Everyone needs a relaxing day of pampering once in a while, and there’s no greater way to spend this than by getting a nice pedicure. However, not many people are aware that a great pedicure goes beyond just your toenails and comes with other benefits aside from simply calming you down.
Pedicures can do wonders for the health and appearance of your feet, as well as your overall wellness, so here’s everything you need to know before you book an appointment!
What is a Pedicure?
A pedicure is a beauty treatment that focuses on your feet, to enhance their appearance while also promoting relaxation. Many people assume that pedicures only treat your toenails, but nail technicians will also pamper the skin around your feet to improve their health and look.
5 Health Benefits of Pedicures:
- Removes Dead Skin Cells: Aside from your toenails, pedicures also pay close attention to pampering the skin of your feet, mainly through exfoliation. Your nail technician uses either an exfoliating product or a foot file to address any calluses or rough patches on your feet, which can prevent unwanted infections or texture.
- Increases Blood Circulation: Pedicures often include a massage step, which can help increase blood circulation. This ensures that both your feet and nails are receiving enough nutrients and oxygen to maintain their health and appearance.
- Keeps Your Skin Soft and Moisturized: During a pedicure, different creams, lotions, and butter are massaged into your feet. Apart from providing a relaxing experience, these products also keep your skin soft and moisturized.
- Relaxation and Stress Reduction: While pedicures help you achieve healthier and better-looking feet and nails, they can also be seen as an act of self-care that you can treat yourself to whenever you need to let off some steam.
- Improves Nail Health: That fresh coat of nail polish does more than simply make your toenails look nice. It acts as an extra layer of protection against any unwanted force or friction, which can protect your nails from damage. Furthermore, pedicures also offer deep foot cleaning and cuticle cleaning, both of which can ward off any infections.
Different Types of Pedicures
While pedicures may not have as much variety as manicures, there are still a few options you can choose from. Here are some of the most popular ones you should know about:
Classic Pedicure
A classic pedicure is one of the most popular types of pedicures that salons offer. It’s designed to take care of your feet by covering all of the essential pedicure steps, like soaking your feet, removing old nail polish, trimming and shaping your nails and cuticles, and applying a color polish at the end. A classic pedicure also focuses on your foot care by including an exfoliation and moisturizing stage for the skin of your feet.
Gel Pedicure
Gel pedicures are incredibly in demand due to their versatility, low maintenance, and resistance to chipping and damage. Unlike regular pedicures, gel pedicures utilize a UV lamp for curing and drying the nail polish, which makes it stronger and more durable, all the while granting you that beautiful shine that you want.
French Pedicure
Most people will recognize a French pedicure’s unique look as it leaves the nail bed looking natural while painting the tip white. A French pedicure also means that your nails will have to be shaped into more of a square.
Spa Pedicure
A spa pedicure is a much more luxurious and comprehensive version of a regular pedicure, mostly offered in spas or higher-end nail salons. While it covers all of the fundamental steps, a spa pedicure also allows you to enjoy some additional treatments such as paraffin wax, heated stones, and much more.
What to Expect in a Pedicure?
While the specific steps may vary depending on which salon or service provider you go to, there are a few basic steps that every pedicure should follow:
Preparing the Nails
The nail technician starts by removing any old nail polish that may still be on your toenails before filing and cutting them to your desired length and shape. During this part, the technician also takes care of any ingrown nails you might have while also inspecting your feet for any other issues, such as calluses and rough patches.
Preparing the Cuticles
Once your nails have been prepared, the next step is to take care of your cuticles, which are the clear skin at the base of your nails. You’ll be asked to soak your feet in a warm foot bath to soften up your cuticles. Alternatively, the technician may just use a cuticle-softening product. After they’ve been softened, your cuticles will be pushed back and trimmed.
Exfoliating and Moisturizing the Feet
Any calluses or problem areas on your feet will be smoothed out with a pumice stone, which will remove the accumulation of dead skin cells on the area. A gentle scrub may also be applied to your foot to provide a bit more exfoliation. Then, your technician will work a moisturizing cream or lotion into your feet and start massaging them, which can help provide stress relief.
Applying the Nail Polish
Finally, you’ll be able to choose your preferred nail polish color to finish off your pedicure session.
How Long Does a Pedicure Take?
- Classic Pedicure will often take around 45 to 60 minutes. This is just enough time to make sure that your nails, cuticles, and feet are completely taken care of so that you can leave the salon feeling nice and refreshed.
- Gel Pedicure takes around 60 to 75 minutes, which may be considered longer than other pedicure types. This is mainly because a gel pedicure requires multiple layers of gel polish to be applied, with each layer needing to be cured under a UV lamp, to provide a strong and chip-resistant finish.
- French Pedicure can take about 45 to 60 minutes to complete. This process will often include the preparation of both the toenails and feet, as well as the application of the white tip, pink or nude color, and the top coat at the end.
- Spa Pedicure can range anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes, as the duration will vary depending on the treatments involved, as well as how long your beauty technician spends on each step.
How Often Should You Get a Pedicure?
It’s recommended that you get a pedicure every four to six weeks to prevent too much dead skin from growing on your feet.
How Much Does a Pedicure Cost?
The cost of a pedicure treatment may vary depending on the salon you go to, as well as the inclusions and pedicure type. However, there are also affordable at-home pedicures that you can avail of, such as Luce services, which start at $37.
The Takeaway
Whether you’re rushing to catch your commute to work or simply enjoying a night out with your friends, your feet and toenails go through a lot daily, but there’s nothing quite like a good pedicure session to keep them looking their best. And the good news is that it doesn’t have to break the bank, as most pedicures are affordable. This means that you’ll be able to give your feet a nice little pamper session at an economical cost.
