What is a pedicure and what does it include?

What is a hardware pedicure

Until recently, classic pedicure occupied the first place among foot care procedures. It was performed by a master using water foot baths, saws, graters, nippers and other tools. But, most importantly, manually.

However, progress does not stand still. Today this place is occupied by a new procedure. Let's try to figure out what it is - a hardware pedicure, how it differs from a classic one and what its advantages are.

The main difference between this procedure and a classic pedicure is the tools used.

For hardware pedicure, a special milling machine is used with a variety of attachments and the ability to regulate the power and rotation speed of the cutter.

Nozzles can be disposable or stone, reusable.

The small size of the nozzles and their different grain sizes allows an experienced craftsman to perform truly jewelry work. In addition, this is not only a cosmetic procedure, but also a medical one. With its help you can solve foot health problems.

This procedure appeared in Germany, but quickly spread first across Europe and then throughout the world. Including in Russia. Today, the service of hardware pedicure in Moscow is available in almost every salon, except for very small ones.

Which pedicure to choose?

What kind of pedicure is still worth getting? The procedure must be carried out according to indications; a recommendation on the technique will definitely be given by a podiatrist.

Subtleties of choice:

• If you have diabetes, cracked heels, or calluses, a medical pedicure is recommended. Visible therapeutic effect immediately after the session.
• Well-groomed feet can be maintained with hardware and acid pedicures.
• Do you want a pedicure with the effect of relaxation? Your choice is SPA!

…

Benefits of a pedicure at a beauty center:

• Some types of pedicure at home are not available, since they require experience, professional supplies and equipment.
• Salons and beauty centers use premium tools and preparations that are impossible or unprofitable to buy on your own.
• The master is attentive to the client’s safety and provides him with maximum comfort!
• You can relax, take a break from everyday worries.
• Podologist consultation.
• The feet look perfect: smooth skin, soft heels, beautiful nail design.

A procedure performed by a professional is a guarantee of excellent results, good mood, healthy and beautiful feet!

What kind of cutters are used?

Spa pedicure

To carry out this procedure, pedicurists use all kinds of scrubs, peelings, lotions, masks and other cosmetics containing a complex of useful components:

Spa pedicure takes place in several stages:

1. Steam your feet in a bath or using socks with a special lotion.
2. Peeling is done with natural-based scrubs.
3. Massage your feet.
4. Apply products that nourish, moisturize, rejuvenate and heal the skin of the feet.

Spa pedicure gives your feet a well-groomed and healthy look, allows you to relax, relieve fatigue and enjoy peace. Many spas and beauty studios offer it, but the cost of 1 session is high compared to other types of pedicure. This method of foot care is not suitable for people with problem skin, fungal infections of the skin and nail plates, or ingrown nails.

Pros and cons of hardware pedicure

Like any phenomenon, hardware pedicure has its pros and cons. And it is in them that one should look for the reason for the growing popularity of this method of caring for the skin of the feet.

Its main advantages are:

Hardware pedicure does an excellent job of removing corns. If you do a classic pedicure, you damage the living layers of the skin. In a week, the corns will return, which cannot be said about hardware treatment.

Beautician Sean Patel

As you can see, the advantages of the hardware procedure are obvious. However, do not forget that any coin has a reverse side. Hardware pedicure also has its disadvantages. These include:

1. High price. Compared to the classical method, hardware pedicure is much more expensive. In addition, along with the complexity of processing, the price may rise.
2. Systematicity. If the skin of the feet is in a disrepair or there are such nuances as cracked skin on the heels or an ingrown toenail, then it will not be possible to cope with them in one procedure. The effect can be obtained after 5-6 procedures. But even after this, it will be very important to regularly contact a specialist to maintain the condition of your feet.
3. Duration of the procedure. When going for a hardware pedicure, prepare for the fact that you will spend at least an hour, or even an hour and a half, in the salon.

The advantages in this case far outweigh the disadvantages. This is the secret of the popularity of this procedure.

Women everywhere are increasingly choosing hardware pedicure, and men are also increasingly turning to it. After all, even the most neglected male feet can be put in order with the help of skillful hands and a pedicure cutter.

Brazilian pedicure – a new innovative service

A relatively new comprehensive foot skin care procedure is called a Brazilian pedicure. The method of care is to use an innovative product - special socks. Socks have an antiseptic and soothing effect on the skin.

