Pedicure Tips

The first rule of good grooming is that all dead skin must go. To do this at home, emerge feet in warm water for ten minutes or more. We don't expect you to create the same level of relaxation you'd find at the hands of a professional, but we do have a quick and easy trick for at-home pampering. Simply layer the bottom of a bowl with marbles before adding warm water. Then, massage those tired toes by running your feet over the marbles while they soak.

Be sure to add a deodorizing product to water. At about $2 for 64 ounces, Epsom Salt is a cheap and effective product that soothes aches, removes odors and softens rough skin. Just add 1/2 cup to the bowl of warm water you've prepared. After soaking, buff away dead skin with a foot file or pumice stone.

Next, pat skin dry with a towel and get ready to banish overzealous cuticles. Leave the cutting to the pros; instead, push cuticles back using an orangewood stick, or try Tweezerman's Pushy Cuticle Pusher ($16 at Tweezerman.com). Finish up by applying a rich moisturizer to feet and calves; one to try is Foot Fetish by Ole Henriksen, $28 at Nordstrom.

Finally, for color that lasts, swipe each nail with polish remover before applying a base coat. This will get rid of any traces of moisturizer that would otherwise stick to your nail bed and make it difficult for polish to adhere. Now it's time to pick your color.

At Home: Pedicure Dos and Don't

• Do apply a top coat to nails daily. In just seconds you can prolong that perfectly polished look by as much as five extra days.
• Do opt for a flattering French pedicure, particularly if your feet are not your best feature.
• Don't attempt to cut your cuticles. Leave that to the experts.
• Do push back cuticles with a cuticle pusher after soaking feet in warm water.
• Do add a touch of olive oil to a cotton pad before applying nail polish remover. It's a quick way to protect dry cuticles while banishing old polish.

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