To the untrained ear, asking how often should you get a pedicure sounds a bit like asking how often should you go on a weekend mini break (er, as often you've got the free time, financial means, and inclination for a nice treat, you lucky little thing)
Yes, hitting the salon to make your pedicure ideas a reality is enjoyable. But there's a wellbeing aspect to this treatment that's an equally compelling reason to stay on top of your foot maintenance. "Pedicures are great for the feet," explains Elegant Touch nail technician Sara Sordillo. "Broken, dry and cracked feet can be uncomfortable for walking on, putting on socks or even touching blankets. Pedicures help smooth these out and minimize them." And that's before we even get to fun stuff like into corns, callouses and teeth-clenchingly painful ingrown toenails.
Regular check-ins with a nail professional will help keep your tootsies in tip-top condition and furnish them with cute nail designs of your choice – win-win. But how regularly are we talking here? We've asked a podiatrist, a nail technician, and nail health expert how often should you get a pedicure, and they've got answers.
How often should you get a pedicure?
"I would always recommend having a pedicure once a month," says Mavala's in-house nail care expert Lynn Gray. "This is to maintain good health to your feet while not overloading them with treatment." And Sordillo agrees, "I would recommend one every three weeks at the very most. Changing the polish more often wont do any damage but you will find there won’t be much cuticle maintenance to be done."
Another consideration dictating how often you should get a pedicure is intensity of treatment. As anyone who's mastered how to do a home pedicure will know, pedis can range from a lick of varnish to a 90-minute battle wielding more implements than Edward Scissorhands. A purely cosmetic file and polish is fine every week or two. But for specific concerns, a more intensive yet less frequent pedicure may be in order.
"Common foot problems that people experience include dry, hard skin, calluses, fungal infections, ingrown toenails, cracked heels known as fissures and verrucas," explains expert podiatrist Dina Gohil, whose in-clinic medical pedicures see to all of the above. And how often should you get a pedicure to tackle these deeper issues? Leave that decision in the hands of the professionals. "If you have ingrown nails I would recommend a medical pedicure then follow the treatment plan set out," agrees Sordillo.
Can you have a pedicure too often?
In a word, yes. Especially if the pedicure involves skin removal or cuticle work. "It is possible to book in too often," says Gray. "The negative effect could be over-exfoliation, which can easily happen in a pedicure due to the tough nature of the skin."
Sordillo explains, "Removing dead skin is great for the feet and skin regeneration but too often could result in healthy living skin being accidentally removed as well. Breaks of around 3-4 weeks allow enough time to avoid this as the next layer of dead skin will have developed."
The good news is, there's no limit to how often you can enjoy some elements of a pedi, like slathering on the best foot creams and cuticle oils. If your polish chips or you just fancy a change in between full pedicures, you can also swap colors without any problems. The only potential issue could be from drying nail varnish removers (ask any expert is acetone bad for your nails and the reply is a resounding yes) but using cuticle oils and nail creams can remedy any dehydration.
Are pedicures good for your feet?
Absolutely, as long as you don't go OTT. "Yes, pedicures are great for your feet. Not only do they make your feet look better by exfoliating away dead skin cells, softening the cuticles, and having polish on, but it will also help with circulation and keep your feet soft," confirms Gray.
Happily for foot care fans, many of the beneficial elements of a professional pedi can – and should – be topped up at home, this is especially true if your feet are in need of some extra TLC. Follow Gohil's foot MOT checklist between appointments:
Daily:
- "Wash your feet in warm, soapy water daily and always be sure to clean and dry your feet properly, between the toes, as this is a prime location for fungal infections to develop."
- "Moisturise with a specially formulated foot cream (not your best body moisturizer!) every day. Smooth it over your feet and gently massage the skin – try it just before you go to bed to repair your feet overnight, making it part of your wind-down routine."
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Weekly:
- "Use a foot file or pumice stone during the week on a dry foot to gently get rid of any dead skin cells, followed by a good foot cream with urea."
- "Check your toenails weekly, and ensure your nails are cut regularly and well, using nail clippers or nail scissors. When cutting your nails, remember to leave a small white free edge. Make sure the tools you use to cut the nails are clean and not shared."
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