Professional beauty treatments should be one of life's pleasures - but they can also be a bit awkward if you're unsure of the etiquette. And with a pedicure, that awkwardness can feel heightened, because, well, feet.
How much dry skin is too much? Is arriving with chipped polish acceptable? How about hot, swollen soles because you've been dashing around in sandals since 7 am (asking for a friend). It's one thing knowing what a pedicure involves; it's quite another understanding what role we should play.
So we asked Susan Carroll, founder of Notting Hill beauty destination Young LDN, if most clients prep their feet before a pedi, who advised, "Not necessarily, and there's no need to worry if you haven't. A professional pedicure is designed to leave your feet looking and feeling their best regardless." Very reassuring, but we did dig deeper to uncover a surprising pre-pedi 'don't' we had never considered before.
What not to do before a pedicure appointment
When asked if there were any big pre-pedi no-nos, Carroll shared, "It's best not to shave your legs immediately before your appointment, particularly if you're having a spa pedicure, as freshly shaved skin can be more sensitive."
This makes sense, as shaving exfoliates the skin, can expose hair follicles, and often causes invisible (or sometimes visible) inflammation; you don't want to go dunking your ankles in a footbath straight after all that. If you're wondering how long to wait, the rule of thumb for when to shave your legs before tanning applies here too - 24 hours is an ideal window to allow everything to settle down and avoid irritation.
Keen for more tips to help you be a gold star client? Carroll also shared three helpful practises that will ensure a seamless pedi experience.
1. Arrive as a blank canvas
"The most important thing is simply arriving with clean feet, and any existing nail polish removed if possible," says Carroll. This will help your pedi get off to an efficient start, as your nail technician will be able to get to work right away.
Tend to get gel pedis? Excepting those who have mastered how to remove gel polish at home south of the ankle (quite the skill), most people who get gels prefer to book in for professional removal as an add-on to their appointment.
As for clean feet, we understand life (and end-of-the-day appointments) can get in the way of our dreams of arriving absolutely spick and span - but there's always a quick going over with a refreshing biodegradable wipe to fall back on.
Not just for pre-pedicure freshness, these luxurious wipes feel like heaven on hot, puffy or tired feet and are infused with tingly, aromatic lemon myrtle and witch hazel.
2. Stay hydrated
You probably saw this one coming - but one of the best ways to optimise your pedi appointment is not allowing your feet to get unreasonably dehydrated beforehand.
"Keeping your feet regularly moisturised and avoiding leaving long periods between pedicures will help maintain healthier skin and nails over time, " agrees Carroll, who advises that "applying a nourishing foot cream daily, particularly before bed, helps prevent dry, cracked skin and keeps feet softer between appointments."
A deeply unsexy product, but boy does this work. It combines nourishing ingredients with Urea, which draws moisture into heels and gently exfoliates away hard buildup, plus the stick format is handily mess-free.
3. File - but don't go wild
The final pillar of perfectly pedi-ready feet? "Using a gentle foot file once or twice a week can help minimise hard skin," advises Carroll. However, this tip comes with a warning: "Avoid using harsh foot files or blades at home, as over-filing can leave the skin sore and encourage calluses to return even thicker."
This duo from the irresistible Brazilian-inspired brand is perfect motivation to keep up foot care at home. The file is gentle enough for regular use, and the cream smells incredible.
Gentle, regular filing with the right tool is better than occasionally going hammer and tongs with a surgical-style implement. Step away from anything with an open blade (even professionals shouldn't be using those) and towards rugged, board-style files - your nail technician will thank you for it.
