Pro Secrets for a Perfect At-Home Pedi

In a perfect world, we’d all get regular pedicures every two weeks. But in real life, most of us end up stretching it, with a month or more between visits, putting our feet in danger of achieving what I like to refer to as Jurassic Park status. But because sandal season is here, we don’t have the luxury of hiding neglected toes from the world. Luckily, with the right arsenal of easy-to-use products, plus a little bit of old fashioned TLC, it’s fairly painless to take care of our own toes at home, says Los Angeles–based manicurist Alex Jachno of Labnails, who has worked with Kerry Washington and Julia Roberts.

And good news: Jachno says go ahead and wear polish every single day and change it as often as you like. “Toenails are quite resilient because they don’t get as much use as your hands do, and because they’re thicker than fingernails,” she explains. Looks like our toes are in for a good season! Here Jachno shares more advice for upping the ante on your between-pedis routine.

3 expert pedi strategies to master

So we know now that toenails are hardier than fingernails, but for that very reason, feet pose their own challenges in terms of upkeep. Here, a few strategies for preventing and solving common pedi probs.

Fight discoloration

Leaving on the same months-old nail polish from a past pedi isn’t the best idea, especially when feet are cooped up in closed-toe shoes all winter. Depriving your nails of air increases the risk of fungal infections, which can leave you with unsightly yellow or white blotches on nail beds. To get rid of discolored spots, Jachno recommends removing all polish, and then using a fine buffing block to smooth down and renew the surface of nails.  

Check your bottles

Another possible cause of visible toenail damage? Certain ingredients in certain nail polishes. But more and more brands are offering healthier options that are 3-free (made without dibutyl phthalate, toluene, and formaldehyde) or 5-free (which add formaldehyde resin, and camphor to the 3-free list)—with color selections rivaling traditional polishes. RGB, Inglot Cosmetics, Cult Nails are all great choices! For summer, we love Inglot Cosmetics’ bright happy aqua O2M in 665, a formula made with polymer ks_02, which is breathable and safer for nails, and RGB Nail Polish in Monarch, a hot orange creme.

Prevent (and deal with) ingrown nails

You might have a closet filled with shoes to die for, but ill-fitting footwear is one of the most common causes of painful ingrown toenails. To help prevent ingrowns, first make sure to clip toenails straight across, rather than curving deeply on the sides. If you do get an ingrown nail and the ache is driving you crazy, Jachno recommends using the pointed end of a metal nail file to push a small piece of cotton under the nail in the corner that’s affected. “This will help alleviate the pain by creating a small wedge between the nail and skin. You can change the cotton every other day until it feels better,” she says. It will also help lift the nail and have it grow above the skin edge.

6 Steps to a Perfect At-Home Pedi

1: Fill a bathtub or large bowl with warm water and add one cup of powdered milk. “The lactic acid helps soften calluses and cuticles,” says Jachno.

2: Soak feet for 10 minutes, then push back cuticles gently, sweeping back in a circular motion, using an orange wood stick to push back cuticles.

3: Use a pointed metal file to clean under each nail, working carefully.

4: To remove and soften cuticles, use a foot grater (also called a “rasp”) only where you have callous build-up, then follow with a foot file (we recommend Diamancel’s) to smooth out any rough areas.

5: Apply a base coat, two coats of color, and finish with a top coat. Jachno advises against wearing closed-toe shoes for at least four hours after applying polish to prevent smudges.

6: Use an intensive lotion or cream like Bliss Foot Patrol right before bed. This will allow the moisture to penetrate overnight, and keep feet hydrated and smooth.