Take Care

....of your feet

Picture this:

Saturday afternoon. You are walking the mall/town center doing some light shopping before you meet your friends for lunch. Out of the corner of your eye, you catch those new Gianni Bini Tiara T-Strap sandals that you have been stalking.

 You sashay over to the chick wearing them to check them out on someone’s foot, and compliment her on a great choice of shoe.  (Although you would consider them an evening shoe, but whatev) Your chit-chatting with Katrina* (wait for it…) about shoes then you look down to check the shoe out on her foot….and what you see looks like the aftermath of Katrina. Boo’s toenail polish was chipped up (and only on 2 toe nails had polish on them), she had overgrown cuticles, she needed lotion, and her heels were as dry and cracked as the Mojave Desert. 
You bid Katrina adieu and continue with shopping, silently judging as you walk away. (Don’t act like you don’t do it). Bad feet can really change an outlook on a shoe. If you are going to spend $89.99 on a shoe like Katrina did, your feet damn sure better be kept. As a matter of fact, it doesn’t matter how much you spend on your shoe, TAKE CARE OF YOUR FEET.

*Names have been changed to protect the innocent and give you a picture of how bad her feet looked by relating them to a category 3 hurricane

There are 2 ways to take care of your feet.  Katrina, you have options boo.

The most common and most relaxing way is to get a pedicure. If your feet looked like Katrina’s (Dry, cracked heels, overgrown cuticles) this is the best way to go, at least initially. Nail salons are EVERYWHERE, but it does take time to find a quality one, so you your research and ask a friend!! There are advantages and disadvantages to going to a Nail salon for a pedicure.
                                                                   

                                                                     * Advantages:
• Special treatments for really bad feet-Callus Treatment, Paraffin Treatment, Various exfoliating treatments.
• Foot Massages (and Back Massages if they have good pedicure stations)
• Time to relax and feel pampered and a great way to occupy your day with friends or your significant other
• Manicurists are licensed professionals, they know how to properly file, scrape, massage, and polish and give you that professional look. When you go to a professional, if something happened like a nail chip, they will gladly (most of the time) fix and repair it for you. 
                                                                  *Disadvantages:
• They can be costly. A basic pedicure can start anywhere from $15-$25 and can go as high as $60 at certain salons
• Time consuming-it is nice to get away and relax, but part of the battle (unless you make an appointment) is waiting your turn.
I would recommend a pedicure every 2 weeks to once a month if you go this route.
Another way to take care of your feet is to do it at home. There are several products and utensils you can buy at like Target, Wal Mart (shudders), Ulta, or any local drug store. 
                                                                      *Advantages:
• $$- Your saving money ( who doesn’t like that) in the long run
• You stock up on essentials like nail polishes and nail files
• If you stub your toe and chip your nail, you will have the tools and the color to do a quick fix
                                                                      *Disadvantages:
• Finding the time to do it (While your watching tv is a good time )
• Higher risk of mauling your cuticles by doing them yourself, especially if you do them on dry cuticles

                                   To tackle your at-home regimen, you will need a few things:
• Footbath--The most expensive part for the at-home routine.  (the one pictured is from Conair @ Target for $19.99)

• Nail polish- Every woman should own nail polish. My 2 Fave brands of nail polish are OPI and Ulta Brand nail poishes, but you can get nail polish anywhere at a price range of $.99-$10 a bottle. Don’t forget a top coat!!
• Nail files, buffers, and nail clippers-again, these are staples every woman (or man) should own, but if you don’t, your local drugstore can hook you up.
• Foot exfoliator-One like this is what I own, I got mine at target for $5.99, but they, too, range from $1-$25. Exfoliators can be double sided with the buffer on one side and a metal grater on the other, a Pumice rock, or a machine like the Ped-Egg  (when purchasing an exfoliator, make sure you team a metal exfoliator with something like a pumice rock to smooth out your feel and close up the cuts the grater may cause. Not smoothing may cause even more dryness)

• Cotton balls
• Cuticle remover $3.99-$18.99<---for the ones that look like clippers
• Foot Cream – "Shea it isn't so" from Bath and Body Works (BBW has a great foot care line FYI) Lotion works just as well

Initial startup for the at home route is roughly $35-$50, but these materials will last you a long time. So you save in the long run.

My personal foot care regimen is a mix of both. I like to go out and get a pedicure every now and then because it is relaxing and a good way to get in an inexpensive foot massage (something I will speak about later). But I also make sure I maintain my feet at home. I don’t own a Footbath, but I exfoliate at least 3x a week in the shower and I make sure it’s the last thing I do in the shower, that way my feet are good and soft from the water.  After exfoliating, I push back and manicure my cuticles, and buff my toenails.  Finally, file & shape, basecoat, nail polish, and topcoat. Really, I mock what the manicurist do when I get them done professionally.  At night, I will heavily moisturize my feet with Shea butter or a foot cream, and wear a terry-cloth bootie. You can wear socks, but cotton tends to dry and a lighter cotton blend like terry cloth keeps moisture in.

**DISCLAIMER**
:: Checks Calendar::  It is the end of July , Almost August. Before we know it, Fall will be here (BEST season ever) and Boot season will be here. It will be time to put away (some) of our open toes and sling backs and flip flops. DON’T YOU DARE THINK YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT FOOT CARE IN THE FALL/WINTER MONTHS!!! (yes, I am yelling at you) This is a year-round thing. Especially in the winter months when you are cuddled up next to your significant other, He/She is not going to appreciate being cut by your dry heels or your hangnail.

::Pretty Feet::