A Podiatrist's Pedicure You Can Do at Home

Every week in clinic I see what a rushed pedicure leaves behind: nails cut too short, cuticles pushed back, corners dug out. Love your salon? Keep going. This is how I want you to care for your feet between visits, or anytime you'd rather do it yourself.

Before you start

If you have diabetes, poor circulation or numbness in your feet, skip the trimming and filing at home and see a podiatrist for nail care. Everyone else, set aside about 45 minutes.

Step by step

1. Soak. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of RELAX per quart of warm water and soak for 30 minutes. The Epsom salt softens skin and nails, and the 10% undecylenic acid is there for athlete's foot. Dry well afterward, especially between your toes.

2. Trim. Use clean, sharp nail nippers. Cut straight across, following the shape of your toe, and leave a little white at the tip. Cutting too short is the fastest way to an ingrown nail. I walk through this on the Lexington Podiatry YouTube channel if you want to watch it first.

3. Smooth. File any sharp edges with a clean nail file. If a corner is red, swollen or painful, leave it alone and see a podiatrist. Digging it out at home usually makes it worse.

4. Clear the edges. Gently clean along the sides of each nail with the narrow end of your file.

5. Leave the cuticles. Trim only loose, hanging skin. Don't push back or cut the cuticle itself. It seals the nail from bacteria and fungus.

6. REPAIR your nails. Brush REPAIR onto each nail and the skin around it, then massage it in. It's made for thick, discolored-looking nails, and daily use is what counts.

7. HEAL rough spots. Glide HEAL onto heels and calluses. Its 42% urea softens rough, thick skin.

8. Moisturize. Finish with NOURISH over your whole foot, including between your toes.

In between

Repeat the full routine every few weeks. On the days in between, use REPAIR on your nails and HEAL on your heels morning and night. That daily habit is where the real change happens.

Want to try everything in this pedicure? The Complete Mini Set has all six products in one set.