5 The best way to have beautiful feet – get a pedicure!

The feet are the most overworked part of the body. They carry our weight all the time, and it is only when they begin to hurt that we realise how tired they are. We force them into tight, high heeled shoes, expose them to the elements, do not clean them as properly as we should, and generally neglect them quite a bit.

You don’t need a complicated foot care routine to have happy, healthy feet – just get a pedicure. Sit back in your chair and relax as the podiatrist kneads your tired feet, massages them and paints your toenails a pretty colour. You will feel refreshed once your pedicure is complete.

Why is a pedicure essential?

We live in stressful times, and our feet bear the brunt of our excesses. They need regular soaping, cleaning and massaging to look and feel great.

The pedicure strips away the layers of dead skin on the feet, thus allowing the skin beneath to breathe. The feet start looking much better after the dead skin has been removed. Next, the toenails are clipped and cleaned, and the cuticles are pushed back. This is good for nail health, and it keeps the dirt and dead skin out as well. Finally, moisturising cream is applied on the feet and up to the knees, and the lower leg is massaged till the cream is fully absorbed.

A regular pedicure relieves skin dryness, stress-related aches and pains, stiff joints and general ill health. It improves blood circulation to the feet, so that they are able to recover faster from overwork. Also, they rejuvenate the nerves and tissues in the feet, so the feet look really nice. The skin is also able to repair itself much faster than before, so the feet do not look dull and tired.

What you need for a good pedicure

·         Cotton pads

·         Soap and soft-bristled brush to clean the feet and nails

·         Nail clipper, nail file, cuticle cream and cuticle pusher

·         Foot file to remove dead skin easily. If you don’t have a foot file, you can use a metal scraper, but a foot file is easier to use, and provides better results.

·         Diluted hydrogen peroxide to remove dirt from the corners of the toenails

·         Moisturising cream (to massage the feet)

But a pedicure is not recommended if:

·         You have severe diabetes

·         You have a propensity for blisters and warts

·         You are not sure if the podiatrist is using hygienic equipment or good products

·         You have cuts or injuries on your feet

·         You have untreated plantar fasciitis – an inexperienced podiatrist might make the pain worse!

·         You have a foot injury resulting in a swelling