Learn how to take care of your hands and feet and get a manicure and pedicure at home with our simple tips.
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Paul Sunday
Everyone deserves a little pampering from time to time, but making time to go to the salon for a manicure and pedicure can be difficult. Giving yourself a manicure at home is a great way to take care of yourself without spending valuable money time or money. To that end, we’re sharing expert-approved tips for mastering the art of DIY manicures and pedicures so that your nails – and hands and feet – look and feel their best.
If you spend long hours buried in the soil tending to your garden, often forget to wash your dishes when you do, or wash your hands often, then you probably already know the importance of regular grooming – tasks that, along with many others, all take a toll on our hands. The same is true of our toes: while we all value a good pedicure during the warm weather season, it’s important year-round. But if you’re like most people, you may find that at-home manicures and pedicures come with their own set of challenges – like painting your nails on your dominant hand. The good news is that there are plenty of tips and tricks to make sure your hands and feet feel soft, supple and well-pampered.
First, be sure to moisturize your skin with nourishing oils and moisturizers. “Apply moisturizer immediately after washing your hands to ensure your skin doesn’t become dry. Apply Vaseline Jelly ($2.29, target.com) to lock in moisture, avoid harsh soaps and see a dermatologist if a rash or cracked hands don’t improve,” says Caroline Robinson, M.D., FAAD and founder of Tone Dermatology, Ph. The treatment routine strikes a balance between hydration and exfoliation,” says Dr. Robinson.
If you’re ready to enjoy a little DIY self-care – and make the process enjoyable, not stressful – read on for expert-approved tips that will help you master the art of at-home manicures and pedicures.
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Hydrating Hands
Mabelyn Martin, creative director of Paint Box, says the secret to a manicure is hydration. “I like to massage my hands with a few drops of oil in a small amount of Weleda Skin Food ($18.99, ulta.com),” she says. “Keeping the moisturizer near your hand sanitizer helps add it into your routine.
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Strengthen weak nails
Dr. Robinson says it’s common for nails to become weaker and more brittle as we age, “because the cells that produce nails age in the same way as the rest of our body.” While supplements can help, there are better ways to get strong, healthy nails. “There is evidence that vitamin supplements containing biotin may help strengthen nails, but the first step is always to make sure your diet is rich in antioxidant fruits and vegetables,” she says. For manicures, professionals recommend using ISDIN Si-Nails Nail Strengthener ($29.95, amazon.com) because, “[it] contains a mixture of hyaluronic acid and castor oil for hydration and xanthan gum, which promotes keratin production to strengthen and nourish nails. ”
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Determine the best shape for your nails
Closing a woman’s nails
According to Martin, the rule of thumb is to follow your free edge line. “The free edge is the part of the nail that grows out after the nail bed ends,” she says. “If it’s straight, then a soft square is good.” There you go. If the free edge is more curved, try a circle or oval.”
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Filing the right way
Women who use nail files
Another important piece of advice from Martin is to always file in one direction. “Glass or metal files work best for natural nails,” she says, “Try filing from the sides toward the center to prevent chips or tears.”
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Push back the cuticle
Martin says, “Pushing back your cuticles and keeping them moisturized with oil is the best care for your cuticles.” Dr. Robinson agrees and adds, “The cuticle is actually a layer designed to protect the surrounding skin and the deeper nail structure. It is kind of a myth that they should be trimmed regularly. Avoid cutting, removing or aggressively pushing back your cuticles, as each of these steps can actually damage the protective cuticle and increase your risk of infection.”
If you do want to care for and improve the appearance of your cuticles, Dr. Robinson says to moisturize regularly without trimming. Pushing and being as gentle as possible is also an option,” she explains.
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Choosing a nail polish
There are many nail polishes on the market that use ingredients that are better for you. Specifically, be sure to choose a nail polish that avoids toxic additives.” Martin says, “[Paint Box] nail polishes are all free of 10 toxic substances while still maintaining their staying power.” Applied to prepared nails and using cuticle oil daily, this polish will last up to a week.
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Soften your feet
A good foot care routine balances hydration and exfoliation, says Dr. Robinson.” She says, “Using ammonium glycolate lactate or urea-based moisturizers on your feet, elbows and knees can be very helpful in keeping thicker skin in these areas soft and moisturized.” One of my favorite products is Glytone Heel and Elbow Cream ($54, dermstore.com), which contains 29.5 free acid value of glycolic acid in a rich cream that both moisturizes and gently exfoliates thicker areas of skin.”
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Handle ingrown nails with care
While Martin says to always seek professional help in the case of an ingrown nail, Dr. Robinson says it’s perfectly fine to try to remedy it if you feel pain and want to act quickly, just be sure to see your doctor for a follow-up appointment if needed. Ingrown nails and hangnails should be addressed, especially if they are uncomfortable, because they are high-risk areas for infection – both bacterial infections and common warts,” she says. One way to avoid these problems is to trim nails regularly, she says.
But hygiene is also key.” Hygiene is important, so be sure to wash your hands or feet thoroughly before trimming your nails. Soaking the nail in salt water (one teaspoon of salt per pint) also helps soften it and makes it easier to clip,” she says. Always use clean nail clippers to cut nails and apply antibiotic ointment after removing ingrown or hanging nails, Dr. Robinson says.” If that doesn’t work, it’s best to seek help from your nail technician, pediatrician or dermatologist, she says.
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Treating warts
Dr. Robinson explains that if you have a wart, one of the most important things to do to prevent it from spreading to other parts of your skin or to others is to treat it.” For example, over-the-counter wart treatments that contain salicylic acid can help treat early warts. Other treatment options are available at your dermatologist’s office. Avoid picking, scraping or scratching warts, and keep them covered when you’re in public,” she says. Gyms and nail salons are important places where the wart virus can spread if it comes in contact with multiple people or surfaces or tools used by multiple people, so be sure to keep them covered, she says.