Home pedicures are a great way to keep your nails and feet healthy without spending money on beauty salons. However, despite its affordability and simplicity, many people make mistakes that can lead to damage to their nails, skin and even infections. Here are 6 common mistakes to avoid when performing pedicures at home. 

In the pursuit of perfectly smooth skin on our heels, many of us over-zealously use a hard pumice stone, damaging the skin. This can lead to even more thickening and roughness. Instead of a pumice stone, it is much more effective to use an abrasive foot file with a soft grit surface. It gently removes rough skin without damaging it and provides gentler and more effective care.

 

Completely removing the cuticle with clippers or manicure scissors can cause it to grow back faster and thicker in the future. In addition, sloppy movements can cause micro-trauma, which increases the risk of infection. The best way to care for cuticles at home is to soften them with a special product (remuver) and gently push them back with an orange stick or poucher. 

 

The use of coarse abrasive nail polishers helps to make the nail surface smooth and shiny, ensuring a perfect application of nail polish. However, if this procedure is used too often, nails may become thinner and more fragile, which increases the risk of damaging them even with minor mechanical impact. Therefore, it is recommended to use hard buffs for nail treatment no more than once a month. 

 

We often use scissors or toothpicks to clean the area under the nail plate. However, these methods can damage the nail plate, which increases the risk of the nail flaking off and fungus forming in these lesions. 

Steaming the skin is a key step in a home pedicure, and it's important to choose the right water temperature for your feet. If the water is too hot, you can damage the skin, provoking cracks and uneven skin peeling. In the worst case, there is a risk of accidentally removing the ‘living’ layer of the epidermis, which instead of soft heels will lead to their dryness and roughness. The ideal temperature for steaming the skin is between 35 and 40 degrees.

 

Often we carefully perform all the steps of pedicure, but forget about moisturising, although it is a very important and final step. Cream should be applied not only on the heels, but also between the toes. If this procedure is neglected, microcracks may appear on the skin, creating a favourable environment for the spread of infections.

 

 

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