A pedicure usually takes 45 minutes to an hour.
Time
A basic pedicure takes 30 to 45 minutes. A full spa pedicure with scrub, massage and polish takes 45 to 60 minutes. Gel adds 15 minutes.
Steps
Soak, trim nails, remove cuticles, exfoliate, massage, polish.
Cost
$25 to $80, depending on location.
Safety
- Choose a licensed salon with sterilized tools.
- Don’t shave your legs 24 hours before.
- Don’t have a pedicure with cuts or infections.
Frequency
Every 4 to 6 weeks.
Health
Foot infections can come from dirty tubs. The FDA recommends clean tools and disinfected basins.
Diabetes
People with diabetes should ask their doctor first.
Time
A basic pedicure takes 30 to 45 minutes, while a spa pedicure with a longer massage, scrub and mask can take 60 to 90 minutes. A gel polish pedicure adds about 10 to 15 minutes for curing. Call ahead for the service length.
Steps
- Soak the feet in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Nails are trimmed, shaped and cuticles tidied.
- Calluses are filed gently with a foot file, not cut with a blade.
- Exfoliating scrub and massage.
- Moisturizer or lotion.
- Polish: base coat, color and top coat.
Cost
In the US, a basic pedicure costs $30 to $60, a spa pedicure $50 to $100, and a gel pedicure $50 to $90, with tips of 15% to 20% on top. Prices are higher in big cities.
Safety
- Choose a salon licensed by the state board of cosmetology, with clear cleaning rules.
- Metal tools should be sterilized in an autoclave or disposable. Files and buffers should be new or single-use.
- Foot basins should be cleaned and disinfected after each client. Whirlpool jets are a known risk for Mycobacterium fortuitum infections, which have caused outbreaks.
- Avoid shaving legs within 24 hours before a pedicure, since tiny cuts raise infection risk.
- Do not allow cuticle cutting, which can open the skin to infection, pushing back is safer.
- Bring your own tools if worried.
Frequency
Many people get a pedicure every 4 to 6 weeks, in line with the growth of nails (toenails grow about 1 millimeter a month). Gel polish lasts 2 to 3 weeks on fingers and often 4 to 6 weeks on toes.
Health
Pedicures can help detect early foot problems such as fungal infections, ingrown nails and calluses. Healthy nails are pink and smooth. Fungus causes yellow, thick, brittle nails, and should be treated by a doctor.
Diabetes
People with diabetes or poor circulation should be careful, because small cuts can lead to serious infections and ulcers. Ask a doctor first, avoid soaking in hot water, never let someone cut calluses, and consider a medical pedicure with a podiatrist.
Cost, hygiene and foot health
A basic pedicure usually takes 30 to 45 minutes, and a spa pedicure with scrubs and massage can run 60 to 90 minutes. Prices in the US generally range from about 30 to 80 USD before tip, with tipping 15 to 20 percent typical. Salons should disinfect metal tools in an EPA registered disinfectant or use a sterilizer, and pedicure whirlpool tubs have been linked to outbreaks of Mycobacterium fortuitum infections. Avoid shaving legs 24 hours before to reduce the risk of infection through tiny cuts. People with diabetes, poor circulation or neuropathy should talk to a podiatrist before getting pedicures, since small cuts can turn into serious sores. Cuticles protect against infection, so ask the nail technician not to cut them. Nail fungus affects about 10 percent of adults. Bring your own tools if you are worried about sanitation.
Based on data from the American Podiatric Medical Association and state cosmetology boards
