While your nails reflect your overall health, the way you take care of your nails and feet is a telltale sign of your personal hygiene levels. Nobody likes dirty hands or feet, so it is important to give your nails proper care and attention, just as you would on your face or teeth.
Did you know that your hands can accurately reveal your age? If you want your hands and feet to look young, clean and healthy, you should perform a regular mani-pedi ritual to maintain nail hygiene and prevent infections.
In this article, we cover everything from essential nail tools to the importance of manicures and pedicures. Keep reading to learn more.
Why are manicures and pedicures important?
Your hands and feet are exposed to dirt and adverse weather conditions on a daily basis, perhaps more than other parts of your body (except your face), which makes them more vulnerable to damage. This means that they accumulate a ton of dirt and grime, and washing is never enough. This is where manicures and pedicures come in.
Manicures and pedicures help exfoliate the skin and remove calluses on the feet.
- They help keep nails clean and tidy, which prevents fungal infections.
- Cleaning the nails prevents them from breaking or splinting painfully. It also prevents dry cuticles, hanging nails and broken skin.
- The massage performed during manicures and pedicures helps increase blood circulation, which prevents the development of wrinkles in the hands over the years, in addition to eliminating any swelling, numbness or pain.
- They are great stress hunters.
Are there any solid benefits? Well, the good news is that you don’t always have to run to the salon to reap the benefits of a mani-pedi (unless you want to). If you want to save some money or time and find a way to do the work at home, we will make your life easier with our detailed piece about the necessary tools, how to use them and all the intermediate jazz.
Let’s start with supplies and instructions.
The 12 most essential Mani-Pedi tools for you
First, let’s talk about the tools: you can buy them individually or just buy a manicure/pedicure kit that includes all supplies and is readily available.
To give a hand and foot salon treatment at home, you need these basic supplies that you can easily find online or at your local pharmacy.
1. Nail Cutter
A nail cutter or nail clipper is the most basic tool needed for a manicure or pedicure. Your nails are a breeding ground for bacteria and are one of the dirtiest parts of your body. Trimming them from time to time is important if you want to maintain your overall health. It is better to keep them short at all times, as this helps prevent the spread of the disease.
How to use the nail cutter at home?
You can use a nail cutter/clipper or scissors to cut the nails. Make sure your tool is clean before starting. Place the nail between the nail clipper, making sure not to touch the skin. Do not cut too much, as this can expose the sensitive part of the nail bed and cause infections.
Professional advice: nails are softer after bathing, so it is a good time to trim them.
2. Cuticle Pusher
The cuticles require special care to avoid drying or flaking. A cuticle pusher is used to push the skin of the nails back and away. If you have hard and hard skin, it is better to use a steel cuticle pusher. If you have soft cuticles, use a wooden one.
How to use the cuticle pusher?
You should never cut your cuticles, just push them back and be gentle! If you cut the thin lining on the bottom of the nail, it will cause infection. Use the tip of the spoon to push it back, it’s that simple. Use the sharpest tip to push against the cuticles in the corners. Be as friendly as possible.
Professional advice: a good time to treat this area is just after showering since it is when the skin is soft and it is very easy to avoid excessive growth of the cuticle. It also helps prevent damage or injury in the process.
3. Cuticle Nipper
Cuticle tweezers are a tool used to treat hanging nails, hard cuticles and dry skin around the nails. It offers great precision to reach those small spaces and trim the irritating ingrown toenails. It also allows the delicate removal of unwanted soft tissues around the nails.
How to use Cuticle Nipper?
After pushing the cuticle back, it is time to use the cuticle tweezers. If you have small pieces of skin or cuticle around the nail, use this tool to gently trim ugly skin. Use an upward motion to lift this dead skin up and away from the nail.
Professional advice: After pushing and trimming the cuticle, use a hand cream or lotion to moisturize.
Always be sure to disinfect your cuticle trimmer before and after use. Store it in a dry place to prevent oxidation.
4. Nail Buffer
Have you ever wondered how to get naturally shiny nails? If you want to get rid of dull nails, use a tampon to shine your nails. It also helps eliminate dry wrinkles or peel nails, smoothing them. The main objective of this tool is to polish the nails and give them a consistent appearance.
How to use a nail buffer?
