Home Pedicures, Tips

Don't even think about going to a beach party or wearing those sexy, strappy sandals without properly groomed toenails. If you're baring them, they're going to be noticed -- so give them some attention and make them feminine and flirty.

Conservative or trendy, we've got some quick tips for home pedicures to make even the dullest toenails look hot and professional! It doesn't take long if you learn the basic routine, then you can modify it however you like. Let's take it step-by-step...

Prepare Your Toenails

Before you begin a home pedicure, you need to remove your old nail polish with polish remover using a cotton ball or swab. Swipe around the edges to ensure the polish is removed completely.

Use clean fingernail clippers to trim your nails straight across. Don't cut them too short, you can then use an emery board or fingernail file to shape your toenails exactly how you want and remove any sharp edges.

Cuticles

Soak your toes in a basin of warm water (with salts if desired) for about 5-10 minutes to clean your toenails and soften up your cuticles. Cuticle cream or lotion can also help soften your cuticles if you plan on trimming away any access. If you want to push back your cuticles, use an orangewood stick to loosen them and press gently back so they don't cover your nail.

Painting Your Toenails

You can paint your toenails as you would your fingernails, but you need to keep your toes separated so they don't rub each other. Generally, applying two coats of polish is ideal, allowing them to dry in between.

To add some staying power, apply a clear topcoat and let it dry too before you put any shoes or socks on. For quick touch-ups to your pedicure, you can apply another coat of the same color polish. Don't get too many layers or they'll chip off more easily.

Decorating

If you want to add some nail decals, do this right before your topcoat. If you don't have a topcoat, apply a layer of clear fingernail polish over your decorations so they stay put.