How to Use Pedicure Tools Like a Pro

Co-authored by Marta Nagorska and Amber Crain

Last Updated: October 29, 2022 References

If you want to give yourself a spa-worthy pedicure at home using professional tools in a pedicure kit, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll walk you through the pedicure process from start to finish, explaining each special tool along the way so you'll know exactly when and how to use it. If you’re ready to get started, scroll down for our complete guide!

1

Use nail polish remover to get rid of old polish.

Remove the old polish so you can start with a clean slate. Soak a cotton ball in 100% acetone nail polish remover. Then, swipe the cotton ball over each toenail until the nail polish is completely gone.^{[1]
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2

Soak your feet in warm water for 5-10 minutes.

Use a tub big enough to accommodate both feet. Soaking your feet in warm water softens the skin and nails so that they’re easier to groom. Just fill a small, clean tub or bucket with a few inches of warm water and slip your feet in.^{[2]
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- Pro tip: add a little scented body wash or Epsom salt to the water for a more spa-like experience.

3

Use a foot brush to wash your feet.

Scrub the bottoms and tops of your feet, as well as between your toes. The foot brush is the bristled tool in your pedicure kit. Use a gentle, circular motion to scrub your feet so you get them nice and clean. You can apply a little soap to the brush if you like.
- Instead of a brush, your kit may come with a foam foot buffer that’s more like a rough sponge. You can use it the same way you would a foot brush.^{[3]
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- To keep your brush clean and sanitary, rinse it under warm running water after you're finishing using it. Then, soak it in rubbing alcohol overnight to disinfect it.

4

Exfoliate your feet with a foot scrub.

Apply the scrub to each foot individually and massage your skin. The foot scrub will slough away rough, dead skin and help your feet feel baby soft. Be thorough—massage the scrub on the top and bottom of each foot as well in between your toes. Dunk your feet in the tub to rinse off the scrub.^{[4]
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5

Rub rough spots with a pumice stone.

Use a pumice stone to smooth rough skin and calluses. The pumice stone is the rough black or gray stone in your kit (your kit may have a paddle-shaped foot file with a rough black side; that’s pumice stone). Use a gentle circular motion to scrub tough areas like your heels, the sides of your big toes, and the balls of your feet.^{[5]
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- If you have any calluses, gently work on them with the foot file or pumice stone. Avoid rubbing too hard, since you don’t want to break the skin! Aim to smooth the skin (rather than trying to fully remove the callus).

6

Use the callus shaver on thick calluses.

The callus shaver is very sharp, so handle it with care. Callus shavers (sometimes called corn planes) allow you to slice through the thickened skin to remove a corn or callus. The tool's handle looks similar to a spoon or fork, with a stainless steel double-sided blade on the other end. Place the blade flat against your skin and gently swipe the tool over the callused area without applying any pressure. The blade will grab the top layer of skin and remove it.^{[6]
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- Go slow and be gentle if you decide to use this tool. When used correctly, you shouldn't experience any discomfort, pain, or bleeding.
- Avoid using this tool on minor calluses. Save it for tough calluses or corns that don't get any better after you use a pumice stone or foot file.

7

Rinse off your feet.

Give your feet one last dunk in the tub of warm water to rinse them. If your tub water is pretty dirty, move to the bath tub and give your feet a quick rinse under the tap. Then, place your feet on top of a clean towel and gently dry the skin.

8

Push back cuticles with an orange stick.

The orange stick is a thin wooden or plastic stick with a pointy end. Since the warm water soak softened up your cuticles, you only need to use a gentle pushing motion with the pointed end of the stick to push each cuticle back from the toenail.^{[7]
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- Pushing back your cuticles is safer than cutting them (cutting can lead to infections). It also enhances the appearance of the nail beds so your toes look well-groomed.
- If your kit came with a cuticle cutter or nipper, you can use the tool to safely trim any hangnails you have.
- If your cuticles feel dry, rub a small amount of cuticle oil into them.

9

Trim your toenails straight across.

Use a straight edged pair of toenail clippers for the best results. Trimming straight across helps to prevent ingrown toenails. Try to trim your toenails about even with the skin at the tips of your toes. Avoid trimming lower than that, since this can be painful and cause bleeding.^{[8]
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- If your toenails are already trimmed short, you can skip this step.

10

File your toenails into oval or square shapes.

Use a toe nail file to even out the edges and shape them. Use swift movements in one direction as you’re filing; avoid filing back and forth. It’s also important to hold the file flat against the nail, not at an angle (filing at an angle can weaken your nails).
- It’s totally up to you whether you want rounded toenails or a more squared look!^{[9]
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- Avoid rounding out your toenails too much. Try to keep the edges of your toenails above the level of the skin to prevent ingrown toenails.^{[10]
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11

Buff the tops of your toenails.

Using the nail buffer block helps even out the surface of your toenails. Use swift, gentle strokes along the tops of your nails to buff and smooth them out.^{[11]
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- Avoid buffing your toenails more than once a week, since buffing too often can weaken your nails.

12

Moisturize your feet.

Massage your favorite lotion or foot moisturizer into your skin. Pay special attention to any areas that were really dry or cracked before your pedicure, like your heels. Be sure to massage in between your toes, as well! Just try to avoid getting lotion on your toenails since you’re about to paint them.^{[12]
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13

Apply your chosen nail polish.

Use the foam toe separator to keep your toes apart while you paint. The foam is super soft, so just wedge it in between your toes. Apply your favorite nail polish and keep your toe separator in place until the polish is dry, which usually takes 10-15 minutes.^{[13]
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- To speed things up, apply a quick-drying top coat over your polish. After about 60 seconds, you can remove the toe separator.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can you safely use a foot file at home?

Marta Nagorska
Nail Artist
Marta Nagorska is a Nail Technician and Nail Art Blogger based in London, UK. She runs the blog, Furious Filer, where she gives tutorials on nail care and advanced nail art. She has been practicing nail art for over 5 years and graduated from Northampton College with distinction with a Nail Technician and Manicurist degree in 2017. She has been awarded the top spot in the OPI Nail Art Competition.

Marta Nagorska

Nail Artist

Expert Answer

Don't apply too much pressure—foot files are very sharp, and can cause painful abrasions if too much pressure is applied when using them. Keep checking after every few swipes to see whether more dry skin needs to be removed.
Question

What products can I use during a pedicure?

Marta Nagorska
Nail Artist
Marta Nagorska is a Nail Technician and Nail Art Blogger based in London, UK. She runs the blog, Furious Filer, where she gives tutorials on nail care and advanced nail art. She has been practicing nail art for over 5 years and graduated from Northampton College with distinction with a Nail Technician and Manicurist degree in 2017. She has been awarded the top spot in the OPI Nail Art Competition.

Marta Nagorska

Nail Artist

Expert Answer

Foot scrubs are a great way to exfoliate the skin on your feet, and a foot cream will keep your feet soft in between pedicures.
Question

Should I throw my foot buffer away or disinfect and reuse it?

Queen Bing

Community Answer

Personally, I would throw it away and buy a new one, it would be a lot quicker and less of a hassle than disinfecting.