A pedicure is a treatment that cares for your feet and toenails. If you get the complete pedicure treatment, you will most likely get a relaxing foot spa, heel scrub, and foot massage. On the other hand, a basic pedicure service will include toenail cutting, cuticle removal, shaping, and buffing. Every salon has its way of providing pedicure services, so it is best to test out a few salons and choose one that treats you just the way you want it.
Before you book a pedicure appointment at a nail salon, find out what treatments are part of the service. Always keep in mind that not all salons are the same, so be sure to ask questions and weigh your options well. The most common treatments you will receive when booking a pedicure are the following:
A foot spa is a pampering that every foot needs. During a foot spa, you get to soak your feet in warm water as if you are giving them a luxurious Jacuzzi bath. This treatment cleanses your feet and leaves them with a refreshingly lovely scent. It also makes your feet ready for the next level of care.
After a good cleansing, your feet will get a scrub using certain minerals and special salts. This treatment aims to peel away all dead skin cells from your feet. It will leave the skin smooth, making it more receptive to moisturisation and nourishment, which is what the next step will do.
Now that your feet are cleansed and scrubbed, it is ready for rejuvenation. A foot massage will give you just that. Depending on the skills of the nail salon attendant, you will get acupressure or reflexology-based foot massage. They will also use nourishing oils, creams, and lotions for the massage.
The last step is to give your feet a fabulous nail polish. You are free to choose what color or design you want. Some prefer the colorless type, while others like flamboyant gel polish shades. Here is where the real job of the nail technician begins. They will trim the toenails, remove the cuticles, and shape each toe to make it ready for that pretty nail polish you want.
There are many reasons a person has cracked heels, and it is essential to know what caused it before booking a pedicure. The most common reason for a cracked heel is severe skin dryness. If so, then your feet are in dire need of treatment, so getting a pedicure may be possible.
However, you must double-check if the heel cracks have visible skin openings or redness. If this is the case, there is a high possibility of an infection. Best to have a doctor check your feet and medicate them before getting a pedicure service. If you think you have a severe cracked heels, don't forget to get a clearance from the doctor before visiting a nail salon.
An athlete's foot is a condition caused by fungi, characterized by itching, stinging, and burning. It is not advisable for anyone with a bad case of athlete's foot to get a pedicure at any salon. As an athlete's foot is contagious, the fungus may transfer from one person to another when clippings and dead skin cells are not disposed of properly.
While many salons adhere to stringent standards of cleanliness, working on a customer with any foot condition, like an athlete's foot, is not good practice. Clients should be aware of the limitations of nail salons, which indicates that they can only work with customers with healthy feet.
Fish pedicures became very popular a few years back. This particular foot treatment involves dipping your feet in a water basin filled with water and has lots of small fish, called the doctor fish. The doctor fish will chew on the dead skin cells of your feet, making them smoother and softer.
While this type of pedicure seems interesting because the fish are fun to look at and would tickle your feet, some health concerns are associated with it. The pedicures are popular in Asia but have been banned in some US states, and not offered by nail salons in New Zealand.
For starters, fish are living beings and have no means of sanitisation before being used by other customers.
Also, some fish species used for this treatment may bite, leading to infection. If the fish carries pathogenic bacteria, then the problem gets worse. The risk of blood-borne diseases also increase significantly when the fish accidentally cuts you. Considering all these factors, one should think twice about getting a fish pedicure.
A pedicure service would take anywhere from 30 minutes to 65 minutes, depending on the type of service you want. The express gel pedicure service, which is the basic, is the fastest, as it lasts for only 30 minutes. Here, you get your cuticles removed and your toenails cut, shaped, and buffed. The nail technician will apply cuticle oil on your toes and hand lotion on your feet. They will also wrap your feet in a warm towel during the procedure.
The deluxe gel pedicure service lasts for 55 minutes, and the treatments listed above get an upgrade with a sugar scrub, foot massage, and heel scrub. Your toenails also get a standard color or no color nail polish. If you want gel color on, allot an extra 10 minutes of your time for the nail technician to apply the gel polish. This service will last for approximately 65 minutes.
In New Zealand, a standard gel pedicure costs between $45 to $65 whereas a deluxe gel pedicure costs between $55 and $75, depending on the luxuriousness of each nail salon.
