Fancy a career change? A short guide on how to become a pedicurist
A good pedicure will make your feet feel like new. Besides, it’s important to look after your feet when you’re on the go all the time, whether that’s because you work a lot, live an active lifestyle or have to look after a family. Or even all three.
To get a good pedicure, you have to go to a professional, but how do you know what to ask for when you make your appointment? Don’t worry, this guide is here to help you with that. Below, we discuss what a pedicure is and what it entails, some of the main types of pedicure and also some of the best colours with which to finish off your pedicure.
What is a pedicure?
In essence, a pedicure is a luxurious type of beauty treatment for the feet. You can get them at nail bars, beauty salons and spas. There are various different types of pedicure, but a standard pedicure is likely to consist of the following:
- A warm foot soak to relax the skin and nails
- A foot scrub to remove flaky skin and calluses
- Moisturisation and short massage for the feet and lower legs
- Nail trimming and filing
- Treatment of nail cuticles
- Optional base-coat polish, nail polish and top coat.
Depending on the type of pedicure and the techniques the pedicurist is using, your pedicure can last anything between 30 minutes and an hour and a half. Set plenty of time aside if you book one.
Pedicure frequency
A pedicure feels really good and you might feel like getting one every week! The costs can soon add up, however, and treatments can set you back anywhere between £22 and £50 per time. Once per month tends to be enough to keep your feet ship-shape.
Ideally, you should have a pedicure between one and four times a month. The general condition of your nails will determine how often you book your pedicure, though. How long do your nails last before they suffer a damaged cuticle or they snap? Levels of activity and the impact they have on your feet will also impact the number of visits you decide to make with the pedicurist. What kind of work do you do, for instance?
Different types of pedicure
If only life was as simple as for there to be only one type of pedicure! But of course, life is hardly ever that straightforward. Below is a quick guide to the main types of pedicure and which one would be the most appropriate for you:
Classic / regular
As mentioned above, a regular pedicure often consists of a foot soak, foot scrub, massage, trimming and nail filing, cuticle treatment, moisturisation and, if you desire it, nail polish. Often the technician carries out the foot scrub with a pumice stone. A classic pedicure will suit you if you’re just looking for some regular foot maintenance without any major fuss.
Spa
The spa pedicure works well if you’re looking for that extra bit of pampering and, with a variety of upgrades, builds on the standard pedicure. The technician is likely to add some aromatherapy oils to your footbath and conduct an exfoliating scrub to address calluses further. The pedicure may include a hot towel wrap and a paraffin wax, which involves dipping your foot in paraffin to open up pores and, when the technician removes the paraffin, to remove dead skin cells.
French pedicure
French pedicures have become extremely popular… so much so that they now enjoy their own status as a pedicure. They’re more or less a classic or spa pedicure, but the technician will paint thin white stripes on the tips of the nail. They’ll follow this up by painting pink or a nude colour on the base of the nail.
Stone pedicure
The stone pedicure is indulgent, no doubt about it, but it might not be the right type of pedicure for you if you want more attention to your cuticles and some of the details a classic pedicure entails. A stone pedicure is for extremely sore feet and leg muscles. In fact, the treatment is more of a massage than a pedicure and often begins with a nice, warm foot bath. The technician will then rub on some essential oils with hot stones.
Sports pedicure
The sports pedicure is like a classic pedicure, but has more of a healing focus and includes a twist: the technician will use cooling aromatics to soothe sore, tired muscles. Peppermint, eucalyptus and cucumber are typical scents used in a sports pedicure. The service provider may also offer an extra massage. If you’re an athlete or do a lot of sport, a sports pedicure will help you get your feet into good condition without the fuss of other pedicures.
Gel pedicure
The gel pedicure is all about the nail polish. It’s like a classic pedicure, but rather than standard nail polish, the technician will apply gel polish if you request toenail painting. Gel polish can generally last about two weeks or possibly more without chipping. Note, however, that it takes a bit of acetone to shift gel polish, which can dry up the nail. That’s undesirable.
Best pedicure colours
Pastels are nice but, let’s face it, they can get boring very quickly. They’re a play-it-safe kind of colour. Below are a few suggestions of other colours you can choose to mix things up and go easy on the pastel.
Watermelon
If, in addition to pastels, you’re not a fan of dark tones or neons, watermelon is more subtle than magenta but not as bright as fluorescent. Really, it’s the perfect pink. Even if you’re indoors, go barefoot and it can still feel summery.
Lilac
Lilac will always sit pretty on your toes. This colour will give you the vibes of a classic pastel pink, but offers the fresh vibes of a dusty, pale purple.
Wine
If you thought red had the vamp about it, it’s got nothing on wine, which looks every bit as good on toes as on fingers. The tone is cooler and darker than true red. Go open-toed and ramp up the glamour instantly with this purply, cranberry-like shade. You can even bang on some flip-flops and still rock the foot-fashion game.
Gold
The wonderful thing about gold is that despite being a neutral tone, it will still stave off any looks of boredom or disdain from others. It’s a balanced tone. Not too warm. Not too cool. As a result it complements every skin tone. You can always believe in gold.
Neon green
Neon green is an uplifting colour no matter what the weather. It’s super summery, but when the dull and darker days of winter hit, neon green steps up to the plate and puts a smile on your face. Just because you’re wearing neon on your toes, you don’t have to go with it in the rest of your outfit, either. The green will serve perfectly as an accent colour.
Ever fancied being a pedicurist yourself?
Just as enjoyable as receiving beauty treatments is working in the industry itself. Part of the reason your pedicure feels so good is the fact that an experienced professional has worked on your feet. They’ll have the training and expertise to apply the treatment correctly and leave your feet feeling fantastic.
In this age of the Coronavirus pandemic, you may be fancying a change in career or even just building a new skill. Perhaps a career in beauty treatment, working as a pedicurist, could be the thing for you. A course would be a good starting point. Why not give it a try?