Summer is here and it’s time to pull out those flip flops and sandals from last year; or maybe you just got great new strappy heels - lucky you! Either way, you want your feet to look their best. With all that open footwear, your feet are a wreck and you have to try twice as hard to maintain them. From start to finish, here is what you can do to keep your feet happy for summer:

·           Start from scratch - Remove old nail polish and begin with a blank canvas.

·           Clip nails - Not too short. Cutting the nail below the tip of the toe can cause an in-grown nail. (Make sure nails are completely dry before you clip or file).

·           File the nail - U se very gentle pressure (filing too hard can also cause in-grown nails).

·           Exfoliate - T he best way to exfoliate is with a high-concentration beta hydroxy acid product designed for warts. Start by soaking your feet in warm water and then apply a 5% or 10% salicylic acid cream (a pharmacist may need to create this special, upon request). Another method is to use a foot file and file softly in one direction, being careful not to over file which can result in redness and irritation, leading to infection.

·           Apply foot cream - There are many creams specifically designed for feet; most are typically thicker for more intense moisturizing. For better results, wear moisturizing socks for extended period of time - even overnight. This will really lock moisture in and leave feet feeling extra soft.

·           Cuticles - You can then apply cuticle cream and push cuticles back slightly with a cuticle stick. Do so carefully - tearing cuticles can lead to infection.

·           Polishing up - For long-lasting polish, apply a clear base coat so your polish has something sticky to “hold onto.” Then, apply two thin coats of colored polish, allowing at least 5 minutes to dry between coats. Last, apply a clear top coat. Keep applying a clear coat every couple of days and your paint job can last about a week. Then, there’s no getting around it - if you want your toenails to look flirty and pretty, you’ll need to repeat all the polish steps about once a week.

With each summer day calling for open-toed, open weaved or flip-flopping shoes, your feet are going to get dried out much faster than they would if they were fully covered by your winter boots. The most important thing in keeping your feet looking healthy is moisturizer, moisturizer, moisturizer! Once or twice a day should do the trick. Now that your feet are fit for steppin’ out, you’ll definitely have a bit more springer, Summer in your step!

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