Open season

I have a foot fetish. If I were born male, I’d definitely be a foot man. In the ’90s film Boomerang, where Eddie Murphy’s character picked the ladies he dated based on how aesthetically pleasing their feet were, I laughed and thought, “Not a bad criteria.” I suppose it also comes with my love for pretty, open-toed heels and sandals. What good are they if my toes were dull and colorless and my feet, dry and callused?

Thus, getting pedicures became one of my little pleasures. And since I don’t splurge on spas, hair salons and facials, I consider a trip to the nail salon my favorite indulgence. A pedicure is the easiest way to decorate your body. It’s non-evasive, doesn’t require much commitment (except for a little TLC) and is a transparent reflection of how you’re feeling at the moment. It’s seasonal too. Now that’s it’s the height of summer, it’s all the more important, since the feet are more exposed than usual with all these out-of-town trips. Flip-flop season equals shiny, clean and perfectly filed nails. Unfortunately, after numerous dive trips, my toes were looking less than stellar and it was time for the experts at Nail Spa to take over. I sought advice from part-owner Anna Ricardo on the best way to keep nails healthy, prepping for a pedicure and getting the feet ready for the sun, surf and sand.

What are the hot colors this season?

Summer colors are always bright such as orange, golden bronze, coral, red. Although some girls still prefer nudes and French tips for a clean and easier-to-maintain look.

How do you prep the nails for a long-lasting pedicure? 

It’s important to keep the nails/feet well hydrated. Drink lots of water. Moisturize! Apply cuticle oil as often as possible (there are many brands that are small enough to fit in your purse); at the minimum, after a bath and before sleeping. This will keep your cuticles from becoming dry. Also, before applying polish, make sure to wipe off any oil or lotion. Use a good base coat to protect your nails and ensure that your polish will not chip. If your nails are soft and weak (chips or cracks easily), apply a nail strengthener to keep them from breaking.

How do you keep nails healthy and white? And if they’re already dull and yellow from too much polish, what’s the best remedy? A well-balanced diet plays a big factor. Fruits and veggies and a lot of calcium help keep nails strong. To keep them healthy, maintenance is key. Avoid leaving your polish on for too long. Do not bite or pick on your nails/cuticles. For yellowish nails, you can do a home remedy and soak them in lemon juice. At Nail Spa, we have a nail whitening treatment that is applied to the nails. It’s a powder that is mixed in lukewarm water where you soak your feet for a few minutes. After a couple of sessions, nails are relatively whiter. But nothing is better than letting your nails “breathe” for a while and go without polish for a few days before applying a new shade.

How long are you supposed to keep a pedicure until you change the color?

Most brands claim you can wear their polish for two or more weeks without yellowing the nails. Some are true, some are not. Sometimes it even varies per color. We recommend you remove polish after seven days or a maximum of two weeks, regardless of the brand.

Do dark colors make your nails prone to yellowing more than nudes or light shades?

They do because of the pigments used. Formulation is a big factor on how your nails react to lacquer, especially under the sun. I suggest regularly changing the polish so as not to create stains and alternating the dark with lighter shades that have fewer pigments.

Tips on how to make the most of your pedicure?

Always use a good base coat to protect your nails and a good topcoat to protect your polish. Apply the topcoat thoroughly until the edges because that’s where chipping starts. Avoid using your nails like a tool to prevent chipping, cracking and splitting. And let your nails dry for 24 hours before wearing closed shoes to make sure your pedicure doesn’t get ruined.