Nails are not just a part of our body, but a truly unique natural gift. They perform a large number of very functions - for example, protecting the fingertips from injury. Due to such strong protection, delicate fingertips remain safe and sound. In addition, nails actively participate in our life, although sometimes we don’t even notice it. And for the fair half of humanity, this is a luxurious natural decoration, the appearance of which can be changed to suit your taste.
It is very important and not at all difficult to at least trim your toenails correctly so that they look beautiful and well-groomed. Especially in the summer when everyone wears open shoes. Uncut nails can cause a lot of inconvenience, and in a year they can grow up to ten centimeters. Therefore, they have to be cut off periodically. The general condition, appearance of the nail plate, the rate of their growth - all this depends on the cutting technology. Below is a short instruction on how to properly do a pedicure.
How to prepare for a pedicure
You can trim the overgrown nail plate with scissors or tweezers; it is recommended to treat them with an antiseptic. It is very important to wash your feet in warm water before starting a pedicure.
It would not be superfluous and even very useful to make a bath of herbal tea or sea salt and hold your feet there for a quarter of an hour. This will help soften the nail plate a little and make the process easier.
All about caring for your feet: pedicure
Content
A woman, when caring for herself, must pay attention to every little detail in her image. Nails should be well-groomed not only on the hands, but also on the feet. Therefore, it is important to get pedicures periodically.
Pedicure – what is it?
The word has its roots in French. The literal translation means “foot care.”
The result of “taking care” of your toes means well-groomed and beautiful feet. To achieve this, a set of health improvement measures is being carried out. There are important biologically active points on the surface of the feet. During the formation of a rough layer of the epidermis, these points cease to function correctly. So, this kind of treatment allows you to remove rough areas that interfere with the stimulation of these areas of the body. This process also includes an energy massage, after which important points begin their work. Therefore, after taking the steps, women feel a certain lift in mood and a surge of strength.
Popular nail shapes
Each person is individual, this applies to fingers and nails. Main types:
- The oval shape is classic and one of the most common. The nail is a continuation of the line along which the cuticle grows, and it is elongated. Usually the oval type is done on the hands.
- The pointed type is the most complex and very difficult to care for. As a result, women rarely make this shape.
- Rectangular look - the top line of the nails will be straight. This look is also more characteristic of the hands.
- Round type - all lines will be smooth, smooth and rounded.
- Square is similar to rectangular. There is only one difference: its length will be shorter. The square shape is now considered the most common.
Types and shapes of toenails
To achieve a beautiful look, you need to know how to cut your nails correctly. To do this, take a warm bath with the addition of sea salt. The legs are lowered into it for 5-10 minutes. After this, wipe your feet dry with a towel. Now use scissors to cut the nail plate in a straight line, without making any curves. Otherwise, ingrowth will occur.
How to care for your nails yourself?
Every second girl takes care of her feet at home without outside help. In order for the effect to be as good as possible, it is important to adhere to the main points.
- Organize proper nutrition. Otherwise, the marigolds will begin to turn yellow. Yellowness can also appear from too frequent use of varnish. Lemon juice is a surefire remedy in the fight against yellow plaque. The juice just needs to be rubbed into the nail plate.
- When cutting, make the length such that there is a couple of millimeters left to the very edge of the finger.
- Any procedure is carried out only using instruments that have been pre-treated with disinfectants.
- Daily care is the key to beautiful legs. It is necessary to wash with soap or gel. After this, carefully wipe the spaces between the fingers with a towel.
- Every evening after washing, use a cream that will nourish the skin on your feet and legs in general.
- Massage is a process that is carried out a couple of times a week. A special floor massager with rollers will help with this.
It’s worth mentioning about shoes. It should be as convenient and high quality as possible. Calluses, corns, damage to the nail plate - all this appears due to wearing bad shoes. If your shoes, boots, or boots do not have an orthopedic insole, then you should buy one. Feet should take a break from shoes with heels and platforms 2 times a week.
