Nothing feels more wonderful than having a pedicure done. Whether you get simple nail polish or go fancy with French tips or some intricate design, we want to maintain those end results for as long as possible. No one wants to keep going back to the salon and spending money each time our pedicure gets a little chipped or damaged. Instead, learn how to preserve your pedicure yourself to minimize trips to the salon.

So you’ve just stepped out of the salon and your toes are picture-perfect. From the moment you leave the comfortable massage chair and slip on your open-toed shoes, you’ve got to protect your pedicure. Planning on running errands after your pedicure? Be aware of where you are stepping. Pick up your feet carefully as you step onto high sidewalks or stairs. How many times have you carelessly let your toes brush up against the stairs? Any small bump or brush against another object or material will affect your pedicure.

Even though most pedicures get layers and layers of top coat and sit to dry for a few minutes, this won’t make your toes completely chip or smudge proof. To guarantee that you don’t suffer from “first day pedicure damage,” avoid wearing socks or close-toed shoes for at least two days. If you can manage to pull off one day that’s great, but your pedicure will be better off the longer you keep them out in the open. Wearing close-toed shoes (boots, sneakers, walking shoes) causes the material to rub up against your pedicured toes with each step you take. After a few hours of constant friction, the odds of your nail polish chipping increases. The same goes with wearing socks - even if you aren’t going out. Socks can stick to your toenail polish - even when dry - and can leave fuzzies, ruining the overall look. Additionally, some socks can leave their patterned imprint on your toenails. While no one will be that close enough to notice, you will and if you’re like most women, this knowledge of slight pedicure imperfection will eat away at you.

Of course it will only be a matter of time before your polish will chip (you’ll eventually have to wear socks and close-toed shoes!). In these situations, it helps to have a bottle of polish that is the same color as the one on your toes. Doing a little touch up here and there can keep your pedicure looking fresh, even after a few weeks. For toes with French tips, make sure you own a little bottle of white nail polish made especially for French manicures and pedicures. If you don’t own the color that matches your pedicure, go back to the salon and buy it. This will guarantee an exact color match. Or bring your own favorite polish shade from home for the salon to use.

Another helpful tip to remember is that as the days go by, the condition of your pedicure will wear down bit by bit. To delay this and keep your pedicure from falling apart prematurely, make sure to keep the clear coat polish fresh to seal in the design, color and condition of your pedicure. For example, each time you get out of the shower, thoroughly moisturize your feet and afterwards apply two layers of clear coat polish.

One of the quickest ways to destroy a pedicure is exposing it to chemicals, such as chlorine. If it can be helped, avoid going for a swim in a chlorinated pool if you’ve just gotten a pedicure.

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