And since we are in this administration that we’re in (le sigh), money is getting tight (girl, I know) and we’re all currently in flip-flop season too — I figured that now would be as good of a time as ever to share with you eight ways that you can keep a few coins in your pocket and still haveyour feet looking as amazing as ever.
1. Invest
in a Foot Paddle
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to have super soft feet — and that includes having soft and smooth heels and no calluses in sight. Although you could use one of those cheese grater-like things, sometimes they can remove more skin than you would actually like or create nicks and minor cuts if you’re not careful. My recommendation? Go with a foot paddle instead. Not only will it give you the initial results that you are after, foot paddles can also increase blood circulation and make the exfoliation process quick and easy. Amazon has a list of options to choose from here.
2. Have
a Clean-Up Brush on Hand
Back when I used to paint my toes on the regular, something that used to irk me to no end was getting polish on my cuticles and then trying to remove it without messing my nails up in the process. Although a Q-tip does a fairly good job, I really shouldn’t have taken as long as I did to invest in an actual clean-up brush (like the ones here). They are specifically designed to remove polish without disrupting your handiwork — and I promise that if you incorporate this step alone, your pedicures will look a lot more professional.
3. Trim Your Nails
Whether you decide to cut your nails or just trim them down, if you want to see exactly what you are doing, it really is best to shorten (or shape) your nails while your old polish is still on your toes. That way, you can get your toenails to end up as even as possible without a lot of guesswork.
4. Deep
Soak. For a Few Reasons.
There are a few reasons why you should soak your feet when you’re giving yourself a pedicure. Not only is it a great way to de-stress and relax, foot soaks can increase blood circulation, make it easier to remove dead skin from your feet and soaks are another great polishing hack. The reason why I say that is because if you polish your toes right after soaking your feet, since your nails have slightly expanded, you can cover more of your nails; that way, when you wet your feet again (for instance, when you take a shower), your polish will actually last longer around the corners of your toenails. Pretty cool, huh?
5. Apply
Oil to Your Cuticles. And Alcohol to Your Nails.
If you want to have less hangnails, you definitely should be using cuticle oil on a consistent basis. Some other perks that come with it is it increases blood circulation to your nails, it strengthens your nails and it also can also cause your nail polish to appear shinier. Well, speaking of your polish, if you first apply a bit of cuticle oil to your nails, let it sit for a minute and then rub a bit of alcohol on your nails as well, for some reason, it causes your polish to stick easier and last longer. I recall stumbling upon that hack on a forum one day. I tried it. It works.
6. Polish
in with Precision
When I get a professional pedicure, I make sure to go in flip-flops (of my own), to put my feet underneath their fans for 15-20 minutes and to not go straight home; that way, by the time I reach my house, if I want to get in the shower, take a nap, whatever, I don’t have to worry about messing my polish job up.
When I go the DIY route on the polish tip, I make sure to keep the 10 following polish hacks in mind:
1. Go with a solid polish brand. You’d be amazed how much this one tip will change your entire perception of DIY pedicures. That said, Allure published “7 Best Long-Lasting Nail Polishes for Your Next At-Home Manicures” and Byrdie published “The 11 Best Gel Nail Polishes for a Long-Lasting At-Home Manicure” to give you some trusty options to choose from.
2. Roll your polish bottle instead of shaking it. Why? It’s so that you won’t have to worry about bubbles popping up in your polish.
3. Start with the big toe. It gives that toe more time to dry while you’re painting the other ones.
4. Complete one foot at a time. For the same reason.
5. Apply thin coats. It reduces drying time and helps to prevent clumping.
6. Use your eyeliner to put on gems. Wanna add a rhinestone or two? A sharpened eyeliner will give you more precision than tweezers will.
7. Put a Band-Aid over your nails. If you want to create a French manicure (well, pedicure), using a Band-Aid to cover up every part of your nail other than what you want to paint white or pink will give you clean and accurate lines.
8. Dip your toenails in ice. That is, if you want the top layer of your nails to dry faster. A good tip for if you are going to run errands (in your flip-flops) once you’re done polishing your nails.
9. Spray some cooking spray on them. If you want them to have a “finish gloss” (cooking spray has oils in it, that’s why it’s a workable hack).
10. Reapply a top coat. If you do this every few days, your pedicure will look like new for a longer period of time.
7. Never Skimp on Base and Top Coats
Absolutely one of the biggest mistakes that people make when they decide to do their nails at home is they don’t make the time to apply a base and top coat to them. A base coat is important because it’s a lot like a primer for your nails — it helps the polish to go on smoothly, protects your nails from staining, it helps your polish to last longer and it makes the color of your polish pop. A top coat on the other hand, it helps your nails to dry faster, makes the polish look better and, if you didn’t do a perfect paint job, a top coat can smooth out any minor imperfections as well. Oh, and a hack for if you’re going to wear a sheer color? Apply a clear matte base coat first. Makes all the difference in the world, chile.
8. Apply
a Blend of Honey, Coconut Oil and Shea Butter to Your Heels
Does it even matter how good your feet look if your heels are all torn up? I doubt it. So, once you are proud of the polish job that you did, finish everything off with a combination of honey, coconut oil and shea butter on your feet — especially in between your toes and on your ankles and heels. The honey will deeply moisturize (plus, it smells amazing!). Coconut oil is loaded with fatty acids that will help to keep your feet looking youthful while keeping bacteria at bay too. And shea butter?
Listen, I don’t care how cracked or rough those heels may be, shea butter will deeply soothe them while also giving them a collagen boost as well as providing them with all-natural protection from the sun. A tablespoon of coconut oil and shea butter along with a teaspoon of honey, heated in the microwave for 10 seconds should do the trick.
Now where those flip-flops at? The really cute ones. #wink
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Shutterstock
