The first rays of sun awaken the desire for open shoes. At the latest now it is time to take good care of your feet and to polish your toenails to a high gloss! If you want to skip the nail salon or medical foot care, you can also get your feet in shape at home. Our tips make it very easy.

The step-by-step program for every foot: Get rid of the cornea (pumice stones are great for light calluses, strong corneas can best be removed with a cornea file during foot care), shape your toenails, carefully push the cuticles back , Apply nail polish – and pamper your feet. Here we show you the coolest nail polish trends of the season and tell you how to get rid of cracks and calluses.

Healthy feet need the right shoes

The right footwear is very important to prevent corns, fissures and blisters and to prevent cornification from developing in the first place. Because if shoes fit well and the skin on the feet is not exposed to friction or pressure, many problems with the feet cannot even arise. Even foot and nail fungus have no chance if your feet are not only beautiful but also healthy.

High heels – That protects the feet

High heels can be very decorative, but feet on the other hand do not like it at all if their backside is constantly sticking out more than four centimeters. From there the body weight tips over onto the forefoot. This creates strong pressure on the ball of the foot, cramped toes and sometimes even shortened tendons. That is why you should vary the heel height and often walk barefoot.

“Foot malpositions affect the body and can lead to back and hip problems”, explains graduate sports scientist Miroslaw Galys from the Orthosport Institute in Hamburg.

Tip: Strengthen the muscles in a targeted manner. To do this, do ten minutes of foot training every day: pick up small objects from the floor with your toes or let your foot circle inwards and outwards with your knees closed.

Shorten toenails

Ingrown toenails can be avoided with the right pedicure. Cutting the toenail straight is best. The edge of the nail should end with the tip of the toe to avoid pressure points or ingrown toenails in the shoe. Whether you prefer to cut, file or snap your nails is up to you. In any case, shortening works best if you soften your feet in a 5-10 minute foot bath beforehand.

Also the cuticles can be pushed back with a wooden stick. Important: Only push back, do not cut off. If you cut off the cuticles, you risk injuries and cuticle bed inflammation.

File toenails properly: Use a good nail file, because a fine file removes the nail carefully. Always file the toenails in the direction of growth. This is gentle on the nail, and also helps to seal the cut edges.

The best tips for beautiful feet

Care tip 1: Remove the cornea

If you want to care for your feet properly, it is best to start with a relaxing foot bath. Important: The water should not be too hot, preferably lukewarm. Bath additives and foot baths with refatting oils or herbs revitalize, rough spots become smooth and dead skin cells can be removed more easily. After the bath, dry feet thoroughly, also between the toes, so athlete’s foot has no chance. With peelings containing sea salt, mild fruit acids or finely ground pumice stone, light cornifications and excess cuticles can be gently massaged away. Strong calluses should be tackled with a pumice stone or a corneal arrow.

Tip: Apply special cornea remover creams or masks before. These gently dissolve the cornea so that it can be removed more easily. Be careful when planing corneas: this can damage deeper lying tissue.

Care tip 2: Tender skin

Since the skin on your feet does not have as many sebaceous glands and becomes brittle more quickly, it is right that you care for your feet properly – with double the amount of care. Foot creams and masks with almond oil, urea, cocoa butter, aloe vera and essential oils regenerate and supply the skin with lasting moisture.

Extra care tip for tender feet overnight: Cream feet in the evening or apply a mask and pull cotton socks over them.

Care tip 3: Getting nails into shape

A nail clipper is suitable for cutting toenails. Important: Always cut straight (along the tip of the toes) and not round, otherwise the nails may grow in at the sides or tear. Mineral files are particularly suitable for brittle nails. They gently smooth the edges and seal small cracks with microfine crystals. Soak cuticles with nail oil and carefully push back with a wooden stick. Never cut cuticles, as this can lead to scarring and even inflammation.

Care tip 4: New varnish for the nails

Polish nails smooth with a polishing file. A colourless base coat prevents discolouration of the nail. First apply a thin layer of lacquer to the tip of the nail (from left to right). Let it dry. Then apply another thin layer of lacquer. When it is completely dry, apply a third coat of paint. A transparent top coat prevents the nail polish from splintering.

Care tip 5: Smooth skin

Depending on which depilatory method you choose, the result will last differently: Those who prefer to shave will have up to three days of rest. Depilatory creams give a smooth feeling for five to seven days. With wax or epilator it is even one to three weeks. By the way: Yes, women also have hair on their toes. So when it comes to depilation, don’t forget your toes!

Care tip 6: Foot fitness

Also our feet are happy about a small fitness program from time to time. Simple gymnastic exercises loosen tension and stretch the muscles.

Care tip 7: Feet up!

After a long, strenuous day or sports training, simply put your feet up. This not only relaxes feet and legs, but is also good for our soul. If you want to treat your feet to something special, give them a little foot massage with invigorating, good-smelling massage oils. Use your thumb or the whole hand to massage the sole of your foot in even, circular movements. This promotes blood circulation and gives you a warm and pleasant feeling.

Care tip 8: Undressing

Beautiful feet in high shoes are a real eye-catcher. But high heels are not healthy, our feet suffer quite a bit from the pressure on the forefoot (not to mention the postural problems caused by excessive high-heeled wearing). So give your feet a break more often and vary the heel heights. The best is and remains walking barefoot. Just take off your shoes!

Care tip 9: Freshness kick for in between

After a strenuous day or after sport, hot feet deserve a cool-down. But there is no time for a cold footbath? There are little helpers for this case: refreshing sprays, creams and foot deodorants with lemon and mint cool and protect the feet from sweating.

Care tip 10: Never again blisters on the feet

Who does not know that? Just put them on and they press your shoes. The aching bladder is not long in coming. There are special anti-bubble sticks to fight bubbles before they even occur. A colorless sliding film is said to reduce the friction between the foot and the shoe. So bubbles don’t stand a chance. If the blister is already there, blister plasters can help. The patches absorb the bladder’s moisture and thus form a protective cushion that reduces pressure.

Painting toenails

The smoother the nail surface, the longer the nail polish will last. Before varnishing, the nails should in any case be free of grease. A layer of colorless base coat protects against discoloration. If the nails are already slightly yellowed, you can bleach them in a bubble bath with oxygen and lemon. Polishing files, with differently grained surfaces, also make the surface of toenails smooth, shiny and clean. Do this as gently as possible, too much grinding on the nail can cause grooves.

Home remedy for beautiful feet

Anyone suffering from chapped and extremely dry feet can find relief with this foot mask.

Ingredients

1/2 onion
1 teaspoon of salt
2 tablespoons olive oil

Mix all the ingredients together, apply the mixture gently to the feet and massage it in, then wrap in a cotton cloth and leave to work for an hour. The onion has an antibacterial effect and the olive oil nourishes dry skin.

Overripe bananas can also act as a household remedy against dry feet.

Mash 2 ripe bananas (you can also use overripe bananas for this purpose) and add some olive oil.
Massage it in and let it work for at least a quarter of an hour.