How Long Does A French Pedicure Last?

Now that summer is just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about getting our feet ready for sandal weather. One of the best ways to do that is to get a pedicure, and one of the easiest ways to ensure your nail color will go well with any look or color is to choose a French pedicure. You may be wondering though, how long does a French pedicure last? We've reviewed various pedicure techniques to get the best answer for you.

A well-done French pedicure will last on average between eight and fifteen days. Whether it lasts a longer or shorter period depends on a couple of factors, such as the quality of the pedicure and how carefully you take care of your feet afterward.

Now that we've given you a basic idea of how long a French pedicure can last, let's go into a little more detail on the factors that affect the length of time your French pedicure will last. Keep reading for more info and tips on how to make your pedicure last longer.

Pampered feet with french pedicure, How Long Does A French Pedicure Last?

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A basic French pedicure gives feet a smooth and clean look

Female feet with french pedicure

One way to extend your French pedicure is to have it done professionally. Not only will a manicurist ensure sleek lines, but they also usually apply multiple topcoats to protect the nail polish from damage. Applying multiple coats of a protective topcoat can also extend the life of a home French pedicure since it protects your nails and prevents polish from chipping. After your professional application, there are a variety of techniques you can use to prolong your pedicure.

Reapply Topcoat At Home

You should also keep a bottle of nail polish topcoat handy and reapply it every five to seven days to provide extra protection for your pedicure. Choosing a high-quality topcoat is key; pick one that will provide a high level of protection and keep your French pedicure looking fresh.

Choosing the right top coat, like this one, will keep your polish protected. Click here to see it at Amazon.

A French pedicure is the classic summer look.

Allow Plenty of Drying Time

Another way to extend your pedicure is to make sure you give it plenty of time to dry. Even though your polish will have reached an initial dryness level shortly after you have completed your pedicure, it may still be slightly sticky. While it is still in this almost dry state, make sure you are careful to avoid damaging it. It's always a good idea to try to avoid putting on close-toed shoes until your nails are completely dry. As an added bonus, it gives you an excuse to show off your new French pedicure.

The classic French pedicure is the perfect complement to these fun starfish sandals.

Protect Your Toes Outdoors

As cute as your fancy toes look, if you want to extend the life of your French pedicure, you should avoid wearing flip-flops or walking barefoot for any activities where your nails might easily be chipped. Simple things, like walking barefoot in the sand, can cause your nail polish to get pitted or chipped beyond repair. If you're planning for a long walk on the beach or going out for a hike, sneakers are a better choice.

Walking in the sand barefoot can shorten the lifespan of a French pedicure.

Protect Your Toes Indoors

Outdoors isn't the only place you can damage your polish. Even when you're just lounging around the house, it's a good idea to wear socks. In addition to being comfy, socks also protect your pedicure from potential damage. They provide a cushion that protects your nail polish from getting chipped, which can ruin the look of your sleek pedicure.

Young woman with laptop at home wearing white socks

Wearing socks around the house can protect your pedicure from chips and damage.

What is a French pedicure?

You may be surprised to hear this, but not only is the French pedicure not French, but it wasn't even originally called a French pedicure. It also isn't even that old. The French pedicure was created in the mid-1970s by Jeff Pink, who spent time in the film industry as a make-up artist before moving into the beauty supply business.

After opening his beauty supply store, Jeff Pink was approached by an old contact in the film industry who was looking for a solution to a very time-consuming problem. In the 1970s, the fashion was for women to match their nail polish to their outfits. Since the nail polish of that time took an hour to dry, studios everywhere wasted hours on film sets because every costume change also required a polish change.

Pink's solution was what we now know as a French manicure.  This new style went with everything and saved the studios a lot of time and money since constant polish changes were no longer needed. Pink also created a home kit based on this idea that he originally called the Natural Nail Kit. Later, after successfully pitching his idea to the fashion industry during Paris fashion week, Pink renamed his idea the French manicure and the rest, as they say, is history.

This French manicure kit, including a white nail polish pen to simplify the white application, is available at Amazon -click here.

How long does a French pedicure take?

While the French pedicure saved those Hollywood studios a large amount of time, it can be a little time-consuming to get one even nowadays. Due to the detailed work, a French pedicure can take up to 90 minutes. While some of this time is due to the other elements of a pedicure, the extra work required to create the French look is at least partly responsible.

Young woman having her feet scrubbed in beauty salon

A pedicure can be the perfect way to relax after a long week.

This foot bath is perfect for a relaxed home pedicure when you're on a budget. Click here to see it at Amazon.

Even though fashion no longer requires nail polish colors to be matched with every outfit, a French pedicure is still worth the extra time. The versatility of a French pedicure allows you to choose your wardrobe without worrying something might not go with your chosen nail color. The French pedicure also gives you a look that is both natural and polished.

Woman's feet with french pedicure wearing stilletos

A French pedicure is perfect for those special occasions when you don't want a bright color polish detracting from your designer shoes.

If you really want the look of a French pedicure but don't have the time or skill set, this might be just what you're looking for. Click here to see it at Amazon.

Can you get a French pedicure with gel polish?

Most places that offer single-color pedicures using gel polish will also be able to give you a French pedicure with gel polish. It's good to keep in mind that a French pedicure with gel polish, as with other gel pedicures, might be slightly more expensive. However, since the gel polish creates a stronger protective layer, your gel French pedicure will likely last slightly longer.

This is a cute French pedicure look with gel polish that follows the original pink and white French pedicure color scheme.

https://depositphotos.com/stock-photos/french-pedicure.html?filter=all&sorting=lf_promoted_bm&qview=90847218

You can spice up a French pedicure by adding some nail designs to random nails.

What is the most popular color for a pedicure?

Natural colors are very popular; beiges, pinks, and various mauve tones. In addition to matching any outfit, natural colors don't take attention away from your overall look. White has also become a popular color for the same reason.  This season's whites cover a range of hues, from flat white to pearl to glitter.

Neutral colors are popular because they go with anything and are a time saver.

Also popular this year are greens and blues of various hues. When used in darker colors, these make more of a statement than their neutral cousins. However, some colors, such as navy blue or olive green, offer some of the same wardrobe flexibility as beige or pink. Using a neutral dark color allows you to have statement nails without limiting your clothing choices.  After all, you have many more important things to worry about.

This nail color set has a range of greens and blues to try for 2021. Click here to see it at Amazon.

In Closing

Pampered feet with french pedicure, How Long Does A French Pedicure Last?

As we move into the summer of 2021 with so much demanding our attention, the shift seems to be toward simplifying, both in beauty and in life. We are looking for beauty hacks that will give us more time, like more neutral colors that require fewer polish changes. These hacks allow us to handle all the ins and outs of everyday life while still looking good and feeling good about ourselves. Given its history, our continued love of the French manicure makes perfect sense. Created to simplify life on the big screen, it was an idea well before its time.

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