Hey loves!
If you’ve given up your regular mani’s and pedi’s in an attempt to save a few dollars, this article is for you.
DIY manis, pedis at home
You’ve been making cutbacks. So those regular visits to the nail salon are being shaved away like a bad callus. Still, your winter-weary hands and feet could use some TLC. The solution? Stretch out spa visits and give yourself pedicures and manicures. A few basic tools—including some common household products—are all that’s needed.
A serene setting helps too. “Turn off the TV, put the kids to bed, light a candle, steep a cup of tea … do whatever you need to create peace,” says Cinnamon Bowser, founder of Nail Taxi (nailtaxi.com), a mobile manicure/pedicure service.
Read on to find out how to wait on yourself—hand and foot.
1. Soak in warm water. (Skip this step for manicures; it’ll make fingernails too soft, says Bowser.) For a spa-like feel, use a vibrating pedicure tub, such as the Conair Foot Spa (around $15 at Wal-Mart stores). Heel to Toe’s inflatable pedi bath ($5.99 at Sally Beauty Supply; sallybeauty.com) is a budget-friendly alternative.
Cheap trick: If all else fails, “sit on the edge of your bathtub and make yourself comfortable,” says Essie Weingarten, founder and president of Essie Cosmetics (essie.com).
2. Remove old polish. “Use a polish remover with moisturizer,” says Stacey Roney, founder of Beauty on Call (beautyoncall.com), a staffing agency providing spa and beauty services. Roney recommends Lippmann Collection’s The Stripper ($16 at lippmanncollection.com), which contains lavender and aloe vera.
Cheap trick: E.L.F.’s Nail Polish Remover Pads ($1 at eyeslipsface.com and Target stores) come in a portable compact for quick fixes.
3. File nails and push back cuticles. Gently file in one direction to avoid splitting and always use cuticle oil, advises Weingarten. Try Essie’s Apricot Cuticle Oil ($8 at The Salon at Ulta, 114 S. State St., 312-279-5081) or Crabtree & Evelyn’s La Source Nail & Cuticle Therapy (around $10 at crabtree-evelyn.com). While it’s tempting to cut cuticles, professionals warn against it. “Buy orangewood sticks in bulk from Sally Beauty Supply and use them to push back cuticles. You can wrap cotton around their edges for an even softer touch,” says Christina Bitner, a student team leader at Empire Beauty Schools in Arlington Heights (empire.edu).
Cheap trick: If you don’t have cuticle oil, olive oil also works wonders, according to Bowser.
4. Remove dead skin. Ms. Pedicure’s ergonomically shaped The Smoothy Groovy 2-in-1 Foot Brush & Pumice ($2.99 at mspedicure.com) will slough off rough spots. Follow it with an exfoliating scrub, such as Sally Hansen’s Ultra Smoothing Foot Scrub ($7.95 at drugstores). “Just don’t exfoliate right before shaving,” advises Weingarten.
Cheap trick: Make your own exfoliating scrub with ingredients found in the kitchen. Roney recommends mixing two tablespoons of brown sugar and two tablespoons of macadamia nut oil, then slathering it over hands and feet.
5. Apply moisturizer. Massaging lotion into your skin will keep it smooth and hydrated. Just about any drugstore brand works, or splurge on H2O Plus’ Softening Mint Foot Rub ($14 at h2oplus.com). Heel creams with shea butter, like Ms. Pedicure’s Heeling Fine ($3.99 at mspedicure.com), also keep callus-prone feet protected.
Cheap trick: Weingarten recommends wrapping legs in plastic wrap or moist towels and leaving them covered for 10 minutes to trap the moisture.
6. Put on polish. Start with a base coat (it’ll help polish stick to the nail). Then brush on two coats of color, waiting two minutes between. “Polish each nail in three strokes, doing the center, then both sides. You can keep your hand steady by resting your pinkie on the end of your toe [for pedicures] or on the opposite hand [for manicures],” says Bitner. Most important: “Pick a color that will make you happy,” says Weingarten, adding that reds are big this winter. (Good examples are Essie’s Really Red or E.L.F.’s Light Red.) Finish with a top coat for shine and protection.
Cheap trick: Wipe a layer of acetone or rubbing alcohol over the nails before applying any polish, suggests Bowser. “It cleans off oil and will add days to the life of your manicure.”
7. Let everything dry. The key? Sitting still. “If you accidentally smudge your polish, dab another fingertip with nail polish remover and gently smooth it over the imperfection,” says Roney.
Cheap trick: “Take a warm towel from your dryer and put your feet on it. The polish will dry faster,” says Bitner.