Main types of pedicure
No matter what beauty salon a woman goes to, she will be offered several treatment options. Each of them differs in price, duration of the process, and method of treating nails and feet. Therefore, it is important to know what types exist and the main differences.
The classical method is considered the oldest according to the date of its foundation. The second name is “edged”. For more than a hundred years, women have been using this method to care for their feet.
The edged look has been constantly improved over the course of a long time. As a result, at the moment there are features characteristic only of it:
- before starting, the feet are well steamed in special baths with the addition of mild soap or sea salt;
- Only cutting instruments are used to remove cuticles or keratinized areas of the skin of the feet.
To soften the epidermis, use a cream that is applied to the legs. Scissors are used to shape the length and shape of the nails. Moreover, the nail plate is cut only when dry. And after these operations they begin to steam in the bath. 15 minutes after steaming, clean your feet with pumice stone. Then they remove cuticles and wash their feet with water. On average, the entire session takes about 50 minutes. As a result, the effect lasts quite a long time. Usually the procedure is carried out once every 4 weeks. There is one significant drawback: if you cut yourself during the process, an infection will enter the body. And in this case it is very easy to cut yourself. Most often, only an experienced specialist can do everything efficiently.
The European method was previously considered a subtype of the classical one. But at present it is an independent unit. Some of its features should be mentioned:
- There is no need to carry out baths to steam your feet, all manipulations are done “dry”, and no pain occurs;
- the nail plate is removed in stages, first applying a softening agent that can stop its growth;
- it is also eliminated by moving it away using a special stick, i.e. it is not cut off, as in the classic form;
- if the epidermis is keratinized, then you can use scrapers and graters, which are quite effective.
To carefully remove pterygium from a nail, it is necessary to carry out about 10 pedicure procedures; this cannot be done in one procedure.
The advantages of this type are painlessness and absence of infection. The effect of the course of procedures lasts for quite a long time. If the plates are very neglected in terms of care, then the European type of installation may not help.
Hardware pedicure has been around for about 40 years. The procedure is carried out using a special apparatus, and not manually, as is the case with the classic and European ones. Mills are attachments that fit onto a pedicure device. The attachments allow you to:
- carefully remove the cuticle;
- give your nails a beautiful shape;
- sand the surface;
- remove the keratinized layers that have formed on the feet.
Proven products are used to soften the skin, and there are practically no side effects. It is impossible to introduce an infection into the body. Using the device, rough areas are removed without affecting the healthy epidermis. The heels will remain soft and tender for a long time.
SPA pedicure is considered the most expensive procedure. In order for a person to completely relax, pleasant music will be played in the salon, and the air will be filled with various incense. No cutting objects or various devices with attachments. All products are developed specifically for feet. Cosmetics include creams and lotions made from sea salt and medicinal mud. The composition may also include various concentrates made from seaweed. Sea serum is used to soften and remove calluses and rough areas of skin. As a result, this serum does not corrode the epidermis, but simply removes the layer that has already become dead. Scrubs are applied for the peeling procedure. Special masks and lotions moisturize the skin. And the cucumber lotion adds freshness. You need to spend 1.5 hours on the process.
Feet will retain their beauty for a long time, often the result can be visible within 1 month. This process allows you to relax not only your legs, but your whole body. There is no risk of infection. It is very important to choose a salon where there is a specialist who will carry out the entire process efficiently.
Japanese pedicure will rejuvenate the epithelium on the legs. In this method, the feet must be treated with an antiseptic. The cuticle is then moved to the center of each nail using a special tachibana stick. Next, the skin is moisturized with cucumber extract. The nail plate is treated with products that contain minerals. A scrub is applied to the foot, and the feet are placed in an aromatic bath. The nails are polished using a rice block to achieve the desired size. Lotus oil will help stop cuticle growth. Powder with beeswax is applied to the fingers. The skin of your feet will look young after applying citrus essential oil. Final stage: herbal masks, foot massage.
