Pedicuring and Foot Care
Feet are not just bigger hands
There are 26 bones in the foot, plus arch structures, and toenails are slower-growing, thicker, and more prone to trauma than fingernails. A pedicure therefore places more emphasis on the skin (calluses, corns, heels) and on circulation than a manicure does.
Trimming and filing
Cut toenails straight across, then gently round only the very corners with a file. Rounding the corners of the big toenail is the classic cause of an ingrown toenail (onychocryptosis). Leave a small free edge and never trim down to the quick.
Contraindications: refer, do not treat
Diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, poor circulation, use of blood thinners, fungal infection (onychomycosis), bacterial infection, open sores, and ingrown toenails are all reasons to decline or restrict the service and refer the client to a physician. Nail technicians do not diagnose or treat disease; that falls outside the scope of practice in every state. Credo blades and similar callus-cutting tools are banned or restricted in many states and must never be used on a diabetic client.
Callus care
Soak to soften, then reduce callus gradually with a rasp or pumice, working in one direction and stopping while the skin is still intact. Aggressive reduction invites infection.
The tub is the hazard
Whirlpool footbaths carry the highest infection risk of any nail service. After every client: drain, remove and clean the screen and filter, scrub the basin, then disinfect with an EPA-registered hospital-grade tuberculocidal disinfectant for the full label contact time. Never skip the screen.
Trap to remember
'Round the corners so it looks nicer' is a distractor. The correct answer is straight across.