A Guide to Giving Yourself an At-Home Manicure and Pedicure

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Everyone deserves to be pampered now and then. Perhaps you cannot afford a spa treatment or maybe you're just a DIY kind of person. A person's hands and feet are the most used and abused part of the body, so they need special treatment. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to give yourself an at-home manicure and pedicure without breaking the bank.

Give Yourself an At-Home Manicure

The first part of giving yourself a DIY manicure is to gather all supplies needed. If you've got on nail polish (or traces of some) you're going to need a non-acetone nail polish remover. You'll also need a bowl of warm, soapy water, tea tree oil, an orange wood stick, a soft cloth, nail polish, and a clear top coat.

First, remove any excess nail polish from the nails. Add a tablespoon of tea tree oil to the soapy water. Soak hands in this solution to soften the skin and cuticles. Take the orange stick and push the cuticles back. Some people cut the cuticles, but that actually is bad for them. Pushing them back is healthier. Now massage some tea tree oil into the hands, paying close attention to the nail beds and any other dry areas. Use the soft cloth to dab off any excess oil. Paint the nails with your favorite nail polish and seal it in with the top coat.

Give Yourself an At-Home Pedicure

For an at-home pedicure, supplies and procedure will be slightly different than the manicure. You'll need a bowl or foot tub of warm, soapy water to soak the feet in, 4 chamomile tea bags, 2 mint tea bags, tea tree oil, an orange wood stick, a pumice stone, a towel, a soft cloth, toenail clippers, and your favorite nail polish and top coat.

Add all the tea bags and a tablespoon of tea tree oil to the warm, soapy water. Soak the feet in there for 10-15 minutes. For an added spa feel, use a massaging foot tub instead of a bowl. This can be especially helpful after a long day standing up at work or in the shopping mall. Check to make sure you can add tea and tea tree oil. You wouldn't want to damage your nice foot tub.

Once the feet have soaked, take the orange wood stick and push back the cuticles in the toenails. Clip toenails (but not cuticles) if necessary. Use the pumice stone to rub away excess skin. Now add tea tree oil to the feet, rubbing it the most into the toenail beds and dry areas. Wipe away the excess oil with a soft cloth. Now paint your toenails with your favorite nail polish and top coat.


*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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