#1. Start Fresh

First things first you need to remove any old nail polish that you have on your toenails then file or trim them to your desired length.
 
Remember to take care when using nail clippers. They tend to cut your nails too short, making you prone to ingrown toenails. Using nail scissors or filing your nails (until they're just below or in line with the top of your toe) is ideal.
 
Always shape your toe nails in a straight line, never rounded. This reduces the risk of ingrown nails and helps protect the nail bed from a fungus invasion (Eww!).
 
Finish off with a good buffing of your nails to help smooth the surface area.
 
Our product picks: Cutex Nail Polish Remover - either the moisturising or nourishing ones for extra care, Mavala Curved Cuticle Scissors, Dis-Chem’s Glass Nail Files and Basics 4 Way Buffer. Titania also have a handy 5-piece pedicure set with all the basics you need for a pedi.

#2. Soak It Up

The best part of a paid-for pedicure is getting to lie back while your feet soak in a medley of beautiful smelling oils. While it's not quite the same as having someone else massage your feet you can achieve this spa-like mojo at home.
 
Grab a container that is big enough to comfortably fit both your feet in and fill it with hot water. Next add about five drops of your essential oil of choice (we recommend eucalyptus oil for its soothing properties) and let your feet soak while you scroll through Instagram or catch up on your favourite series.
 
Another combination that makes for an amazing soak is equal parts milk and water with a few drops of lavender oil.
 
Our product picks: The Soil Organic Essential Oil range has both Eucalyptus and Lavender oils in their line-up.

#3. Push Back Those Cuticles

You probably neglect the cuticles of your toenails in a big way, so this step is going to make a big difference.
 
If they are looking a bit sad, it's a good idea to give them a little heavy-duty treatment. Try Sally Hansen 18K Gold Cuticle Eraser or Mavala's Cuticle Remover which soften and help remove overgrown cuticles in one application.
 
Alternatively, rub cuticle oil into your cuticle beds and give them a light massage. Our product picks - Mavala Cuticle Oil and Mineral Line Dead Sea Cuticle Oil.
 
Next take your cuticle stick and push back your cuticles along every nail (you can cover the tip of the stick with a little cotton wool so it’s a bit gentler on your skin). Finally, wash well with soapy water and dry nails before continuing with manicure.
 
Related: Want to Find the Most Awesome Nail Shape for You?

#4. Remove That Dead Skin

The area around your big toe and heels is where dead skin tends to build up, and it's not a cute look.
 
While your feet are still wet massage an exfoliating foot scrub into them, taking extra time over your problem areas. Two of our faves are Dr Organic Manuka Honey Foot Scrub and Freeman Bare Foot Revitalising Foot Scrub Lemon & Sage.
 
If your feet are looking really battered and bad try Skin Republic’s Foot Peel Foot Mask. Packed with 15 plant extracts, this exfoliating serum uses alpha hydroxy acids to remove dead skin cells, and get to work on calluses and rough skin to peel away dead skin within 7 days, while a blend of green tea and vitamins helps to soothe and hydrate dry patches.
 
 
If you would like to save a few bucks, making your own foot scrub is pretty easy so why not give it a go. Here's a simple recipe to try that will leave your feet smelling and feeling divine:
Half a cup of coarse sea salt
1/8 cup of olive oil
2 sprigs of rosemary
First crush up the rosemary using your kitchen pestle and mortar (if you don't have one the bottom end of a wine bottle will do a similar job!). Then add the sea salt and olive oil and crush them all up together for about a minute. The rosemary will provide relief to aching muscles, the olive oil is super moisturising and the sea salt will remove dry, flaky skin.
 
And if you've ever heard of the Listerine foot soak, it turns out that it is one of those Internet hacks that actually works. See the inside story from Allure here.
 
Related: What You Need to Know Before You Get a Gel Manicure

#5. Massage and Moisturise

After you have rinsed off the last of your exfoliating scrub it's time to take your feet out of your DIY soaking station (don't worry, the relaxing part isn't quite done yet).
 
Pat your feet dry with a towel and grab your foot cream. You can use regular body moisturiser but a foot cream is usually a lot thicker, offering way more moisture to the rough skin under your feet. Rub in well, giving yourself a massage as you go.
 
If you don't have a foot cream around, a good hand cream like Eucerin Intensive Hand Cream for Dry Skin or Mavala Hand Cream will do the job just as well.

View Video. HOW TO: PEDICURE AT HOME

#6. Get Painting

Before you apply your polish, you need to remove any excess moisture and oil from your nails. Use a cotton pad with nail polish remover on your nails again even if you got all of the polish off earlier; this is to make sure your nails aren't oily so that the polish sticks to them.
 
It really helps to separate your toes to avoid any scuffing of polish when your toes very inconveniently tuck under each other. Use a toe spreader (like the one from Titania) or wrap a long thin piece of cotton wool above and below the toes on each foot.
 
First apply your basecoat. Toenails tend to have more ridges than your fingernails so this step is crucial to ensure you don’t end up with bumpy nails.
 
If you have really distinct ridges, instead of a base coat use Mavala Nail Ridge Filler which evens out the ridges of the nail plate and gives a uniform and smooth nail surface, allowing the polish to last longer (you may need two coats if the ridges are deep).
 
After choosing your colour, apply to each nail in three strokes, one in the middle and one on either side, which will distribute just the right amount of product. If you need a little colour inspo for your toes, check out the latest summer shades which are best suited to your skin tone.
 
Because your feet take such a knocking you should apply a minimum of two layers but can also go up to three. Wait a few minutes between each layer (this is your chance to lie back and relax some more). And then finish off with a top coat.
 
Avoid wearing socks and shoes for at least an hour afterwards, just to be on the safe side because no one likes a smudged job. Even showering a couple of hours later can get moisture under the nails and lead to dents. Rather invest in a quick dry product like Revlon's 60 Second Quick Dry Spray to speed things up. Then, just sit still for a bit. There’s always Netflix.
 
Our product picks:
Base Coat: Morgan Taylor React No-Light Extended Wear Base Coat, Essie Base Coat First Base, Essence Mega Last Base Coat.
Top Coat: Sally Hansen Miraclegel Top Coat, Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Top Coat, Sinful Colors Sinful Shine Top Coat.
 
Related: The Hottest Summer Nail Trends You Need to Know Now

#7. Maintain Your Look

Now that your feet are perfectly soft and polished you need to keep it up so that the next time you give yourself a pedicure there's less time spent on scrubbing dead skin and more time spent on lying back and relaxing.
 
Get into the habit of using a pumice stone or foot file twice a week in the shower and use a thick foot moisturiser immediately after drying off.
 
Every now and then treat your feet to an ultra luxurious dose of moisture by using nappy rash cream (yes, you read that right). Slather the thick cream onto your feet just before bed. It won't absorb well but that's fine; it’ll do that while you sleep. To prevent it from ruining your sheets tie a plastic bag onto each foot, which you can remove in the morning to unveil your soft-as-a-baby’s-bottom feet. Whoever you share your bed with might think you're weird but will appreciate it the next time you use them as a human foot-warmer in the middle of the night.
 
If the overnight bit doesn't appeal, then keep your feet happy with the 20-minute Skin Republic Foot Repair Moisture Intense Foot Mask treatment (you can also leave it on overnight). These 'mask' booties contain gingko biloba, green tea, peppermint, seaweed and shea butter to intensely moisturise and repair dry, chapped feet and heels.

View Video. HOW TO: PEDICURE AT HOME