We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.Why Trust Us?

DIY a fresh pedi with these seven easy steps.

Who cares if the only people seeing your toes right now are your family and your dog? Spring still means digging your favorite sandals out of the closet and getting a bright and shiny new pedicure to go along with the warmer weather. Until your favorite nail salon is open again, here’s how to do a perfect at-home pedicure.

To do up your at-home pedicure right, you’ll need nail clippers, emery boards, a cuticle pusher, a pumice stone, foot lotion, and a place to soak your feet. A warm, fluffy towel and some great-smelling bath salts or oils help up the luxe-level of your experience. And, of course, make sure you have a fresh bottle of color and base and top coats.

First, you need to remove any old, chipped polish that’s left over from your last pedicure. This is harder than you may think, says Lyn Lam, co-founder of Kapa Nui Nails, a line of non-toxic, water-based nail polishes (we love their bright cherry Lehua Blossom for toes this season) “Because toenails are drier than fingernails, polish is harder to remove,” she explains. Dip a cotton ball in polish remover and press against the nail for a few seconds to dissolve the polish—you may need to go over your toes twice to remove every last speck of color.

Unlike fingernails, which you may prefer to keep rounded so the edges don’t snag on anything, toenails should be cut square, says Linda Sweeney, an instructor, consultant, and the former owner of the Academy of Nail Technology. “Toenails should be cut leaving corners and filed straight across,” she says, pointing out that cutting them too short can cause ingrown toenails.

The colder months may have left your feet dry and cracked, so indulge them in a nice, softening soak in warm water with bath salts. You’ll need a large plastic bowl or a foot spa, or you can just sit on the edge of your bathtub. Grab a magazine to read while you’re soaking and ask your partner or child to give you a shoulder rub, to get the full-on nail-salon experience.

Dry off your feet, and then gently go over your heels and the balls of your feet with a pumice stone. Then push back the softened cuticles with a cuticle stick or soften with cuticle remover (don’t cut them, since that can potentially lead to infection). After rubbing in some of your favorite foot cream, swipe over the nails once again with polish remover to get rid of any lingering oil or lotion.

If you have a toe-spreader, now’s the time to use it—or simply roll up a paper towel and twist it between your toes as they do at the salons. Lam has a time-saving trick: You can skip the base coat on toes, she says, since the dryness of the toenails means that color coats will stay on longer, even without using a bottom coat. Paint on two coats of your favorite color, waiting a minute or two in between coats, and then swipe on a quick drying top coat. Polish can stay on toes up to a month or even longer, says Lam—perhaps by the time you need your next pedicure, your favorite salon will be open.

Now comes the single most important step of any at-home pedicure. Get comfortable, put your feet up, grab a quarantini or a glass of wine, and relax until your toes are dry. And dream of the day we can all gather in the salon again. “I believe the pampering and relaxation of a salon service will be much appreciated after the challenge of home manicures and pedicures,” says Sweeney.

Support from readers like you helps us do our best work. Go here to subscribe to Prevention and get 12 FREE gifts. And sign up for our FREE newsletter here for daily health, nutrition, and fitness advice.

Jamie Lee Curtis Stuns in Spicy Throwback Portrait

Diane von Furstenberg Shares Swimsuit Selfie

Giada De Laurentiis on Aging and Self-Confidence

How to Get Rid of Skin Tags

Halle Berry, 56, Shares Selfie With Gray Hair

Celebs Love These Under-$40 Beauty Products

Jennifer Aniston Stuns in Beachy Swimsuit Selfie

Paulina Porizkova Says Women Don’t Need ‘Fixing’

45 Gifts Any Beauty Lover Would Want

16 Hydrating Masks for Dry, Lifeless Strands

Salma Hayek, 55, Stuns in Makeup-Free Selfie

Eva Longoria Is a Vision in a Pink Shorts Suit

A Part of Hearst Digital Media

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.

©Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.