In summer, there is nothing nicer than looking down at perfectly manicured toes in a pair of flip flops. What’s nice to know is that good-looking toenails are easier to create and maintain than fingernails. That’s because your toenails only need in-depth attention every two to three weeks, while fingernails need fresh paint every week.
Due to the pandemic, you might not have returned to your regular beauty salon just yet, so I’m going to share my top tips on how to do your very own home pedicure. If you’re having trouble managing your own feet, then why not do a joint pedicure with a family member? Caring is sharing and helping each other out is a lovely thing to do.
Beauty expert Dolly Buckley shares her top tips for a DIY pedicure to put your best foot forward this summer. \ Yvonne Cole Dupuis
Pedicures take time, so allow yourself a full hour to really do a proper job on your feet. Get your pedicure kit ready before you start. You will need a towel, nail polish remover, cotton wool, nail scissors and/or nail clippers, nail files, a nail brush, a cuticle stick and a bowl of warm, soapy water.
Squeeze a whole lemon into the water and add two teaspoons of olive oil or baby oil. Start by taking off your nail polish and if you have any calluses on your toes, gently buff them off with your nail file. Then soak your feet for a good 10 minutes in the water and take a moment to relax. You can use the cuticle stick to gently clean any remaining dirt from underneath the nails. Dry your feet thoroughly, not forgetting between the toes and then carefully clip or file the toe nails. Keep the nail shape square or slightly round, but never pointed. If you aggressively cut the nails too short, they can become in-grown. Next, using the cuticle stick, gently push the cuticles back. If you suffer from cracked heels, a gentle rub with a foot pumice after soaking the feet works a treat to get rid of dead skin. Now, use a good, egg-sized blob of moisturiser and give each foot a five minute deep massage, not forgetting between the toes and the actual nails. My favourite moisturisers include O’Keeffe’s For Healthy Feet foot cream (€8.99 from Boots), or the ever-reliable E45 Cream, available from most chemists. Once the moisturiser has soaked in, get a tissue and double dry each nail. Before applying nail varnish, I always advise a base coat, because this strengthens and protects the nail base. If you wear nail polish all the time without a base coat, your nails can go yellow. To apply, place your foot flat on the towel on a level surface and spread your toes out. If your toes are particularly bunched, ease them out by adding a piece of cotton wool or tissue between each toe. Those that prefer a natural look can end the pedicure here. Apply the nail varnish in the same way as you apply the base coat. When the nail varnish is dry, add a second coat. It’s really important to allow each coat of varnish to dry to achieve a silky, smooth finish. If you do drip the varnish over the edges, simply get a cotton bud, dab it in some nail varnish remover and wipe the excess varnish away. When your nail varnish has dried, apply a top coat. Do nothing, touch nothing, put on nothing, until your toenails are completely dry. A pretty natural pink is the perfect shade for summer and you will find lots of options in your local chemists or supermarket, but if you want to treat yourself, I love Chanel’s “Camelia Le Vernis” in punchy fuschia (€25 from Arnotts).
Top tip: Seek medical advice from a doctor if you have a painful ingrown toenail, especially if there is any redness around the nail or cuticle, as this can be an infection.
You can follow Dolly on Instagram
@makeupbydollyb
Read more
Hair today, gone tomorrow
Dolly’s DIY home spa
In summer, there is nothing nicer than looking down at perfectly manicured toes in a pair of flip flops. What’s nice to know is that good-looking toenails are easier to create and maintain than fingernails. That’s because your toenails only need in-depth attention every two to three weeks, while fingernails need fresh paint every week.
Due to the pandemic, you might not have returned to your regular beauty salon just yet, so I’m going to share my top tips on how to do your very own home pedicure. If you’re having trouble managing your own feet, then why not do a joint pedicure with a family member? Caring is sharing and helping each other out is a lovely thing to do.
Beauty expert Dolly Buckley shares her top tips for a DIY pedicure to put your best foot forward this summer. \ Yvonne Cole Dupuis
Pedicures take time, so allow yourself a full hour to really do a proper job on your feet. Get your pedicure kit ready before you start. You will need a towel, nail polish remover, cotton wool, nail scissors and/or nail clippers, nail files, a nail brush, a cuticle stick and a bowl of warm, soapy water.
Squeeze a whole lemon into the water and add two teaspoons of olive oil or baby oil. Start by taking off your nail polish and if you have any calluses on your toes, gently buff them off with your nail file. Then soak your feet for a good 10 minutes in the water and take a moment to relax. You can use the cuticle stick to gently clean any remaining dirt from underneath the nails. Dry your feet thoroughly, not forgetting between the toes and then carefully clip or file the toe nails. Keep the nail shape square or slightly round, but never pointed. If you aggressively cut the nails too short, they can become in-grown. Next, using the cuticle stick, gently push the cuticles back. If you suffer from cracked heels, a gentle rub with a foot pumice after soaking the feet works a treat to get rid of dead skin. Now, use a good, egg-sized blob of moisturiser and give each foot a five minute deep massage, not forgetting between the toes and the actual nails. My favourite moisturisers include O’Keeffe’s For Healthy Feet foot cream (€8.99 from Boots), or the ever-reliable E45 Cream, available from most chemists. Once the moisturiser has soaked in, get a tissue and double dry each nail. Before applying nail varnish, I always advise a base coat, because this strengthens and protects the nail base. If you wear nail polish all the time without a base coat, your nails can go yellow. To apply, place your foot flat on the towel on a level surface and spread your toes out. If your toes are particularly bunched, ease them out by adding a piece of cotton wool or tissue between each toe. Those that prefer a natural look can end the pedicure here. Apply the nail varnish in the same way as you apply the base coat. When the nail varnish is dry, add a second coat. It’s really important to allow each coat of varnish to dry to achieve a silky, smooth finish. If you do drip the varnish over the edges, simply get a cotton bud, dab it in some nail varnish remover and wipe the excess varnish away. When your nail varnish has dried, apply a top coat. Do nothing, touch nothing, put on nothing, until your toenails are completely dry. A pretty natural pink is the perfect shade for summer and you will find lots of options in your local chemists or supermarket, but if you want to treat yourself, I love Chanel’s “Camelia Le Vernis” in punchy fuschia (€25 from Arnotts).
Top tip: Seek medical advice from a doctor if you have a painful ingrown toenail, especially if there is any redness around the nail or cuticle, as this can be an infection.
You can follow Dolly on Instagram
@makeupbydollyb
Read more
Hair today, gone tomorrow
Dolly’s DIY home spa
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