How to properly do a pedicure at home: a step-by-step technique for beginners from an expert podiatrist

Today there is a wide variety of nail shapes on the toes and hands. But on their feet they must look neat and be properly trimmed; their health depends on this.

Each person has a different nail plate: for some it is thin, for others it is too thick. It happens that nails peel, crack or even grow in, and they also differ in color. Toenail doctors can even identify a specific disease. And psychologists can tell about the character of their owner by looking at their nails.

Classic pedicure

Classic (edged) pedicure is the first type of pedicure that was invented for foot care. To carry it out, the skin is first steamed in warm water with the addition of sea salt or keratolytic gel. Until now, softened keratinization was removed with pumice and blades, but now the blades can be supplemented with cutters, that is, an element of hardware pedicure.

The classic technique remains only for home use; salons and beauty centers do not use trimmed pedicures due to many disadvantages.

Advantages: it can be carried out at home if you have the appropriate experience.

Disadvantages of classic pedicure:

  • Damage to the dermis in the treatment area.
  • Risk of infection.
  • Rapid formation of new keratinizations - regular classic pedicures make the skin rough.
  • Deformation of the nail plate due to improper care.
  • The effect lasts up to 10-14 days.

Not the best choice in most cases. It is worth considering other skincare treatments.

How to deal with uncomfortable nails

Soft square is a nail shape in which the sides are parallel. If the corners are cut too deeply (let's say the girl used to bite her nails), then this shape will be very difficult to complete. There is only one way out: file off the slightly free edge, even if this reduces the size of the nail bed.

It is permissible to slightly correct the formula: file the sides less parallel and slightly increase the bend of the arc of the free edge. Here, of course, there are limits: the human eye can detect where it is still a square and where it is already an oval.

European pedicure

This pedicure is called uncut or dry - it does not involve the use of cutting tools or maceration (steaming). The work is carried out with files of various abrasiveness.

To remove very rough areas, keratolytic solutions are used - wipes are moistened with them and applied to the keratinized areas, then the softened areas are also removed with a nail file.

The cuticle is treated with a remover, removed with an orange stick and a beautiful nail shape is formed. At the client's request, the master applies a decorative coating to the nails.

Advantages of European pedicure:

  • Gentle on the skin. Softer effect compared to classic and hardware pedicure. Suitable for children.
  • There is no risk of cuts or infection.
  • There is no pain during or after the pedicure.

Flaws:

  • Visible effect only on well-groomed feet.
  • For rough skin, it may take up to 4-5 sessions to achieve the effect.
  • Possible allergic reaction to softeners.

Benefits of square nails

  1. Beauty and versatility. This elegant shape is suitable for different nails: long, short, natural or extensions. This manicure looks neat and well-groomed.
  2. Simplicity. It is much easier to shape your nails into a square shape than, for example, into an oval or almond shape. The whole process boils down to trimming the nail evenly and then carefully rounding the edges. Any beginner can handle this.
  3. Health. Due to minimal grinding, the plate remains virtually unaffected, which helps keep the nails strong and strong, protecting them from splitting and brittleness.
  4. Fashion. Short, square-shaped nails that look as natural as possible are now at the peak of popularity.

Hardware pedicure

Hardware pedicure is an effective and safe way to care for nails and skin of the feet. In fact, in modern salons and beauty centers it has already become a classic. To carry it out, a pedicure apparatus with many replaceable cutter attachments is used, which rotate during operation. Alternating attachments, the master cleanses off rough skin on the feet, removes cuticles, shapes and polishes the nail plate.

Hardware pedicure effectively combats corns and dry calluses and serves as a preventive measure for inflammation of the nail fold. This type of pedicure is a real salvation for men, as they have very rough skin on their feet, which only a device can handle.

Advantages:

  • High safety: no pain, no cuts, no risk of infection.
  • Speed ​​of implementation.
  • Pleasant sensations for the client during the procedure.
  • Thorough treatment of skin and nails.
  • Possibility of using the technique in the most advanced cases.
  • An excellent choice for diabetic feet.
  • Long lasting effect. After hardware resurfacing, the skin on the feet grows slower than after other types of pedicure.
  • Accuracy. The entire surface of the foot is treated, including hard-to-reach places - periungual ridges, the area between the toes.

Square nail design: 35 photos

As we already mentioned, square nails perfectly complement any manicure. The best option in this case is a French manicure: classic, with paintings, flowers, rhinestones or glitter, it will look great on square nails.

Since most women prefer short nails (due to circumstance or convenience), let's start with a square-shaped design for short nails and then move on to long ones.

A manicure of all nude “nude” shades looks very well-groomed and neat on nails with a square shape. If you're looking for a way to add some variety to boring monochromatic nail art, try focusing on your ring finger or covering a few nails with a geometric pattern.

In fact, with such a manicure you don’t have to deny yourself anything: any type of coating looks impressive and original on short nails. Therefore, feel free to fantasize and experiment.