Permanent pedicure is the youngest way to care for your feet. Unlike previous methods, this method is aimed at making your nails look perfect. This procedure helps to completely degrease and disinfect the nails and remove the cuticle. Full grinding, polishing and filing are carried out. Nail plates become refined and well-groomed. It is best to have a permanent manicure before you are going on vacation to the sea.
How to do a pedicure at home?
The process is carried out at home independently without the use of any special devices used by specialists in beauty salons. Detailed instructions will help you carry out the process correctly.
- Preparatory stage - first of all, it is important to remove all remnants of varnish from the surface of the nail plates. Tools for further actions must be purchased in advance. File - it should not be made of metal, because this material spoils the structure of the plate. The best option is a glass nail file. Such a tool will not be able to damage them, in addition, the glass nail file will last a long time. It is necessary to file the nail plates strictly in one direction in a straight line, otherwise ingrown nails may occur. It is quite difficult to combat this disease in its advanced form on your own.
- Polishing - a polishing file is exactly the tool that will come in handy at this stage. One side of the file is rough, which allows you to eliminate small irregularities and varnish residues. After this, use the other side of the instrument, which is softer. The nails will become shiny and smooth.
- Bath - this stage is important, because it helps to steam your feet well. As a result, the skin becomes soft, which makes it easy to carry out further actions. But if you choose a certain type of bath, you can achieve other beneficial effects.
[disclaim]- Preparing a toning bath is not difficult. Add sea salt and peppermint oil to warm water. Instead of oil, you can take dried mint. — A bath with an antibacterial effect helps those people who suffer from fungus or have suffered from this form of the disease. It can also be used as a preventive measure. Add 5 tablespoons of soda to a bowl of water. Unnecessary bacteria will disappear very quickly, and the smell of your feet will also disappear. — For dry skin types, a relaxing bath will be a great help. It is also useful for those who often wear narrow shoes. Tincture of calendula or chamomile is added to the water. The skin of your feet will be disinfected and well moisturized.
— The health bath contains the main component in the form of sea salt. You need to add a tablespoon of salt to the water. The skin will become softer and disinfected. A similar process is recommended for those whose feet have become very rough, and also if many small cracks have appeared.
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Cutting toenails
The nail plate is renewed approximately every three to six months, depending on the growth rate. If you cut them often enough, there is nothing to worry about. But if you feel pain in your fingers, most likely the plates are starting to grow into the skin. This means you need to get a pedicure as soon as possible.
- Trim the free edge of the nail plate. Try to cut each nail straight and round. This is a surefire way to avoid ingrown hairs. It's worth noting that the plate is denser on the legs, so it's important to make sure you have the right tools. It is correct to do manicures and pedicures with different tools, or to disinfect them to prevent the transmission of bacteria or even fungus.
- Try not to trim too much fabric. If you cut too deeply, you may scratch the sensitive skin beneath the surface, which will significantly increase the risk of infection. It would be correct to leave at least a couple of millimeters of the tip of the plate.
- File your nails after trimming. It is worth noting that this is an optional step, but it will help create the correct shape. During cutting, uneven edges may remain, which it would be better to remove so that they do not cling to clothing. You need to saw with smooth movements, trying not to press hard, moving from the edge of the finger to its middle. To smooth the edges, use the softer side of the file. Excessive filing will weaken the plate, giving it an oval shape will help protect it from cracking.
Before filing your nails, be sure to let them dry completely. If you start sawing the plate while it is still soft, it may cause delamination.
How to make “square” nails? Let's talk about the “whims” of the “square”
Let's start with the fact that “square” is not suitable for everyone. “Square” fits perfectly on plates, which naturally have a long oblong bed. In addition, you will “need” the long fingers of a “pianist”. But here is a much more extensive list of those for whom this form is contraindicated:
Photo from the site: manikurpro.ru
- “Square” is strictly contraindicated for owners of wide nails with a short nail bed. It will visually make such nails even wider and shorter.