Before you start, make sure your nails have been soaked and cleaned. Make sure your nails are dry and always polish in one direction. It can move forward or backward; It is better to keep one. Do not get too excited and polish too much, as this can cause thinning of the nails. In addition, excessive polishing is harmful: only once a month will it help preserve nail shine.
Professional advice: use the thinnest side of the tool to shine and soften.
When finished, apply beeswax or some cuticle oil on the nails.
5. Nail File
This tool is used to gently grind the edges of the nails, making them softer and helping to shape them. There are several types of nail files on the market: emery and metal files are the most used tools. It is advisable to use emery, as they are softer. Metal files tend to be very hard for nails.
How to use a nail file?
Before you start, make sure your nails are dry because wet nails separate more easily. Hold the file at a 45-degree angle, parallel to the sides of the nails. Start in a corner and go to the center of your nail. Apply less pressure and file your nails in one direction for a smooth finish.
Professional advice: to prevent your nails from splintering or breaking, give them an oval or square shape. After reaching the desired result, wash and hydrate your nails well.
6. Pumice Stone/ Foot File
A pumice stone is used to remove the outermost layer of dead cells and calluses that are usually found in the lower part of the feet. This also helps eliminate cracked skin on the feet.
How to use
Before starting to exfoliate with a pumice stone, soak your hands or feet in warm soapy water for at least ten minutes. When dry skin softens, moisten the stone and gently rub it over the area where you are working.
Professional advice: This multipurpose tool can also be used on the knees and elbows to help exfoliate.
Use the stone daily for your feet, especially if your shoes involve sandals or anything that exposes them. Also, be very careful and do not exert too much pressure during exfoliation.
7. Nail Brush
Nail brushes are used to thoroughly clean the nails. They can also be used to remove difficult stains or nail dirt. If you simply want your nails to look as tidy as possible, use them daily.
How to use the nail brush?
Begin by holding the nail brush in warm water and pouring a small amount of antibacterial soap over the brush. Move the brush from side to side over the nails, creating foam while doing so. When finished, wash and apply some moisturizer. Say hello to clean and squeaky nails!
Professional advice: keep the water warm for this step, as it will help soften your nails while doing a deeper cleaning.
8. Toe Separator
It is used to place between the fingers before applying the enamel, so as not to stain. In addition, this wonderful tool helps to realign the joints, improve circulation and straighten the bent fingers that help with foot pain. Multipurpose, much?
How to use the Toe separator?
Simply place it between your fingers for a while and do what you want: apply nail polish, maybe? Simple!
9. Orangewood Stick
This can be used for several things: remove cuticles, clean dirt or even correct enamel errors. Practical, isn’t it? Have these out there for a quick fix.
10. Mild Scrub
Exfoliation is the key to soft and smooth skin, and the use of gentle exfoliation on the hands and feet is not only relaxing but also helps remove the outermost layer of dead skin cells. It also helps promote circulation, therefore, rub, but be gentle, especially with your hands.
11. Callus Remover
A callus remover or foot scraper effectively removes dead, dry and rough heel skin to reveal smoother and smoother skin.
How to use
Begin by soaking your feet in a bowl of warm water for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Then, place a towel next to the sink and place your feet on it to dry them. Your feet should be dry enough to use the callus remover effectively, but moist enough to stay soft. Check the areas with calluses and scrape the skin with a downward movement until all areas of the foot are smooth.
Professional advice: add oils, salts, and vitamins to the water to give the skin the necessary nutrition.
Important tips for maintaining manicure and pedicure tools
You will wonder what is the need to clean these tools when it is only you who uses them. It is true, but it is always advisable to clean these tools. Dirt and dead skin in these tools obviously have some adverse effects. They can cause the growth of bacteria and germs, causing infection. Therefore, cleaning them is very essential before and after each use.
Keep tools soaked in warm, soapy (antibacterial) water. This will kill all germs and help keep your equipment free of bacteria.
It is advisable not to share your tools with others, just as you would not share your toothbrush.
So, now that we’ve covered all the essential manicure and pedicure tools, do we expect you to experience one of those lazy Sundays, maybe? You don’t have to spend thousands of rupees to visit the manicure/pedicure salon when you get amazing results at home.
