Your Friday Wake-Up Call: Treat Your Feet!

I'm so happy that we're coming up on the first weekend of June! It's officially beach weather. It's time to break out the bikinis and load up on sunscreen and beers. And after keeping your feet hidden all winter and probably most of spring, a full-on pedicure is just what you need to rejuvenate your toesies and give you soft, pretty beach feet. Here are the steps to getting the perfect pedicure:

1.) Choose a fun color for the summer. Two of the hottest color trends right now are ladylike colors like a pastel orange, bright pink, or cherry red. OPI and Nicole by OPI are two of my favorite nail polish brands, and they have tons of options in the color department. You can order them online through various sites or scoop them up at a local Ulta store.

 (Left) Keep It Real, Nicole by OPI, $8.50, ulta.com; (Above) Atomic Orange, OPI, $7.50, brightonbeautysupply.com

2.) Give your feet a warm dip. Put some warm water in a small basin that could accommodate both of your feet. Cover your feet up to your ankles with the water, and soak them for a relaxing treat.
3.) To take your foot soak up a notch, try infusing it with some marjoram oil, lavender oil and non drying soap, or even shampoo. This will moisturize and give your feet a nice scent. Leave them in for about 10-15 minutes to treat your feet well and get those hard spots and calluses soft enough. Since you’re at home, throw in your favorite TV show or movie and have a great time.
4.)Smoothen up those hard and rough spots by using an oil based body scrub for exfoliation. A small amount in each sole and ankle will do the job.
5.) Rub away those rough spots. Use a pumice stone to remove calluses and dead skin cells. Rub in circles and gently, so that you don’t get breaks in the skin and end up with sore feet.
6.) Use white vinegar to remove any discoloration from your toenails that dark nail polish may have caused. Rub the vinegar unto your toe nails with a soft cotton ball. If your toe nails have grown thick and yellowed, you might want to talk to a doctor because these may be signs of a fungal infection.
7.) Hang nails can be an agony. Make sure to clip your nails in a straight rather than rounded fashion to avoid hang nails. Use a sharp clipper, and a nail file to file away any uneven edges.
8.) Orange or cuticle sticks may be used to groom your nails even more. Push back overgrown cuticles to make your nails look neater.
9.) Polish your nails with a buffing block. This will make your nails shiny, remove roughness, and remove nail rippling.
10.)Apply nail polish.
11.) When you are done with your nails, give your feet a massage. Use thick moisturizing cream or vitamin E based oil. Put on a pair of socks for moisture retention and leave these overnight. When you wake up, you will have feet with skin as soft as a baby’s.

These steps were originally featured on Healthy Lifestyle