If a woman cannot afford a professional pedicure or manicure, she can give one to herself if she has these basic tools.
Emery Boards
Emery boards are used to file and smooth the tips of the nails. There are several grades of sandpaper (the material used to make an emery board) from fine to coarse. Choose a double sided, foam middle emery board. One side should have a fine gain, and the other side a coarse grain. The foam in the middle absorbs shock from the friction from filing. This board is good on finger and toenails. The coarser side may also be used to buff the nail beds.
Nail Clipper
Orange Stick
An orange stick isn't necessarily orange. But it is a wooden stick with a chiseled tip used for pushing back the nail cuticle. Pushing back the cuticle elongates the nail. These disposable sticks push back the cuticle with minimum impact. If you use a metal version, take care to sanitize it before using.
Cuticle nipper/cutter
Sometimes the cuticles of the toenails do not respond to an orange stick. This is when a cuticle cutter is necessary. A surgical steel cuticle cutter is easier to sanitize. Some women cut the cuticle, and some just nip at it to clean up any stray skin.
Cuticle cream/oil - Before one uses an orange stick or cuticle nipper, one should apply a cuticle cream or oil. This moisturizes and softens the cuticle in preparation for the manipulation. It also soothes and moisturizes after the toenail cuticles have been cut.
Footbath
An electric footbath is a requirement for at home pedicures. Footbaths allow feet to soak in warm water before the pedicure. Some footbaths include different settings that warm, vibrate and aerate feet. These settings create a Jacuzzi environment in the footbath. Include a capful of foot soak in the footbath to promote softness. Once the foot soles are soft, slough off the dead skin with a double-sided foot scrub. Like the emery board, this paddle has a coarse grain side and a fine grain side.
Base coat
After the foot soak and toenail grooming apply base coat to nails. Base coats provide an even surface for polish application. Some base coats are infused with vitamins and nutrients to strengthen and harden nails.
Top Coat
Topcoats serve to protect and provide shine to a manicure. Without a topcoat, nail polish fades easily. It has no protection from the elements, and streaks across surfaces. Most topcoats are clear. But there are some rose tinted and blue hued topcoats. The tint does not interfere with the color of the nail polish.
Polish removal
When it is time to remove an old manicure or pedicure, use a non-acetone polish remover and pure cotton balls. Non-acetone remover is gentler on nails, and pure cotton absorbs and holds more remover. It is also wise to have a nail polish remover pen to clean up small mistakes without starting over.
These tools are essential for any manicure/pedicure box. One can have additions such as foam toe separators or cotton strips. Both are used to separate toes when painting and drying.
With these basic tools one can produce professional manicure/pedicure results at home, without the professional expense.
