New York City-based manicurist Pattie Yankee shared 10 ways to achieve the perfect pedicure in Instyle's June 2012 issue.
- Shape up! Clip nails so they're slightly less than a quarter-inch long. File and round the sides, but don't use a coarse file because it may tear the edges. Be careful not to go any shorter to prevent ingrown nails.
- Just chill! Soak feet in a relaxing bath made of one part milk and two parts water. The lactic acid in the dairy product exfoliates and softens cuticles. If customers complain of sore feet, a scoop of Epsom salt reduces swelling.
- Be pushy! After a soak, dry feet and rub a drop of moisturizing oil on each nail. Then gently nudge back skin along the perimeter using a metal cuticle pusher. (Wood splinters.)
- Rock on! Exfoliate heels and balls of the feet with a natural lava pumice stone. Then massage a body scrub over skin to even out roughness.
- Butter up! Slather on a thick cream with hydrating shea butter. If you have cracked heels, you'll need an ointment containing acids (like salicylic or lactic) to break down dead cells.
- Go bright! Opt for an unexpected hue like RGB's Nail lacquer in Dew.
- Mix things up! Try creating your own skin-matching nude. Take a bottle of off-white nail polish and sprinkle in a pinch of loose mineral powder foundation. Give the bottle a shake and apply.
- Stay inside the lines! After painting each toe, clean up any polish on the surrounding skin with an angled eye-makeup brush. Just dip it in remover and trace the nail's outline.
- Set your shade! Put on a quick-dry topcoat on every nail, like Dashing Diva's formula, which helps smooth mild nicks.
- Mask mistakes! If you spot dents once nails are dry, stroke a sheer, sparkling shade over all ten nails. Shimmer reflects light and distracts from imperfections.
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