Who would have thought that doing a French pedicure at home and thus saving money that would have been wasted in an expensive salon is possible?
It’s not a patch-up either, of course. It is really possible to do a French pedicure as in beauty salons at home, and we will explain how.
Read on to discover our step-by-step guide to achieve French pedicure at home. Let’s go.
What is a French pedicure?
French pedicure is a way to embellish your nails with a thin white horizontal stripe on the tip of your nails, the rest of the nail being varnished in a clear, pink or neutral color.
It’s time to try the French pedicure! Read the following.
You’ll be needing:
- A nail polish remover
- Cotton
- A nail clipper
- A nail file
- A tray
- Hot water
- Epsom salt
- A towel
- An exfoliating cream
- A nail polisher
- A moisturizer
- Cuticle pusher
- Toe separator
- Nail polish (an opaque white and a transparent)
- A drying spray
Go to the next pages to read setep by step how to realize a French pedicure at home!
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First step: Prepare your nails
Before you even start doing anything, clean your nails first. Remove the nail polish already present on it, cut them (still leaving a little protruding for the installation of the French pedicure), and file them carefully.
Here are the steps to follow.
Wash your nails, then, with a cotton ball soaked in solvent, gently rub the varnish on your nails. Wash your feet again and let your nails dry.
Then file your nails. Do it from side to side until they are equal in size and smooth. Be sure to keep your nails long to allow for a French pedicure. Then do a final cleaning before dipping your feet in water.
Second step: Let your feet soak in the water
Ah, this is the best part! Take a lukewarm water bath and add Epsom salt. You can even decorate by adding a few drops of relaxing essential oil of lavender, rosehip or grapefruit.
Soak your feet in water and stay that way for 10 to 20 minutes. The bath will soften the skin on your feet and make it easier to care for rough areas of the skin. It also helps your skin to regenerate, relax and heal.
A word of advice: while your feet are soaking in the water, you can relax by reading a book or listening to soothing music.
Third step: exfoliate your little feet
Next, exfoliate your feet. It’s pretty simple and quick to do. Dry your feet with a clean towel after you get them out of the bath. Take a scrub and start rubbing with it your feet.
Rub the softened dead skin gently, with circular motions. This process also softens thick calluses on your feet. Start with one foot then go to the next. Take your time.
You can also use a pumice stone and rub the ends, tips and bottom of your feet with it. Do not rub too hard. Rinse and dry.
Step Four: Hydrate
Now is the time to reward yourself. Cover your feet with a creamy lotion and massage with your fingertips, applying gentle pressure on the skin to relax.
Choose a moisturizer that you like the texture and smell of. A sweet and fruity cream like that with mango butter or gourmet like that with cocoa butter or shea butter. Cover the entire foot.
Massage your feet for a good 10 minutes, until the moisturizer completely penetrates your skin. Your skin will be fresh and shiny after being well hydrated.
Sixth Step: Apply nail polish to your nails
The funniest part is this. Take a toe separator and place it on your feet: it will be easier to varnish your nails. Otherwise, cotton balls will do the trick.
Apply a layer of clear varnish and let it dry for a few minutes. You can choose pale pink, beige or any other color close to that of the skin.
Seventh step: Add the touch of French pedicure
This is the central part: doing a French pedicure. It’s quite easy. You just have to aim right. Take an opaque white nail polish and apply it horizontally on the tip of your nails from one end to the other, on the first layer of polish. Let it dry, then apply the second coat in the other direction.
Take a creamy and pigmented color. You should get a thin white line on the top of your nails.
If it seems too difficult to do, you can opt for a concealer brush or use nail bands to make it easier. If there are white spots on the skin, just remove them with a brush dipped in varnish remover.
Eighth step: let it dry!
Soak your feet in cold water for a few minutes: this will help the nail polish to dry faster and make it last longer. Wait until the varnish dries.
Ninth step: Apply a second layer
So that all the nails are the same, you need to apply another layer of clear varnish. Apply a single coat of clear varnish to the entire nail. Finish the job with quick and uniform strokes: this will help cover the nail and enhance the French pedicure. You can also choose a very pale pink as a top coat.
Tenth step: spray drying spray
Take a drying spray and spray on your nails while keeping a distance. This will help your nails dry faster and allow you to continue the pedicure without risking damaging the other layers.
Be careful not to spray too much on the nails so as not to waste the product.
Pretty feet are fun to see, and pretty nails even more. Opt for a natural look and for the French pedicure. Show off your beautiful feet in sandals and flip flops. Follow our DIY French pedicure above and share your results with us in the comments.
Our expert’s answers to readers’ questions
How to make my French pedicure last longer?
Doing touch-ups regularly and reapplying varnish will help your French pedicure last longer.
What is a reverse French pedicure?
In an inverted French pedicure, the white layer is at the base of the nail and in a rounded shape, aligned with the base of the nail. A reverse French pedicure is not necessarily white and pink.
How long does my French pedicure last?
It depends on how you take care of your feet. The French pedicure will last 15 to 20 days if you maintain them well.
How to remove a French pedicure?
Simply remove it with a varnish remover.
What is the difference between a French pedicure and a normal pedicure?
A normal pedicure can be done with many varnish colors, unlike the French pedicure in neutral and white color.