Olivia Van Iderstine is the director of content and community at the buzzy nail brand Olive and June. She says that prep is the most important part of a pedicure in order to make it last and look amazing. “All the behind-the-scenes prep is what really makes the difference,” she says.
So, what are the essentials needed to do the perfect pedicure at home? While you can by kits that contain all of the tools you need for a proper at-home pedi, the general consensus seems to be that a foot file and toe separators are non-negotiable while things like a footrest are handy but more of a nice-to-have.
When it comes to prepping your toes, Van Iderstine recommends skipping a foot soak and opting for a dry pedicure instead. “Start with a foot file to effortlessly remove the dry, tough skin. Next, you’re ready to shape and tackle your cuticles. You want to make your nail plate clean and even so that the polish goes on and stays on,” she says. “We soften the cuticles with a cuticle remover so they are easily pushed back and buffed away—no cuticle cutting! A final swipe of nail polish remover ensures the canvas is ready for polish.”
Sigourney Nuñez, the North America education manager at OPI, prefers to soak her feet ahead of an at-home pedicure since it softens the skin and cuticles and also offers up a nice self-care moment. “I personally like using the OPI Pro Spa Foot Soak (£26), but if you don’t have that, you can sub in a body wash and get things a little bubbly. Once you soak for about five to 10 minutes, then take a scrub and exfoliate the feet to remove the dead skin. I also really love using a pumice stone to really get rid of any stubborn callouses,” she says.
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