How often do you enjoy a pedicure? It's a wonderful way to relax and engage in some self-care. But did you know you could be making small mistakes that affect the outcome of your pedicure?
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To maximize your experience, it’s important to know the dos and don’ts, especially what to do with your toenails before the pedicure. While it’s lovely to have your feet pampered, pedicures can sometimes lead to minor annoyances or more serious health issues.
Like any other part of your body, your toes can suffer injuries or infections if not handled carefully. Keep reading to learn how to prepare for a pedicure safely!
Cutting Your Toenails For A Pedicure
You can cut your nails before getting a pedicure, but knowing what you're doing is very important. Many people tend to cut their toenails exactly like they cut their fingernails, which is incorrect. Here are some things to think about before deciding whether to trim your toenails!
Why You Can Cut Your Toenails Before A Pedicure
Many individuals think that they absolutely can't cut their toenails before a pedicure. This is probably because their nail technician told them not to.
However, they don't tell you that because you're cutting your nails. They tell you that because of how you're cutting them. As long as you know how to trim them properly, it won't cause any issues when you sit down to get your toes done.
How To Cut Your Toenails Properly
Everyone tends to cut their toenails too short and round them. Since your toenails and cuticles grow differently than your fingernails, it's important to know how to cut them.
Instead of rounding them and cutting the sides of each nail shorter than the middle, you want to cut them straight across.
Using this technique will help to ensure that you don't cause any painful issues with your toenails. Also, be sure to use the correct tool for the job. No matter how tough your toenails might be, some clippers can get the job done!
If you need the right tools, our article "10 Best Pedicure Kits For Dry Skin—Your Feet Will Thank You!" might be helpful.
What Happens When You Cut Your Toenails Incorrectly?
Cutting your toenails incorrectly can lead to ingrown nails, cuts around your nails, and infection. When you cut the edges of your toenails too short, the skin around them starts to grow over the nail. This is a very common issue with toenails.
When that happens, the toenail can easily become ingrown, leading to punctures in the skin around the toenails. According to Mayoclinic.org's article on ingrown toenails, this is a serious issue.
There are a couple of reasons why your nail technicians don't want you to come in for a pedicure when this issue is happening to one or more of your toenails. First, if the skin is punctured, you can easily get an infection.
Spas and salons do their best to keep everything clean, but no one can guarantee that bacteria won't find their way into a wound. The second reason is that they can't very easily trim and shape your nails when they're like this.
You Don't Have To Cut Your Toenails Before A Pedicure
No matter how long your toenails might be, the chances are that your technician won't be fazed. Part of a pedicure is getting your toenails trimmed and shaped professionally. They expect to do that as part of the process, and it's part of what you are paying for.
If you are self-conscious about your toenails or prefer to cut them yourself, that's perfectly fine as long as you do it correctly. However, getting a pedicure is not required.
More Pedicure Questions
Unfortunately, nail care for pedicures involves more than just trimming them correctly. Since ill-prepared toenails can lead to infections or other injuries, you need to handle any issues that may arise. Here are some other dos and don'ts regarding toenails and pedicures.
How Long Should Toenails Be For A Pedicure?
Whether it's for a pedicure or just out and about, you don't want your toenails too long any more than you want them to be too short.
When your toenails are too long, there isn't an obvious danger, like when they are too short. However, it can quickly turn into a bad situation.
With longer toenails comes a higher chance of catching them or hitting them and making them rip, tear, and chip. This is bad because they can easily tear down into the nail bed and cause all kinds of pain. That's why it's recommended that toenails be 1 to 2 millimeters long.
How Do You Know If Your Toenails Are Too Long?
While it differs depending on the person, you can usually tell when your toenails are getting too long. If you notice that they are hitting on things or getting caught, that's a good sign.
Another is if your toenails hit the inside of your shoes. If they get really bad, then they will start to curl around the top of your toe. If any of these things are happening, then it's time to cut your toenails!
Can You Get A Pedicure With Bad Toenails?
This depends on how bad your toenails are and what salon you go to. Unfortunately, not all salons have standards as high as they should for things like this. If your toenails are severely overgrown, ingrown, or have fungus, you may still be able to get a pedicure.
However, even if they allow you to, you should not get one done under these circumstances. There is a potential danger for you and others if you have a fungus or something that can be spread.
When Should You Not Get A Pedicure?
You should not get a pedicure if you have a fungal infection or some open wound, no matter how small. Fungal infections are highly contagious, and you can easily spread them to others. Make sure to get it taken care of by a doctor before getting a pedicure.
You should also never get a pedicure if you have a wound or an underlying issue. From a small cut to a nail falling off, they are all prone to infection, which can have very serious consequences.
Some health problems that may affect your ability to get pedicures would be if you have foot issues from diabetes or are immune-compromised.
How Do You Prepare Your Feet For A Pedicure?
You can do some things to prepare for a successful pedicure. First, clean and moisturize your feet. You should do this in between pedicures, too, but it helps a lot right before one. Second, do not shave your legs right before you go in.
You shouldn't shave your legs within a couple of days before getting a pedicure because even the slightest cuts from shaving can get infected. The last thing to do is make sure that you wear the appropriate footwear!
Before we conclude, if you’re curious about pedicure costs, take a look at our article, "How Much Does A Pedicure Cost? [By Type Of Pedicure]," for detailed pricing information.
Wrapping Up Pedicure Prep
There’s no need to cut your toenails before a pedicure unless you prefer to. If you do choose to trim them, cut straight across to avoid ingrown nails, which can be painful and problematic.
If you're unsure about the right way to trim, your nail technician can handle it during your appointment. Once your nails are taken care of, just relax and enjoy your pedicure!
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