What is a spa pedicure? Every step, explained

What is a pedicure?

A pedicure is a beauty service for your feet and toenails that leaves them clean, neat and polished. It is cosmetic care, not a medical treatment.

A basic pedicure usually includes:

• A warm foot soak to soften skin and nails.
• Trimming and shaping the toenails.
• Gentle cuticle care.
• Smoothing rough spots and calluses.
• Lotion and a short rub.
• Polish or gel polish.

What makes a pedicure a spa pedicure?

A spa pedicure keeps all the basics and adds steps designed for comfort and relaxation. These might include a mineral or sea salt soak, an exfoliating scrub, a masque, warm towels, a longer massage, hot stones or paraffin.

The nail work is the same. The difference is time and care: a spa pedicure is meant to feel like a treat for tired feet, not just a polish change. Many guests find the extra massage the best part.

What happens during a spa pedicure, step by step?

1. Settle in: you take a seat in a massage chair and choose your polish.
2. Soak: your feet rest in warm water to soften skin and nails.
3. Nail care: nails are trimmed, shaped and cuticles tidied.
4. Smooth: calluses and rough spots are gently smoothed.
5. Exfoliate and masque: a scrub and masque are applied, then rinsed.
6. Massage: lotion or cream is worked into the feet and lower legs.
7. Polish: nails are cleaned and painted.

For timing, see how long a pedicure takes.

The Nail Shadow pedicure collection

Nail Shadow offers five spa pedicures, and each one includes everything in the one before it.

• Just Need a Break, $40: relaxing foot soak, nail trimming and shaping, cuticle care, callus smoothing, lotion application and regular polish of choice.
• Finally, Some Me Time, $50: adds a sea salt soak, sugar scrub, mud masque and massage cream.
• Don't Text Me, I'm Relaxing, $60: adds a CBD-mint treatment, collagen sock, hot towel wrap and a 10-minute massage.
• Melt My Stress Away, $75: adds an organic product treatment, therapeutic hot stone massage, deep relaxation treatment and a 15-minute massage.
• I Deserve This, $90: adds a hot neck wrap, steamed eye mask and a 20-minute massage.

Choose from nine scents: lavender, jasmine, cucumber, coco-honey, mango, vitamin, lemon, green tea and pomegranate. Add-ons include gel polish ($16), a French finish or design ($8 and up), gel removal ($10), paraffin ($10), collagen socks or gloves ($10), hot stone massage ($10) and extra massage ($1 per minute).

Who should check with a doctor before a pedicure?

Pedicures are comfortable for most people, but some situations call for extra care. Check with your doctor first, and tell your technician, if you:

• Have diabetes or circulation problems.
• Have broken skin, cuts or sunburn on your feet or legs.
• Have signs of nail fungus.
• Are pregnant.

Your technician can adjust water temperature, massage pressure and callus work to suit you.

How do you choose the right spa pedicure?

Start with how much time you have and how much massage you want. Just Need a Break is a tidy refresh, Finally, Some Me Time adds scrub and masque, and the three longer rituals, from Don't Text Me, I'm Relaxing to I Deserve This, build in longer massage and warmth.

If you are on your feet all day, many guests enjoy the longer massage rituals. Read spa pedicure benefits for more, then visit a Nail Shadow salon in Buckhead or Kennesaw and settle into a massage chair.