The perfect foot care combines a soothing and nourishing break with the professional shortening and shaping of the toenails as well as the removal of calluses, explains our nail expert Stefanie. She has summarized the six steps of perfect foot care for you and gives you valuable tips for beautiful feet.
1. Foot bath:
“I generally start foot care with a pleasant and well-tempered foot bath . “Most customers enjoy a soothing bath after a long day, and they also feel fresh and well-groomed afterwards,” says our nail expert. In winter, the heat of the bath at 35°C (which can slowly be increased to up to 40°C) ensures warm feet, while in summer you can choose slightly cooler temperatures of around 20°C to provide a boost of freshness. If the customer likes it, delicate scents can be used as a bath additive; for example, almond, citrus and floral aromas are suitable. A foot bath is not recommended for people who have circulatory problems, severe high blood pressure, varicose veins and venous thrombosis - this should be inquired about in advance and medical advice should be sought if you are unsure.
2. Remove old nail polish & gel
“After the nail bath, if necessary, I carefully remove the old polish, Shellac or gel. This way the nail is prepared for further work,” says nail designer Stefanie. To remove normal nail polish, she prefers to use acetone-free products so as not to dry out the nail unnecessarily. Stefanie removes gel from her toenails as well as her fingernails and files them carefully.
3. Shape the nail
“In the third step, I shorten the nail. “I use nail pliers to remove larger parts and then work with a file to gently shape the contours and shape,” explains the expert. She then applies a cuticle remover , lets it take effect and pushes back the cuticles. If necessary, she uses a milling cutter for this work. She cleans the nail thoroughly from all sides, cuts off excess skin and removes slightly ingrown edges with a corner lifter (excavator). The expert warns that nails should never be cut too short; this is unpleasant and can promote ingrowing of the nails.
4. Remove calluses
The nail designer then removes excess callus, first with the coarse side of a callus file and then with the fine side. She also treats corns in this treatment step. “If necessary, a callus plane can be used, but this should only be used by trained personnel as it is very sharp and can cause injuries,” explains the nail designer. Extreme calluses that have very deep cracks should be treated by a doctor or trained podiatrist to avoid infections and subsequent damage, the expert advises.
5. Peel & cream
Our nail designer Stefanie uses a gentle peeling to remove dead skin cells and make your feet velvety soft. Once this has been applied and removed again, she then proceeds to a foot massage - with a foot cream adapted to the season and the needs of the respective customer. A paraffin treatment can provide super soft feet and complement foot care.
Natural DIY foot peeling with only 2 ingredients:
Our expert relies on peelings without microplastics and has a simple and quick recipe for a natural DIY foot peeling with just 2 ingredients: You need a neutral oil such as almond oil or olive oil and sugar. Mix the two together until you get a paste that you can use to exfoliate your foot. In contrast to peelings with sea salt, this peeling does not burn the skin and the sugar dissolves without leaving any residue.
6. Paint nails & renew gel
At the end of the foot care, if the customer wishes, a new varnish or a new gel model can be applied after degreasing the nails. In the cool winter months, our nail designer recommends using the time of thick socks and boots to let your toenails regenerate for a while without varnish, gel or acrylic if you take good care of them.
Expert tip:
As a beautician, you should learn about the symptoms and appearance of foot and nail fungus and not treat people with this condition - advise them to see a dermatologist or podiatrist. Severely ingrown nails, festering wounds and warts on the feet also require professional medical treatment.