What the heck is a "Summer toe?" Personally, I prefer YEAR-ROUND toes, myself! How about you?
I'm all about a catchy title, you know! What this little Public Service Announcement is all about...is helping you have the prettiest toes and feet possible as you sport around in your cute flip flops.
If you happened to catch my Public Service Announcement about the Household Hazards of the Flip Flop, then you understand my commitment to: a) wearing the flip flop, and b) your health and safety.
And, it is hazardous to your mental health and well-being to have ugly--or even worse--NUDIE toenails in aforementioned flip flops.
Here are my FAVORITE ways to help you have...you know...Pretty Summer Toes!
1. It goes without saying, if you have the time and money--go for a PEDICURE. And preferably a place with massage chairs. Because I call that a two-fer. A pedicure AND a massage for the price of one. Even if you can get a pedicure at the beginning of the summer, just to kick start that good foot hygiene. Get that rough, dry skin off your heels and by all means get those corns worked on. (Oh, I cannot tell you how that tickles me to say the word "corns" in relation to feet. I have no idea why...maybe because it sounds like such a grandmaw to refer to corns on the foot.)
2. If you cannot afford weekly or monthly pedicures (I sure can't!), then you are going to have to school yourself on the Art of the Pedicure. But, have no fear! Because, boy do I have a TRICK for you. You will be THRILLED and AMAZED at this trick--and its outcome!!! (Scroll on down to the end of the post if you just can't wait...)
Raise your hand if you're excited!!!
Need some basic skills...Or do you want to have a little fun???
Recently, I stumbled onto a really FUN website--www.opi.com--that gives great instructions on how to paint your fingernails. Just apply that knowledge to your toes, and you've got a good start! But--don't forget my TRICKY TRICK! I'm getting there, I'm getting there! My FAVORITE part on the Opi website is the "Try on this color" tab at the top. You can pick an Opi color on the right, and "apply" it to the (slightly creepy) hand. You can play with skin tone color and nail length. Go on--click on over to Opi.com--I'll be here when you return. I betcha $10 you will try more than one color! It's fun and it's addicting!!! (No, I'm not really going to pay you $10, because I just bet that gambling on blogs is illegal, and I am a by the books kind of gal!)
Just for fun, click on the "Alice" set of colors, and try on "Thank you very muchness." That one is my favorite on the site! (and I tried on like 49 colors) Do you think I could pull off the sparkly blue "Alice" color? How fun is that?
Okay, but back to toenail business.
First, go purchase the right tools. For the Art of the Pedicure (doesn't that sound fancy?), you will need:
Fingernail clippers I don't get fancy with my clippers--just the basics, mam. And yes, I use fingernail clippers on my toes, and toenail clippers on my fingers. (Not really--fingernail clippers for all my clipping needs.)
Clear base coat and top coat (I use one product for both--like this one) One product=saves $ and space...Two things I am a fan of!
Fun color nail polish(My favorites are Opi, purchased at a salon or beauty supply store, or Revlon, purchased at Wal-Mart or any drug store) Be a little adventurous with your toenail color...your toes only live once, you know! Right now, I am wearing Opi's Festive Fuchsia--which has a little sparkle in it...it's like a party on my toes!
A good foot cream My current favorite is Gold Bond Foot Cream. It tickles me a little to tell you that I found out about this product from one of my uncles (Hi, Uncle Bob!!!) I saw this tube in the guest bedroom when he and my aunt were visiting, and I asked him about it. Being a good outdoorsy Minnesotan, Bob knows about dry skin. When Uncle Bob says this is good foot cream--you can take that to the bank! (Again, I am SO TICKLED that I am mentioning Uncle Bob in a beauty post. He is definitely a man's man!) I like to put on this pepperminty, thick and rich foot cream right at bedtime. In fact, I keep it in my nightstand drawer.
Okay, if you have all the supplies, and a basic knowledge of how to paint your toenails from Opi.com, then you are READY for my TRICKY TRICK!!!
"Oh you will LOVE this trick" said in Kevin Malone's voice
This trick is called: How to paint your toenails so that every surface is covered, and they look perfectly painted.
But first--here's my disclaimer. Professional pedicurists are able to do this using several great tools. I'm sure if I took the time to purchase said tools and learn how to use them, I could get the same results.
Since I am a LAZY toenail painter, I picked up this TRICK somewhere along the path of toenail life.
Toenail Painting TRICKY TRICK:
1. Paint your toenails at night about an hour before bed. Plan ahead, and watch your favorite show when painting. That way, you paint, and then you finish watching the show while your nails dry.
2. When you paint your nails (toe or finger, mattereth not)--paint the ENTIRE SURFACE, not worrying one bit about getting paint on the skin or cuticle. In fact--you WANT TO GET PAINT ON THE SKIN AROUND THE NAIL. This is the main part of the TRICK. If the entire nail surface is painted, it not only looks better, but the polish lasts a lot longer if there are no bare edges to chip. An entirely painted nail--covered entirely with a top coat--generally will last a month.
*This means, first paint with a clear base coat--covering entire nail, sides of nail (spilling over onto skin on both sides), and also the lateral part of the clipped part of the nail.
*Wait a few minutes, and paint same way with your color--only 1 smooth coat at a time.
*If needed (usually not needed if you get a good coat the first time--you don't want the polish to get gloppy by using too much) paint a 2nd color coat.
*Wait a few minutes, and paint a clear top coat--covering entire surface, and lateral clipped edge.
*Now, wait a good 30 minutes before going to bed. Here's a happy part: If your toenails do get some of the "sheet imprint" from going to bed before they are completely hardened, you can always just put on another quick clear top coat on in the morning!
3. Now HERE is WHY you paint your toenails before bed--all that "sloppy-looking" extra paint on your skin and cuticles will COME OFF IN THE SHOWER--leaving A PERFECT-LOOKING PEDICURE!!! I kid you not!
Now, the paint doesn't magically fall off--you do have to sort of "scratch" it off. What I do is shower, wash my hair, shave my legs, etc, then right before getting out of the shower, reach down and lightly scratch the paint off the skin. Because your skin and the paint have been moistened in the shower, the paint peels off easily! Just scratch it off the skin--and carefully off the cuticles. Be careful not to scratch the nail part because that part will chip off, too.
When you get out of the shower, you will be AMAZED at how perfect your toes look!
And I call that...Pretty Summer Toes!!!
Linked up with:
Sugar and Spice at Seven-Thirty-Three
Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family
Penny Pinching Party at Thrifty Home
I'm Lovin' It Fridays at Tidy Mom
Favorite Things Friday at A Few of My Favorite Things
Saturday is Crafty Day at Along for the Ride