The substances that make up the active components not only have a calming effect, but also quickly soften the cuticle, corns and calluses. After exposure to the socks, the skin becomes soft and the nails well-groomed. It is recommended to have a Brazilian pedicure several times a week.

The advantage of the method is that fungal infections are completely destroyed, nails are restored, irritation goes away, and keratinized skin softens.

Brazilian pedicure is a unique way to care for the feet, as it is suitable for all skin types.

It is worth noting that for those who want to achieve the desired result quickly, it is recommended to use socks for 3 days, but you can also do a European pedicure. To quickly enhance the active components, the socks can be warmed up a little.

Contraindications

But there are practically no contraindications to this procedure. And yet, it is also necessary to say a few words about them.

The first contraindication is a thin nail plate. In this case, machining with a milling cutter may damage it.

But even in such a situation, consult an experienced technician. It is quite possible that he has already dealt with similar situations and knows how best to act in this case. With enough experience, injuries can be avoided.

The second contraindication is intolerance to the components of hardware pedicure products. Unfortunately, nothing can be done about allergies.

Unless you try to find other means. However, there are not so many of them, and most contain approximately the same substances. There are no other contraindications for this procedure.

Even pregnant women are recommended to use a hardware pedicure rather than a classic pedicure. It's not traumatic.

Beautician Sean Patel

Choosing a master (6 important rules)

The choice of a master in this case is a very important moment. In the wrong hands, a pedicure cutter can only cause injuries and cause harm instead of careful care.

• Don't trust your feet to home craftsmen. Among them there are a lot of self-taught people who have just bought a cutter and immediately set out to earn money by providing beauty services.
• Give preference to masters in good, proven salons.
• Make sure that the technician's qualifications are sufficient. Ask to see diplomas and certificates.
• If for you a pedicure is not only a cosmetic procedure, but also a solution to medical problems, make sure that the master has a medical education.
• Read reviews about a specific specialist. However, remember that both negative and positive reviews can be ordered for money.
• Talk to your friends, maybe one of them can recommend a good master. Unlike reviews on the Internet, other recommendations can always be trusted.

By following these simple tips, you will definitely find your master. However, there is one more point that would also be nice to take into account.

You should be comfortable interacting with the master. After all, you will have to spend a lot of time in each other’s company. And cosmetic procedures are better, nevertheless, take place in a pleasant atmosphere.

What you need for a hardware pedicure

However, if you wish, you can learn how to do a hardware pedicure yourself. Fortunately, purchasing a cutter and preparations for treating feet will not be a problem.

In order to imagine the session, you can view step-by-step photos of the hardware pedicure process for beginners. This is enough to make a decision: to start studying or not. However, for training it is better to choose good pedicure courses.

Before you start performing a pedicure, you need to prepare all the necessary tools and materials.

You will need:

• pedicure cutter;
• eye protection and face mask;
• nail clippers;
• antiseptic for treating hands and feet;
• keratolytic, softening the skin of the feet and having an anti-inflammatory effect;
• paper towels;
• toe separator;
• spray bottle with water;
• cuticle oil;
• foot cream.

The legs must be clean and dry, so first they need to be thoroughly washed and dried. After this, you can begin the procedure.

It is important to carry out the procedure regularly to maintain the results.

Beautician Sean Patel

European pedicure

This pedicure is called uncut or dry - it does not involve the use of cutting tools or maceration (steaming). The work is carried out with files of various abrasiveness.

To remove very rough areas, keratolytic solutions are used - wipes are moistened with them and applied to the keratinized areas, then the softened areas are also removed with a nail file.

The cuticle is treated with a remover, removed with an orange stick and a beautiful nail shape is formed. At the client's request, the master applies a decorative coating to the nails.

Advantages of European pedicure:

• Gentle on the skin. Softer effect compared to classic and hardware pedicure. Suitable for children.
• There is no risk of cuts or infection.
• There is no pain during or after the pedicure.

Flaws:

• Visible effect only on well-groomed feet.
• For rough skin, it may take up to 4-5 sessions to achieve the effect.
• Possible allergic reaction to softeners.