One of the most trendy nail art of today - moon manicure - looks simply great on square nails. Read about how to do a moon manicure yourself.

Long, square-shaped nails primarily speak of your extravagance, sexuality, and femininity. They can look very elegant, turning a girl into a princess.

As we already mentioned, French is the ideal choice for long square nails. This manicure is suitable both for everyday life and for holidays, parties, going to a restaurant or nightclub.

Read our article about how to do a manicure using newspaper.

Medical pedicure

A type of hardware pedicure, the main focus is on the treatment of foot diseases. In large beauty centers, medical pedicure is performed by a podiatrist - a doctor who diagnoses foot diseases, treats them and prevents them.

With the help of a medical hardware pedicure, you can get rid of deep cracks in the heels, ingrown nails, and calluses. Recommended for people with sensitive skin and diabetic foot syndrome. Pedicure is performed as part of a comprehensive treatment for fungal infections of the nails and skin of the feet.

Benefits of medical pedicure:

  • Combines cosmetic and therapeutic care.
  • High safety, efficiency.
  • Gentle but effective effect.
  • Restores blood circulation and prevents foot diseases.
  • It is used even with contraindications to other types of pedicure.

Acid pedicure

Acid pedicure is a safe procedure that quickly and effectively removes dead skin cells, making the skin of the feet smooth, soft and tender. A pedicure is carried out using fruit acids - their solutions are applied to the feet, after a few minutes the softened keratinization is removed with a nail file. After cleansing the feet, the master tidies up the nails.

Advantages

  • Preparations with natural plant components are used.
  • Rough areas are removed without any effort.
  • After a pedicure, the skin becomes particularly smooth and soft.
  • The skin hardens more slowly than with other types of treatment.
  • The easy effect of a medical pedicure is the elimination of simple calluses and corns, cracked heels.

Disadvantages - not performed during pregnancy, psoriasis, dermatitis, open wounds, formations. An allergic reaction to the components is possible - consult a podologist before using it.

The perfect pedicure at home

Just a couple of hours of free time and the desire to become more attractive is the main thing you need to give a beautiful look.

  1. The nails are trimmed using tweezers or scissors. The ideal length of the nail is when it does not reach the edge of the finger.
  2. Use a spatula to remove all dirt and dead cells.
  3. The nails are filed to create a smooth edge.
  4. The top layer of the nails is sanded and polished.
  5. A product is rubbed in to soften and remove the cuticle.
  6. The feet are lowered into a warm steam bath, at which time you can treat the feet and heels with a stiff brush or pumice stone. The feet are lowered into the bath only after they have been treated, because the nails have a porous structure and when wet they become saturated with moisture and become very soft; it will be impossible to saw them off perfectly.
  7. The feet are dried with a soft towel. Then you need to push back the cuticle using a wooden manicure stick and trim it carefully with special scissors,
  8. The skin around the cuticle and the surface of the nail itself is treated with a scraper.
  9. The feet are again lowered into the bath for about 20 minutes. Alternatingly removing the feet, they need to be wiped and the stratum corneum removed with a scraper or pumice stone. If everything is very neglected, it will take a lot of time and patience.
  10. Hangnails and dead skin are removed with special tweezers.
  11. A scrub is applied to the legs, rubbed in, then washed off.
  12. After wiping, a special product is applied to the cuticle to nourish it (vitamin E or almond oil is suitable), and a moisturizer is rubbed into the feet.

The last stage is coating the nails with varnish. Before applying regular varnish, you need to use a base coat.

SPA pedicure

SPA pedicure is a long (1.5-2 hours), but very pleasant procedure that not only takes care of the nails and skin of the feet, but also provides relaxation and restores the client’s emotional background.

The skin of the feet is first softened in a bath, then a gentle peeling is carried out, the shape of the nails is corrected, and the cuticle is removed. The final stage is a moisturizing mask, relaxing massage, and application of nourishing cream. At the client’s request, the master performs paraffin wraps on the feet, and at the end of the procedure, a decorative coating is applied to the nails.

For SPA pedicure, natural cosmetics made from sea salt and algae are used: scrubs, masks, creams, lotions and serums gently care for the skin and nails, cleanse them and strengthen them. The session is accompanied by pleasant music, the air is saturated with delicate aromas of incense - this calms and relaxes the client, setting the mood for positivity.

Advantages:

  • Only natural ingredients are used.
  • There are no injuries, cuts or discomfort.
  • Pedicure gives a relaxing effect for the whole body.
  • Prevention of dryness and cracking of the skin.
  • Deep hydration and generation.
  • Relief from leg pain.

Correct and beautiful shape of toenails

The thickness of a normal nail should be 1 mm, but if it is much more, then this is a disease - pachyonychia. The shape of the toenail should be square, but to prevent the corners from scratching or tearing the tights, they should be slightly rounded. The recommended length of the regrown part of the nail is 0.5 mm. For complete beauty, the nail plate is torn with a thin layer of transparent or colored varnish.