- Trapezoidal plates are also prohibited. A narrow base at the nail, widening towards the tip and ending in an exorbitant square will look like an open fan. Such nails will look quite strange.
- Owners of very narrow nail plates should not dream of a “square”, simply because on them it will not look like itself, but rather like an angular modification of the “almond”.
- A wide palm with short fingers, even if it has plates of a suitable shape, is also the basis for classifying it as a contraindication for the “square” shape.
- It is quite problematic to create a “square” on weak and thin plates. As a rule, such nails begin to curl and deform as they grow, leaving no hint of their former geometry.
On a note
Paradoxically, “square” is one of the easiest nail shapes to create, but at the same time it is considered one of the most problematic in terms of operation. The sharp corners of the “square” often break and chip. Many manicurists prefer to create this shape exclusively using artificial materials. However, if you are against artificial nails, you can strengthen your plates with a special strengthening agent, which is used instead of a base layer. Another option is to strengthen the plates with acrylic powder.
But don’t be upset if your nails are on the “forbidden list” according to one of the parameters. Fortunately, the “square” has many modifications that are more loyal to the individual characteristics of each fashionista. For example, it is worth paying attention to “soft square”, “rectangle” and “oval square”. In addition, with proper design, the “square” will look quite harmonious on fingers that are included in the “forbidden list”. But more on this a little later, but for now let’s look at how to make square nails at home, without resorting to the services of specialists.
Ingrown toenail problem
One of the aesthetic problems that people often have to deal with is an ingrown nail, when the edges of the nail plate grow into the sides of the bed. This defect occurs when the pedicure technique is performed incorrectly, due to fungus or tight shoes.
At first, the situation may not bother you, but over time the person begins to feel changes - inflammation of the finger, pain when walking, swelling and even the formation of pus. The finger begins to deform and swell, which creates additional inconvenience when wearing closed shoes.
If you have encountered such a problem, keep in mind that the sooner you start treatment, the easier and more painless it will be to deal with it. While the situation has not yet become critical, you can resolve everything on your own.
A useful remedy is foot baths. You need to add furatsilin (one tablet per liter) or a tablespoon of soda or salt to the water. Steam your legs, and then try to carefully cut off the ingrown edges.
If suppuration begins, before going to bed, treat the inflamed skin with hydrogen peroxide, then anoint with Levomekol or Syntimycin ointment, and wrap with polyethylene. In the morning, try to carefully remove the ingrown toenail from your finger. To make this as safe and painless as possible, first thoroughly steam your feet in hot water. Then use a nail file or an orange stick to carefully pry up the ingrown tip, pull it out, file or trim it.
Before you begin removing the ingrown plate, be sure to treat the instrument with an antiseptic. Lubricate the wounded area of the finger with brilliant green, iodine or healing ointment to prevent possible infection.
If the case is completely advanced and you were unable to solve the problem on your own - for example, your finger began to bleed or there was too much pus - you can only cure the injured finger after going to the hospital. A good, but rather expensive method of treatment is laser. Its targeted effect does not cause any harm to either the nail or the finger itself.
Video tutorial – “How to make square nails”
The work on creating a manicure is quite painstaking, and in order to somehow optimize this process, each master, based on long searches, trial and error, eventually creates his own individual style of execution. Naturally, creating the “square” shape contains unshakable rules, but each master has his own techniques and subtleties of its creation. Especially for those who are trying to master the art of creating a “square” shape, “Ideal Manicure” has prepared a training video that will help consolidate the acquired knowledge in a visual form.
Watch, study, and then put into practice. Perhaps, over time, you will create your own, different from the rest, technique for creating beautiful nails, but for now, a video tutorial on how to properly file square-shaped nails.
Choosing a beautiful shape
Basic shapes that will make your toenails more aesthetically pleasing and well-groomed:
- Square - short length and even cut with straight corners, the most popular among the rest.
- The circle is short in length, the edges are smooth, softly rounded.
