Now I don’t want to brag, but I have cute feet. I, however, am not a foot fan. I generally don’t care to look at or touch anyone’s feet. I think it’s safe to say I have no foot fetishes. I do take care of my own though.
We take our feet for granted. They carry us all over the place and often get horribly neglected. Once the weather gets warm I become the anti-shoe, as much as I love my shoes, and prefer to be barefoot as much as possible. This can leave my tootsies dry and my heels cracked. At least once a week I like to indulge myself in a pedicure. You can too, and here’s how!
I remove old polish, cut, and file my toenails before I soak. I just prefer it this way. Make sure to cut and file toenails straight across to avoid painful ingrown toenails. Before I start my foot soak I sometimes light a lightly scented candle or play soft music.
I have a foot bath called the Foot Expert Luxury Foot Bath with Heat. Filled with nice warm water, this foot bath massages my feet and keeps the water warm. You can use any tub or container that your feet rest comfortably in. You can use bubble bath, bath salts, or essential oils of your choice. Many people prefer peppermint or lavender oil. My favorite is the Enchanted Meadow Foot Spa by Zen Garden. The effervescent foot soak sizzles and bubbles in the water. It softens dry, tired feet and smells just like an enchanted meadow. Ahhh…15-20 minutes soak time is just about right. Read your favorite book or rest your eyes.
Once you’ve soaked, it’s good to exfoliate the dead skin from your feet and ankles. Feel free to go all the way up the calf. Apply a generous amount of a foot pumice scrub or other exfoliating foot scrub onto your skin and massage in a gentle, circular motion. Foot scrubs containing tea tree oil and peppermint oil can be especially good for stimulating feeling and life back into dead, tired feet. When you feel you have exfoliated, rinse your feet in your foot bath. This is a good time to take a pumice stone or foot file to remaining rough skin on your heels or toes. The key word here is gentle. There’s no need to rub with the stone or file until you feel you’ve hit the bone! Continuous care and proper exfoliation will rid your feet of unwanted roughness in time. Gently push back overgrown cuticles with a cuticle pusher. Give feet a final rinse.
Now it’s time to dry your feet thoroughly with a soft towel and prepare to lotion. There are many soothing foot balms and lotions to choose from. There’s nothing better for aching feet than a wonderful massage after a relaxing soak and exfoliation. Apply a generous amount of lotion or balm, and begin your massage.
Start on the top of the foot, between the cords, and move in the direction of toe to ankle. Continue by stroking the sole of your foot. Make circular motions with your thumb and fingers over the sole and use more pressure in areas such as the heel and ball of feet. Be sure not to neglect the sides.
Rotate the foot at the ankle and then near the ball of the foot about five times in each direction. Knead the sole by holding the foot with one hand and making a fist with the other. Use moderate pressure into the sole and give plenty of attention to the arch.
Give your toes a mini-massage. Start with the big toe and work towards the little toe. Roll the toe between your thumb and forefinger as you slide your fingers down the toe to the end, applying gentle pressure. Gently squeeze the end of each toe. Take your index finger and slide it between each toe about five times.
To finish off your fabulous foot massage, use your thumb and fingers to make circular motions once again over the sole. Give the sole and instep one last rub. Slipping on some soft, thick socks or slippers at this point will help retain moisture.
Take good care of your feet. They work and play hard for you and deserve the best in attention and care.
