How to Give Yourself a Pedicure Using Salon Techniques

Co-authored by Kristin Pulaski and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: May 19, 2022 References

Pedicures are a relaxing and rejuvenating way to keep your feet in great shape. While countless salons offer this service, you can save money by giving yourself a pedicure at home. Once you’ve exfoliated away any rough skin and cleaned off the surface of your nails with rubbing alcohol, you’re ready to apply some polish! Start with a clear base coat, followed by 2 layers of colored lacquer. Finish off your salon-quality pedicure with a clear top coat. After letting your polish dry for 1 hour, you’ll be ready to go out and about with refreshed and pampered feet!

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Soaking and Exfoliating Your Feet

1
Remove old polish. Soak a cotton swab or pad with acetone and begin dabbing it over the surface of your nails. Work on each nail individually, swiping over the surface nail repeatedly until all old polish is removed.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Kristin Pulaski
Salon Owner & Nail Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.} If your toenails are bare to start, wipe them down with acetone to remove any excess oil that’s built up on the nail surface.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- If you’d prefer to use a product that doesn’t dry out your skin, try using other vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or other household products. You can also look for a polish remover without acetone.
- You might have to use more than 1 cotton ball or pad to successfully remove all of the old polish.
2
Soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes. First, fill a tub large enough to hold both of your feet with pleasant, warm water. Then, place both of your feet into the tub and make sure they’re submerged completely. Let your feet sit under the water for ten minutes to allow your nails to soften and while you do, enjoy a nice book, magazine, or TV show.
- If you’d like, add a scoop of epsom salt to your basin, stirring until the salt has totally dissolved. This can relieve pain and help you feel even more relaxed.
Advertisement
3
Exfoliate your heels with a large file to remove dead skin. Take a large foot file and rub along the roughest portions of your skin in short, quick motions. Spend extra time on the heels and balls of your feet, and any other place where rough skin cracks occur. Only file 1 foot at a time—feel free to leave your other foot in the soaking basin while you work.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Be patient as you file away at the rough skin. While it may seem more time-consuming, try working on your feet in slow, buffing motions.
- Check your local beauty store for other filing tools. Some brands make filing equipment specifically for pedicures.
- A pumice stone is a great way to keep your feet smooth after the pedicure.^{[4]
  X
  Research source}

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Trimming and Grooming Your Toenails

1
Clip away any dead skin around your toenails. Examine your feet to see if your nails are digging into the skin below. Use a pair of nail clippers to pry off any pieces of overgrown nails and dead skin, which can interfere with your pedicure in the future. Work gently as you remove any large and unwanted pieces of dead skin around the nail.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Make sure that the skin you’re trimming away is dead, and not healthy skin that’s still connected to the toe.
2
Push back your cuticles with an orange stick if they’re too high up. Avoid cutting or trimming your cuticles, as this can invite loads of bad bacteria into your nails.^{[6]
X
Expert Source

Kristin Pulaski
Salon Owner & Nail Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.} Instead, use an orange stick to nudge your cuticles backwards, forcing them against the base of the nail.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Only push back your cuticles after your feet are soaked and the skin is softened.
3
Clip your toenails in a straight line. Use a sanitized pair of clippers to trim your nails in a straight, even line. Don’t cut around the corners, or try to shape your nails into a curve, as this can create ingrown nails later on.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Polish is less likely to chip from nails that are trimmed in a straight line.
4
Wipe off or soak your tools in a disinfectant before storing them. Use disinfectant wipes or a disinfectant solution to clean off your nail clippers, orange stick, and other reusable pedicure tools. Check that the solution kills most common bacteria, including athlete’s foot and staph. Read the label on the disinfectant to see how long it takes for your equipment to be sterilized, and wait for that amount of time.^{[9]
X
Trustworthy Source
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices
Go to source}
- Rubbing alcohol works fine as a disinfectant.
- Always sterilize your nail equipment after using it.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Moisturizing Your Feet

1
Apply a foot mask to soothe and moisturize your feet. Look at your local beauty or drug store to find a foot mask. If your feet are dry, invest in a moisturizing product; if your skin is thick and covered with callouses, opt for peeling mask treatment instead. Rub the product in a thin layer all over your skin, then prop your feet up on a flat surface, like the edge of a bathtub. Keep the mask on for the time recommended by the product’s label.^{[10]
X
Research source}