- Oval - resembles a circle, but the plate is longer, with rounded edges.
- Rectangle - the shape is similar to a square, has the same cut at a right angle, but the length is slightly longer.
- The triangle is the rarest shape that can be found in pedicures, and it is also the most complex in terms of technique.
How to paint your nails with regular polish
Paint your nails with a base
Brightly colored polishes will stain your nails, so apply a clear base coat before topping them off with Clockwork Orange. Otherwise, the pleasure from a bright manicure will last for three days, and the bright color will be absorbed into the nail for a long time.
Paint your nails, but give them breaks.
It’s better, of course, to go without polish at all - this way it’s easier to notice any changes on your nails and show them to a specialist. But if you like to paint your nails, then give them a rest at least from time to time.
Dermatologists advise giving your nails a vacation for at least a week, preferably a month. The advice applies to both regular and gel polish. In both cases, the nail becomes trapped under a layer of varnish and does not receive the proper amount of moisture. This can thin it and even destroy it. Toenails have better luck - in winter they are most often left alone and hidden under socks, which is only good for them.
What to do to straighten your nails
Not every man or woman can boast of a perfectly even and smooth nail plate. This may primarily be due to the fact that the body lacks vitamins or other beneficial substances. Many people, especially girls who often do pedicures, eliminate this aesthetic defect by grinding and polishing. But there are more useful and safer methods that will not thin and weaken the nail plate.
The most popular option is a homemade bath with sea salt and vegetable oil. Add a solution of sea salt to the oil heated to forty degrees. Dip your toes into the resulting liquid and leave for about half an hour. Then put on socks, after two hours, wash off the remaining oil from the skin. Regular use of such a bath is guaranteed to relieve you of the problem.
You can also remove ribbing, roughness and other irregularities from the surface using gelatin baths. To prepare it, you will need a tablespoon of gelatin, which must be dissolved in a couple of glasses of boiling water. You need to immerse your feet in the resulting solution (when it has cooled to a comfortable temperature) for half an hour. Then rinse your feet in warm water and lubricate with nourishing cream.
What are the benefits of square nails?
- Versatility . Square nails will decorate almost any fingers and will be appropriate at home, at work, and at special occasions. They look neat and at the same time impressive and elegant
- Convenience . The square shape for nails is the most practical. Trimmed in this way, they are less likely to break and look natural and healthy. For a housewife busy with household chores and a young mother caring for a baby, a square manicure is the only worthy alternative to radical nail trimming
- Health . Nail plates cut into squares do not delaminate and become stronger. We can recommend a similar manicure as a remedy for fragile, brittle nails
- Style . Choosing a design for square nails is very simple. Any nail art will look great on nails of this shape. In addition, the safety of manicure is much higher
- Simplicity . To make a neat square trim of your nails, there is no need to run to a beauty salon; you can do it yourself
What to pay attention to
If you follow these tips, you can maintain the beauty and health of your fingernails and toenails for a long time:
- Get rid of the habit of biting your nails if you have one. This can lead to ingrown toenails, which not only look terrible, but are also painful.
- Don't cut the cuticle too deep. It is easy to hurt, then it will start to bleed.
- Don't try to cut the plate in a hurry. You may cut too deep or touch the delicate skin of the nail bed.
- Before starting a pedicure, it is advisable to wipe the tools with an antiseptic or soak them in soapy water for ten minutes.
How to understand that something is wrong with your nails
Nail care also means carefully monitoring their condition. If your nails become brittle, turn white or black, or the surrounding skin becomes red and painful, be sure to consult a dermatologist.
There are so many reasons why this happened that it’s impossible to find it on your own. And even if it seems that you have fungus on your nails and you urgently need to run to the pharmacy for ointment or tablets for it, don’t rush. Talk to your doctor first, then start treatment. Any medicine, even in the form of a harmless ointment, can do no good.
But there are also harmless changes on the nails. For example, white dots. Most often their presence means nothing. This is your specialty and nothing more.