There is nothing better than treating yourself to a mobile mani/pedi service! Setting aside time for a professional to take care of your hands and feet is a great reminder that you deserve pampering. In between your scheduled services, learning how to maintain your own manicure and pedicure not only keeps your nails on point but encourages you to take time for yourself. Making time for self-care is a great way to cultivate and reinforce self-love, and nothing makes us happier than seeing you shine! So let’s gather the necessary tools and get started together.
What You’ll Need For Your At Home Mani-Pedi
• Polish Remover, Cotton Balls & Q-tips
• Cuticle Oil & Cuticle Remover
• Moisturizer
• Nail Clippers, Files, Buffers
• Cuticle Pusher
• Polish: Base Coat, Colour, Top Coat
• Foot File or Pumice
Optional
• Foot Bath or Basin
• Epsom Salts and Essential Oils
• Fresh Rose Pedals
• Exfoliant
DIY At Home Manicure Steps
Step 1
Remove any left over polish from your previous manicure, giving you a clean “canvas” to work with.
Step 2
Reshape your nail length, keeping in mind that an even length on all of your nails will always look best. Grew your nails to the perfect length only to have one break? We’ve been there, it stinks, but having one short nail is never a good look. Start by cutting with clippers, filing to form nail shape and smooth tip, leaving no snags. Finish by gently buffing the top and sides of the nail bed.
Step 3
Apply cuticle remover at the edge of your entire nail. This will help soften your cuticle and dissolve dead skin cells and trapped dirt. Gently push back the cuticles. Pushing too much or too aggressively can cause damage to your cuticles and nail (and also likely hurt). Take a moment to clean under your nails as well.
Step 4
Moisturize your hands and wrists. Spend a few minutes to give yourself a little hand massage. If the weather, elements, or nature of your work cause your hands to build up a lot of dead skin cells or callus, try using an exfoliant before applying moisturizer to remove the cell build-up.
Step 5
Prep your nails for polish with another run of polish remover over the nail beds. Any leftover moisture or residue on your nail can warp your polish.
Step 6
Time to polish! Begin with a layer of base coat, allowing it to dry fully. Apply your color in thin layers. It is always better to do multiple coats than applying a thick coat, as this allows your polish to dry faster and more evenly. Starting from the outside of your hand working in, apply your polish with your brush flat against the nail, starting at one side of the nail, middle, then the other side. This helps you apply your polish evenly, and not have to go over the same nail too many times. Finish by applying a thin layer of topcoat.
Step 7
Using a Q-tip remove any errant polish that snuck onto your finger. Finish with a second round of moisturizer and, if on hand, cuticle oil.
DIY At-Home Pedicure Steps
Step 1
Remove any polish from your previous pedicure.
Step 2
Fill your foot basin or bathtub with enough water to reach your ankle, adding a touch of body wash. For extra relaxing effect, add espom salts and a few drops of your favourite essential oil. Soak your feet for five minutes or so to soften your callus. Soaking too long may cause your feet to prune up, making the next steps more difficult.
Step 3
Using a foot file or pumice, gently remove the callus from the bottom of your foot, focusing on the callused areas. Callus builds up the most on your heel and the least at your arch. Dry your feet thoroughly.
Step 4
Trim and file your toenails, and remember not to cut too short! This may open the possibility of an ingrown nail, especially if you are on your feet often or wear constricting footwear.
Step 5
Moisturise your feet and ankles. Take the time to give your feet a little love with a massage. Often we forget out feet, shove them into slightly (or very) painful shoes, neglect to give them a stretch or massage. Spend at least five minutes showing your feet thanks for taking you everywhere you need to go.
Step 5
Remove any excess moisturiser from your nail bed with a swipe of polish remover.
Step 6
Time to polish! You can start with a thin layer of base coat, but this is optional. Use the tips you’ve learned with our at home manicure steps. Start at the outside of the foot working in to avoid accidental smudges. Favour multiple thin layers over a thick layer for faster drying. Keep your brush perpendicular to your nail bed, and avoid too many “swipes” with your brush. Finish with a thin layer of top coat.
Step 7
Admire your work! Remember to ensure your polish is completely dry before throwing on socks and shoes with a touch test. Always use the pad of your finger as opposed to your nail to test polish dryness.
In between your BeautyDel mani/pedi services, trying an at-home manicure or pedicure makes for a great reminder that you deserve to do things just for yourself. Making time to treat yourself restores you so that you can better allocate your time to others, and there is always time to do something that makes you feel gorgeous and confident!