How to DIY a Salon-Like Pedicure at Home

Step 6: Moisturize

Moisturize your feet with an unscented lotion to keep the skin hydrated and smooth. “Scented lotions with synthetic fragrances can cause your nail polish to crack,” cautions Hadley. We love the La Roche-Posay Lipikar Body Lotion for Normal to Dry Skin for this step. It’s super gentle, making it ideal for even ultra sensitive and eczema-prone skin types. Packed with glycerin and niacinamide, it soothes and comforts dry skin. 

Step 7: Prep Your Toes

Use toe separators to make painting your toes easier and avoid making a mess. We like this 12-pack from Amazon because it costs less than $10 — plus, each set is washable and reusable, should you start indulging in at-home pedicures more frequently. 

Step 8: Apply Your Base Coat

“Don’t forget your base coat because it gives your nail polish something to sink into besides your actual nails,” says Hadley. We recommend the JINsoon HyperRepair Nourishing & Strengthening Nail Base Coat. This base coat promotes nail health in just two uses thanks to a blend of AHAs and antioxidants, which help restore and hydrate your nail beds. After about two minutes, the base coat should be dry. Then, you’re ready to go in with a color. 

Step 9: Apply Your Nail Polish

Apply two to three coats of nail polish, making sure each coat has dried before applying the next. “Thick polish coats will result in clumps, takes longer to dry, and increases likelihood of chipping, so use thin coats for every additional layer,” says Wang. As for polish colors, we always love Essie Mademoiselle, a classic sheer pink, but if you’re in a bold mood, go for a fiery reddish-orange like Essie Risk-Takers Only. 

Not sure how to paint your nails like a pro? Try the three-swipe method. “At Lunula, our team swears by the ‘three-stripe’ method when applying polish,” says Wang. “We start by making one smooth motion and moving the brush across the center of the nail from [the] cuticle to the edge of the nail. Then repeat the motion on the left side of the nail. Then repeat the motion on the right side of the nail. This method ensures you will get an even coat across the entire nail, no more, no less.” To perfect the three-swipe method, make sure to remove any excess polish before you start painting — if you hold up the nail polish brush and it drips, wipe it on the side of your nail polish bottle.

Note that if you’re using a nontoxic nail polish, you need to be extra careful about letting each coat dry. “Since nontoxic polish doesn’t contain harsh drying agents that help polish dry quickly, it can sometimes take longer to dry,” says Wang. “Be vigilant to ensure polish layers are thin and even, including the base coat.”

If you make a mistake when painting your nails, try not to worry too much. This guide will help you find easy ways to disguise an accidental nail polish smudge.

Step 9: Add a Quick-Drying Top Coat

Finish with a top coat so your nails can maintain high shine and luster. We like the Essie Gel Couture Top Coat because it helps regular nail colors last for up to two weeks. Because nail polish takes about 12 hours to fully harden, Hadley recommends sticking your feet in cold water for a few minutes to help your nail polish solidify more quickly. 

Step 10: Finish With More Lotion and Cuticle Oil

If you do submerge your feet in water, make sure to rehydrate them with another layer of moisturizer and cuticle oil. This will keep your feet looking soft and feeling velvety smooth. 

Additional reporting by Ariel Wodarcyk. Photos: Getty Images