DIY Manicure & Pedicure: A Simple Guide for Beautiful Hands & Feet

We all love to flaunt beautiful hands and feet. Heading towards salon to get a professional manicure and pedicure done is definitely like an ultimate treat and a therapeutic experience. But what if you cannot manage to take out enough time (and, of course, money as well!) for your regular tips and toes’ treatment?

Solution: Let your DIY skills loop in here! Yes, it is possible to get lovely hands and feet right in the comforts of your home. All you need are a few basic necessities and proper guidance. The method and steps for both the manicure and the pedicure are almost the same. So what are you waiting for? Just read on, and start pampering your hands and feet.

Steps To The Manicure And Pedicure

1. Prep Your Nails
2. Soak Your Hands And Feet
3. Scrub
4. Moisturize
5. Glam Up Your Nails

You Will Need

• Water basin/plastic tub
• Warm water
• Nail polish remover
• Cotton balls
• Toenail clipper
• Nail filer
• Toe separators
• Foot scrub
• Cuticle cream
• Cuticle pusher
• Foot cream/moisturizer (preferably with Vitamin E)
• Nail scrubber
• Pumice stone
• A soft towel

Here’s a simple step-by-step tutorial to help you get the best manicure and pedicure at home.

Step 1: Prep Your Nails

• Remove the old nail polish with a cotton ball/pad.
• Then, clip your nails.
• Decide the shape of your nails (square, oval, pointed, or squoval) so that you can file them accordingly.
• Use a nail filer to shape the nail to the desired shape. Do the filing with enough force to reshape the nail, but be gentle enough not to weaken them. Resist doing the back and forth motion across the tip of the nail, as it will weaken them. Instead, file in a single direction to get the desired shape.

Step 2: Soak Your Hands And Feet

• Fill two large water basins or plastic tubs with lukewarm water.
• Dissolve a few drops of shampoo or mild soap in the water.
• Once the water is nice and frothy, put both your hands and feet in the respective tubs, and let them soak in the goodness for 10-15 minutes.

Step 3: Scrub

• Use a scrub to exfoliate any dead and dry skin from your hands and feet. Apply it in circular motions and with medium pressure. A great DIY recipe for hand scrub is a mixture of coconut/olive oil with a tablespoon of granulated sugar. Another recipe includes ground oats and honey.
• While the nails and skin are soft, apply some cuticle cream over your nails and massage gently for some time.
• Once it is done, wipe off the cuticle cream and push back the cuticles using an angled cuticle stick.
• Gently push down the skin growing over the base of your nails. Make sure you don’t hurt yourself while doing this.
• Wash away the scrub and pat dry your hands and feet.

Step 4: Moisturize

Now that your hands and feet are clean and fresh, apply a moisturizing lotion and massage for some time.

Step 5: Glam Up Your Nails

You may or may not follow this step as it’s optional. You can either apply a normal nail polish or even wear French tips.

For Normal Nail Polish

• Apply a base coat on your nails first. You can also apply a transparent nail polish as the base coat.
• Then, apply the shade of your choice and let it dry for some time.
• Apply another coat over it and once the second coat also dries out, seal it with a top coat. This will enhance the appearance of your nails.

For French Tips

• Apply a base transparent coat on your nails and let it dry for some time.
• Apply a white nail polish on the tips of your nails.
• Allow it to dry for a couple of minutes.
• Now it’s time for the second coat. This will make the white color appear less splotchy and more attractive.
• Let the white coat dry for some time.
• Then, apply a single coat of clear nail polish on your nails. Try to keep your stroke as smooth and even as possible. And voila! Your nails are as fresh as dew.

Pampering your hands and feet was never so easy! With these at-home manicures/pedicures, you can now flaunt your beautiful hands and feet.

Are there any other tips and tricks you incorporate while doing manicure and pedicure at home? Share your tips with us in the comments section below.