Tip: If you’re worried that your skin might be sensitive to the foot mask, test a small amount of the product on a small area of your foot ahead of time to ensure that you aren’t sensitive or allergic to the ingredients.
2
Rinse the mask off your feet by soaking them in the salt bath for 10 minutes. Place both feet in the basin to remove the thin layer of mask product. Swirl your feet around in the tub, letting the salt soak rinse the mask away. During this time, feel free to sit back with a book, magazine, or some other relaxing activity.
3
Dry off your feet with a clean towel. Remove both feet from the salt soak and surround them with a clean, fluffy towel. Next, focus on blotting away any water dripping from your feet. Continue towel drying, working the towel in between your toes to get rid of any excess moisture. You can set the towel aside once your feet feel dry to the touch.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- If you don’t have a towel on hand, feel free to use a wash rag or paper towel instead.
4
Rub lotion around your feet and toes to lock in moisture. Take a coin-sized amount of moisturizing lotion and rub into your fingertips. Use your fingers to massage the lotion all over your feet, working over the top and bottom of each foot. Continue working the lotion between your toes, and on the base of your nails.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- For a full pedicure experience, rub lotion over your ankles and lower calves as well.
- Use a lotion that works best for your skin type. For instance, if your feet are especially dry, look for a lotion that’s moisturizing.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Applying Nail Polish

1
Clean off the nail surface with a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol. Soak the tip of a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol, then rub it along the surface of each individual toenail. Don’t worry about scrubbing the nail—just focus on cleaning off any excess oils or product that may have stuck to the nail during the bath soak. Wait a minute or so for the alcohol to dry off before you continue.^{[13]
X
Research source}
2
Place a separator tool between your toes. Take each individual toe and rest it in a single groove of the toe separator. If you aren’t experienced with applying toenail polish, use this tool to keep your toes apart while you apply the clear and colored lacquer.^{[14]
X
Research source}
- If you’re experienced with nail polish, feel free to disregard this.
3
Spread a layer of clear base coat over your toenails. Take the polish applicator and rub a strengthening layer of base coat on each individual nail. Start on your big toe and work outwards, painting in the same order that you plan to paint your toes. Wait 3-5 minutes for the base coat to dry, or however much time is specified on the bottle.^{[15]
X
Research source}
- Base coats prevent the polish from staining your base nail later on.
- If you prefer to use dark nail polish shades, base coats can keep your nails from looking yellowed.
- While you’re shopping at your local beauty supply shop or drugstore, look for a base coat formula that’s labeled as moisturizing.
4
Paint on 1 coat of colored polish over the base coat. Dip the polish brush into the bottle slightly, then place the brush in the center of your nail. Let the polish pool over the surface of the nail, then use the brush to nudge the polish to the left and right.^{[16]
X
Expert Source

Kristin Pulaski
Salon Owner & Nail Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.} Don’t excessively brush over the product, as this can make your polish look bumpy and unprofessional.^{[17]
X
Research source}
- Ideally, you only need to use 3 swipes of your polish brush to apply a single coat of polish.
5
Wait 2 minutes for the first layer of polish to dry. Let the base color layer dry before you add a second layer. Don’t wave your toes around to speed up the drying process, as this can cause the wet polish to smudge or warp. Instead, leave your toes flat, so the polish can dry evenly.^{[18]
X
Research source}
- While it may be tempting to only apply 1 coat of colored polish, the second coat can make the color of your pedicure look bolder and more striking.^{[19]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Kristin Pulaski
  Salon Owner & Nail Specialist
  Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.}
6
Add a second coat of colored polish to your toenails and let it dry. Take your applicator and spread on another layer of the same colored lacquer. Work the polish over the nail in 3 strokes again, letting the product naturally spread over each nail. Once you’ve applied the second coat, rest your feet on a flat surface and wait at least 2 minutes for the polish to dry.^{[20]
X
Research source}
- Check the label on your bottle for exact drying instructions. Some formulas might dry faster than others.
7
Protect your nails with a quick-drying top coat. Finish off your pedicure with a thin swipe of top coat polish. Work the clear lacquer over each nail, using just 3 strokes to spread the polish along the surface. Wait 1 hour for the polish to completely dry, so it doesn’t smudge when you go outside.^{[21]
X
Research source}
- Don’t skip this step! A top coat helps your pedicure last longer, without chips and nicks in the surface.
8
Spread cuticle oil over your toe cuticles after the polish dries. Take the brush applicator and spread a liberal amount of oil along the curves of your cuticles. If you apply too much, use a paper towel to blot up any obvious excess. Let the oil soak in—you don’t need to wipe it off.^{[22]
X
Research source}
- Always apply cuticle oil at the end of your pedicure. If you apply it early on in the process, your polish might not stick to your nails as well.

Community Q&A

Question

What if I don't have moisturizer?

Community Answer

You can use lots of different things. Lotion, olive oil, vitamin E, and coconut oil all work great. Even if you don't use any of these, you can still give yourself a pedicure.
Question

How do I paint my nails really neatly?

Community Answer

Apply some masking tape or painter's tape around the edge of your nails. Then take the color of your choice and paint. It is okay to get some paint on the tape. When you are finished, apply a top coat. Wait for it to dry, then peel off the tape.
Question

My toenails are really thick. Can I still get a pedicure?

Lexi tav

Community Answer

Thickness shouldn't affect the pedicure. You will probably be fine, although clipping them may be harder.