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experiencelifemag.com
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The Joy of the Pedicure
Two common misconceptions about pedicures: They are just for women, and they are all about pretty polish.
By Experience Life Staff |
August 2001 |
The truth is, pedicures are foot care for people who spend time on
their feet (yes, that means everyone), and in essence, they are quite
practical. Soaking, massaging and smoothing all keep your feet looking
healthy and feeling good — a fancy coat of paint is only the crowning (and
optional) touch.
Sweet Relief
If you think about what you put your feet
through in a normal day, and then add to that the extra stress of a
pounding workout (or a slow-moving grocery store line), a little
foot-oriented TLC makes good sense. Don’t your feet deserve to be buffed
back into shape?
Top Minneapolis nail technician Genevieve Hansen notices
a common bond among her regular pedicure clients. “Whether it’s men or
women, they understand the practical benefits of a good pedicure,” Hansen
says. “They also know it’s very pampering.” Once you’ve decided to do
right by your feet, you have two choices: do it yourself or pay a
professional. Of course, each has its benefits.
Touch Your Toes
If you
choose to hold on to your cash and have some alone time with
your tootsies, gather the necessities beforehand: a basin filled with warm
water (add bath salts if desired), a towel, a foot file or pumice stone,
an orangewood stick, a nail clippers, a nail file and foot cream. If
you’re going to paint your nails, you’ll want a foam toe separator, base
coat, color, top coat, Q-tips and polish remover. First, soak your feet
for about five minutes to sanitize and soften them. Then pat dry with the
towel. Use the foot file on any hard skin — probably your heels and your
pinky and big toes — and try to slough in as many different directions as
possible. Next, push back your cuticles with the orange stick. Use the
clippers to cut your toenails straight across, and round the edges with
the nail file. Rinse and dry, then massage foot cream into your feet and
calves. If you’re into polish, maneuver your toes into the foam separator
and apply your base coat. Be sure to apply two coats of polish and a top
coat for true and long-lasting color. Use a Q-tip dipped in polish remover
to erase mistakes. Voila! Seek Professional Help
If you go for the
option of a professional pedicure, plan to sit back, relax and walk away
an hour later feeling like royalty. Word of mouth is the best way to find
a top-notch nail tech, so start by asking around. Some things to look for
include cleanliness, quality products and a pedicurist who
pays extra-special attention to each foot and each nail. Nail pro
Hansen warns that once you realize the benefits of taking care of your
feet, it’s addictive. “My regular clients view pedicures as a necessity,”
she says. “There’s also the psychological thing,” she adds. “There’s just
something about a pedicure.”
Quick Toe Tricks
Genevieve Hanson of LifeSpa in Minneapolis,
Minn., is among the top pedicurists in the Twin Cities. Her clients
include CEOs, professional athletes, celebrities and “a lot of very nice
local people.” Here are Hansen’s top five home foot-care tips:
LOTION
UP: Use a heavy cream that contains fruit acids to keep your feet soft.
Hansen recommends keeping the jar on your nightstand — she knows
you’ll forget otherwise! PARE DOWN: Buy a quality foot file and use it
a couple times a week after your shower or bath. Five minutes a pop should
keep your feet nice and smooth. GET WET: Invest in a foot bath,
preferably one with whirlpool action, to increase your circulation. This
is especially important
if your feet are sore from standing all day or
from a particularly grueling workout. Throw in some bath salts for maximum
benefit. ROLL AROUND: Keep a tennis ball somewhere handy, like under
your desk at work. Take your shoes off and roll the ball with the soles of
your feet to knead out any soreness or kinks. SLIP IN: To good shoes,
that is. Go for good footwear that fits well (no squeezing into too-small
sizes, please!). This rule
goes double for running, aerobics and other
high-impact athletic shoes.
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The Joy of the Pedicure
Two common misconceptions about pedicures: They are just for women, and they are all about pretty polish.
By Experience Life Staff | Renewal Department,
August 2001 |
The truth is, pedicures are foot care for people who spend time on
their feet (yes, that means everyone), and in essence, they are quite
practical. Soaking, massaging and smoothing all keep your feet looking
healthy and feeling good — a fancy coat of paint is only the crowning (and
optional) touch.
Sweet Relief
If you think about what you put your feet
through in a normal day, and then add to that the extra stress of a
pounding workout (or a slow-moving grocery store line), a little
foot-oriented TLC makes good sense. Don’t your feet deserve to be buffed
back into shape?
Top Minneapolis nail technician Genevieve Hansen notices
a common bond among her regular pedicure clients. “Whether it’s men or
women, they understand the practical benefits of a good pedicure,” Hansen
says. “They also know it’s very pampering.” Once you’ve decided to do
right by your feet, you have two choices: do it yourself or pay a
professional. Of course, each has its benefits.
Touch Your Toes
If you
choose to hold on to your cash and have some alone time with
your tootsies, gather the necessities beforehand: a basin filled with warm
water (add bath salts if desired), a towel, a foot file or pumice stone,
an orangewood stick, a nail clippers, a nail file and foot cream. If
you’re going to paint your nails, you’ll want a foam toe separator, base
coat, color, top coat, Q-tips and polish remover. First, soak your feet
for about five minutes to sanitize and soften them. Then pat dry with the
towel. Use the foot file on any hard skin — probably your heels and your
pinky and big toes — and try to slough in as many different directions as
possible. Next, push back your cuticles with the orange stick. Use the
clippers to cut your toenails straight across, and round the edges with
the nail file. Rinse and dry, then massage foot cream into your feet and
calves. If you’re into polish, maneuver your toes into the foam separator
and apply your base coat. Be sure to apply two coats of polish and a top
coat for true and long-lasting color. Use a Q-tip dipped in polish remover
to erase mistakes. Voila! Seek Professional Help
If you go for the
option of a professional pedicure, plan to sit back, relax and walk away
an hour later feeling like royalty. Word of mouth is the best way to find
a top-notch nail tech, so start by asking around. Some things to look for
include cleanliness, quality products and a pedicurist who
pays extra-special attention to each foot and each nail. Nail pro
Hansen warns that once you realize the benefits of taking care of your
feet, it’s addictive. “My regular clients view pedicures as a necessity,”
she says. “There’s also the psychological thing,” she adds. “There’s just
something about a pedicure.”
Quick Toe Tricks
Genevieve Hanson of LifeSpa in Minneapolis,
Minn., is among the top pedicurists in the Twin Cities. Her clients
include CEOs, professional athletes, celebrities and “a lot of very nice
local people.” Here are Hansen’s top five home foot-care tips:
LOTION
UP: Use a heavy cream that contains fruit acids to keep your feet soft.
Hansen recommends keeping the jar on your nightstand — she knows
you’ll forget otherwise! PARE DOWN: Buy a quality foot file and use it
a couple times a week after your shower or bath. Five minutes a pop should
keep your feet nice and smooth. GET WET: Invest in a foot bath,
preferably one with whirlpool action, to increase your circulation. This
is especially important
if your feet are sore from standing all day or
from a particularly grueling workout. Throw in some bath salts for maximum
benefit. ROLL AROUND: Keep a tennis ball somewhere handy, like under
your desk at work. Take your shoes off and roll the ball with the soles of
your feet to knead out any soreness or kinks. SLIP IN: To good shoes,
that is. Go for good footwear that fits well (no squeezing into too-small
sizes, please!). This rule
goes double for running, aerobics and other
high-impact athletic shoes.
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