A pedicure is the care of the feet, toes, and nails. It can greatly improve the appearance of your feet. Pedicures typically begin by soaking the feet in warm, soapy water for five to ten minutes. After you have soaked your feet, the pedicurist will condition and soften the cuticles, subsequently pushing them back and clipping them with a special instrument to remove the dead skin. Most pedicures also involve a foot and lower leg massage with a moisturizer. After the massage, the toes are washed and dried again to remove excess moisturizer that may hinder polish adhesion, and the nails are trimmed and shaped. The ideal length for a toenail is to be even with the ends of the toes. Toenails should be trimmed straight across, to avoid ingrown nails, and shaped with an emery board. Finally, if desired, the toenails can be painted with a coat of polish. Some salons offer regular pedicures and spa pedicures. In a regular pedicure, you soak your feet in a small, portable foot bath, while in a spa pedicure, you sit in a high, padded chair and soak your feet in a small whirlpool foot bath attached to the bottom of the chair. Spa pedicure chairs often vibrate for extra relaxation.
