pedicurist is not a chiropodist; a pedicure is not a medical procedure, although a regular pedicure can support the work you're having done by a chiropodist, and in fact prevent you from needing further treatment.

Before you go

Keep it clean

A pedicure may well begin with a relaxing foot soak to soften the skin, and this will often be scented, but some basic foot hygiene will ensure you ... get off on the right foot.

Choose your pedicurist with care

There are quite strict guidelines for people carrying out pedicures and manicures. Make sure you choose a pedicurist who has evidently high-standards of hygiene. A pedicure should be carried out by a qualified nail-technician.

How long will it take?

A pedicure usually takes between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on what kind of foot treatment you're having. Allow time afterwards to ease yourself back into standing up!

Precautions

If you have any fungal or other foot infections, it is better for your feet and, frankly, for your therapist, if you get those treated medically first. We cannot treat anyone with contageous conditions.

What to expect from a pedicure

A pedicure usually begins with a therapeutic foot bath or spa, where your feet are soaked and cleansed in warm, scented water. Some foot-baths are like a mini-Jacuzzi for your feet.

Creams and aromatherapy oils will be massaged into your feet to refresh and soften your skin. Many pedicurists will give you an acupressure or reflexology-based foot massage to really relax you. Some pedicures include the use of hot stones. Others use mud, wraps and even algae. Some pedicures include a healing or antiseptic oil or cream on your feet.

You may also have an exfoliating rub with salts or minerals to slough off dead skin. Your cuticles will be removed, and your toenails cut and shaped, using oils to soften them beforehand. Your pedicure will usually close with a massage of your feet and lower legs and possibly another soak in the foot bath before a good quality polish is applied to your nails.

Hot tip!

Your choice of footwear is really important when you go for a pedicure. Whilst ordinary shop-bought nail polish usually dries completely within five minutes or so, proper pedicure-standard nail polish may take up to 12 hours to dry completely! You don't want to have to push those nails into socks and trainers for your cycle home. Whatever you arrive in, make sure that you have flip-flops or open sandals to wear when you leave.

PEDICURE AFTERCARE
TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUE NEWLY PEDICURED FEET FOLLOW THESE SIMPLE GUIDELINES
• Book in for regular appointments with your pedicurist for a professional pedicure (at least every 2-4 weeks)
• Always use a base coat under polish to prevent staining the nails.
• Use a good quality top coat to prevent chipping the polish and for a good shine.
• Use foot cream every day to improve circulation and to keep skin soft.
• Use cuticle cream or oil to moisturise the soft tissue around the nails.
• Do not cut the nails too short or down the sides (this will make them grow inwards)
• Use non acetone or a conditioning nail polish remover.
• Wash feet daily and dry thoroughly (pay special attention in-between the toes)
• Let your feet breath (walk around bare foot)
• Wear cotton socks and change daily.
• Use a foot spray to refresh your feet or a powder if your feet tend to sweat.
• Use a pumice stone or foot file between pedicures to keep hard skin under control.
• Do not wear tight fitting socks/tights/shoes.
• Avoid harsh or drying soaps.
• Do simple foot and ankle exercise to keep joints supple.
• Drink plenty of water (this helps strengthen the nails and hydrates the skin)
• Eat a healthy balanced diet (at least 5 portions of fruit/vegetables)