Question answer

For this procedure you will have to pay about 1.2-6.5 thousand rubles.
It all depends on various factors. If you decide to go to a specialist at home, then the price will decrease. The cost of a session at home is usually 1-3 thousand rubles. They come in metal, ceramic, silicone, and diamond-coated.

When you come to a good salon, you will 100% see a comfortable chair for the client, a special footrest, and slippers. The master himself must wear gloves (disposable) and a face mask.

What actions after the session?

After this, you need to lie quietly for some time, allowing the cream to absorb. If necessary, the nails can be covered with decorative varnish in the future.

If the instructions are not enough for you, then you can watch training videos for beginners on hardware pedicure at home and what attachments are used for what. Such videos are clearer and easier to understand.

At first, home hardware pedicures should be done once every two weeks. However, over time, the skin of the legs will get used to the new treatment method and will begin to grow more slowly. Then the frequency of procedures can be reduced to once a month.

Between procedures, it is advisable to smear your feet with a moisturizing cream, and your nails and cuticles with a special oil. This will also prolong the effect of the procedure.

Classic and hardware pedicure

The first classification criterion is the method of treating nails and cuticles. Today we will look at the following types of pedicure and their main differences: classic and hardware.

Classic pedicure

When performing a classic pedicure, the feet are steamed in a special bath with the addition of soap, salts, and aromatic oils. Afterwards, the master trims the overgrown nails and removes the cuticle using nippers. Also, all steamed areas of skin - calluses, corns, etc. - are removed from the surface of the feet. They are also trimmed.

Main advantages of processing:

• It's inexpensive
• Available in every salon
• Even a novice master can do it

Flaws:

• Discomfort, feeling of “thin skin” in treated areas
• The likelihood of pain when removing deep calluses and large hardened areas
• The need to visit the salon after 1-2 weeks due to increased tissue growth in the treated areas

Hardware pedicure

Hardware pedicure is performed with special devices - pedicure grinding machines. They are equipped with cutters with abrasive, which rotate at a speed of 30-50 thousand revolutions per minute. They “file away” rough areas of skin and calluses without damage or discomfort. Nails with cuticles also undergo the same treatment: the master trims the overgrown edge or files it off completely and removes the cuticle with a special cutter.

Hardware manicure costs 20-30% more than a classic manicure, but has a number of advantages:

• No need to steam the skin
• Treatment takes 5-10 minutes, the rest of the time the master spends on disinfection and moisturizing
• Rough areas peel off gradually, which reduces the risk of injury
• Hardware pedicures should be done less frequently, once every 2-4 weeks.

Reviews

To ensure the effectiveness of the newfangled procedure, it would be useful to read the reviews of those who have already tried it on their legs.

And the Internet is simply overflowing with positive and even enthusiastic reviews about this procedure. You can see this with an example.

TATYANA, 45 YEARS OLD:

“My legs have never been particularly tender or beautiful.
I spend a lot of time standing and not always wearing comfortable shoes. So corns and constant calluses are about me. No matter what I did at home, nothing really helped.

A friend persuaded me to get a hardware pedicure, luring her with the sight of her well-groomed legs. It turned out that the procedure itself was very pleasant, and the effect from it... True, in order for the legs to begin to please, I had to visit the salon more than once, but the effect was worth it.”

ANASTASIA, 24 YEARS OLD:

“I really like open shoes in the summer, which means my nails and feet need to be kept in great shape.
I tried a lot of things, but I came to the conclusion that a hardware pedicure has the best effect.

And in order not to spend money on a specialist, I bought myself a special device and learned how to do a pedicure myself. Very comfortable and beautiful.”

Expert opinion

• Cosmetologist
• Surgeon

Anna Avaliani

practicing cosmetologist

Hardware pedicure is really effective. It is done using a milling machine, which is equipped with special cutters. They have different sizes and shapes. With their help, the specialist is able to reach hard-to-reach parts of the legs.

Aisha Baron

plastic surgeon

I consider hardware pedicure much better than the classic type (which is performed instrumentally).
Of course, in the second case you can save money, but you also risk running into trouble. These may include: infection, pain, cuts. Hardware pedicure is an effective and pleasant procedure that will help you keep your feet in great shape: healthy and beautiful.

And, most importantly, all this is safe and without harm to health. Soft skin, smooth and beautiful nails are quite possible, even if you spend most of the day on your feet in uncomfortable shoes.