To prevent the corner of the nail from growing into the skin, it is necessary to file it properly. People with flat nails usually do not have such problems.

To give the correct shape, they usually use a nail file, but if the nail has already grown a lot, then nippers or scissors are more likely to help. First you need to steam your feet in water, then use a wooden manicure stick to remove all the dirt under your nails to protect yourself from infections, and only then start trimming and sawing off your feet when they are dry.

It is important to take care of your nails in a timely manner - about two to three times a month - and correctly. If you take care of your legs regularly, they will delight their owner with their beauty for a very long time.

If you have no idea what the ideal shape of toenails looks like, then you can find many photographs on this topic on the Internet.

Sports pedicure

Sports pedicure is performed for athletes and people who lead an active lifestyle; this procedure is also popular among men. The peculiarity of a sports pedicure is to give the nail plates an optimal shape in order to minimize the risk of injury to the fingers during increased physical activity. Athletes need special care for the skin of their feet: after training, calluses, corns, cracks, and other damage appear on it.

During a sports pedicure, a foot massage is performed, aimed at improving blood circulation, relieving tension, and removing toxins. Products are applied to the skin that reduce sweating, prevent the appearance of unpleasant odors and fungal infections when wearing closed sports shoes for a long time.

Fish pedicure (with fish)

An exotic type of pedicure, which is used as a relaxation procedure. During the session, the legs are immersed in an aquarium with garra rufa fish - these small creatures in nature feed on bacteria and organic debris. Garra rufas do not have teeth; they use their lips to clean food from various objects, and do the same when in contact with their feet, removing keratinized areas with their oral sucker.

Fish cannot get rid of very rough skin on the feet; after them, you need to additionally carry out a regular pedicure. But the “fish” pedicure has its advantages:

  • Gives pleasant emotions, charges with positivity.
  • Garra rufa perform a kind of massage that increases blood circulation in the feet.
  • The enzyme that fish secrete to break down food contains an antiseptic component, so the condition of the skin improves after a pedicure.

Shape selection


Currently, fashionistas are trying a wide variety of nail edge treatments. These can be beveled asymmetrical nails, nail ends with holes, complex smooth lines and much more. However, the following three types remain the most popular:

  1. Square in its various modifications (classic, rounded, soft, etc.);
  2. Oval;
  3. Triangular or sharp tips.


Most often, when thinking about how to choose a nail shape, girls compare these three varieties. Of course, each has its pros and cons. Thus, a strict square is currently the most fashionable, while sharp and oval free edges can be considered classics.


Square plates are most suitable for those with long and thin fingers. They seem to abruptly break off the nail phalanx. Thus, the form is absolutely contraindicated for those whose fingers are not very graceful and whose palm is wide. However, if owners of such brushes are still tormented by the question of how to make rectangular-shaped nails that will fit, then they should be advised to choose the maximum length of the plate.


A soft square makes nails more resistant to mechanical stress; the shape is shown in the photo. That is, in essence it is the same square, but its corners are slightly filed and rounded. This treatment reduces the likelihood of cracks and breaks by almost half. At the same time, the visually rectangular outlines of the plates are preserved.


A rounded square can be called a more developed form of soft. The likelihood of cracks and delamination is even lower. The shape is suitable for those who have weak nails or those who perform work that can damage their manicure, for example, a lot of typing. A rounded square is a transitional shape between square and oval.


There are several opinions on how to properly make oval nail shapes. But most often it is recommended to make movements with a saw, similar to the movements of a pendulum. This form suits absolutely everyone; it is very resistant to mechanical damage. This manicure is the least likely to break, flake and crack. The coating of classic or delicate shades looks most organic on them.


Giving your nails a triangle shape is the choice of rather extravagant women. They are best suited for those with narrow, elongated hands with graceful fingers. But for those whom nature has not endowed with these qualities, it is better not to experiment with the form, since a sharp manicure will look ridiculous.

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Which pedicure to choose?

What kind of pedicure is still worth getting? The procedure must be carried out according to indications; a recommendation on the technique will definitely be given by a podiatrist.

Subtleties of choice:

  • If you have diabetes, cracked heels, or calluses, a medical pedicure is recommended. Visible therapeutic effect immediately after the session.
  • Well-groomed feet can be maintained with hardware and acid pedicures.
  • Do you want a pedicure with the effect of relaxation? Your choice is SPA!

Benefits of a pedicure at a beauty center:

  • Some types of pedicure at home are not available, since they require experience, professional supplies and equipment.
  • Salons and beauty centers use premium tools and preparations that are impossible or unprofitable to buy on your own.
  • The master is attentive to the client’s safety and provides him with maximum comfort!
  • You can relax, take a break from everyday worries.
  • Podologist consultation.
  • The feet look perfect: smooth skin, soft heels, beautiful nail design.

A procedure performed by a professional is a guarantee of excellent results, good mood, healthy and beautiful feet!

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