A DIY pedi at home can be done at the same time as you watch Netflix on the couch, and let’s face it with this weather there’s going to be a lot of Netflixing happening.

If you’ve decided to ditch the salon during Winter and go DIY I’m here to help.

Chipped away old polish, dry skin and  jagged nails are not pretty in any situation, and grown out Shellac toe nails ain’t pretty either. Considering the fact it’s Winter and your feet may not see the light of day for a while you might not care what your toenails look like! And girl that’s totally OK but an at home pedi for me is more like a feel good ritual, and over the next few weeks taking some time out and playing with pretty polishes may just be the little mood lift you need.

So it’s time to pour yourself a glass of champas, forget about the craziness going on in the world outside and get your feet looking pretty and feeling great.

1. To get the perfect salon quality pedicure clean your toes and feet. Start off by removing all traces of old nail polish. If you currently have shellac on your toenails that you need to remove you will need to soak cotton pads in acetone (which you can buy from the supermarket) and wait around 10 minutes before you gently scrape off the shellac.

Add a few drops of tea tree oil to the bath or a big bowl (big enough for your feet to fit in) of hot water, this will dissolve any smelly bacteria. Also add another fragrant oil of your choosing to create a gorgeous aroma. If you have it add half a cup of Epsom salts to rejuvenate and detox the skin. This step actually does more than clean your feet; it also softens dead skin cells in preparation for exfoliation. Sit back relax and soak your feet for ten minutes or more then proceed with exfoliating your feet to remove any dead skin. Use a specific foot scrub or body scrub, coffee grounds, or plain sea salt to do this, once you’ve thoroughly scrubbed the entire foot rinse the feet. The Body Shop Peppermint Smoothing Scrub is great!

2. Use a foot file to smooth off any dry skin and cracked heels. The Scholl Electronic Foot File $35.49 is by far the best and easiest I’ve found, but you can buy cheaper versions that require a bit more elbow grease at the supermarket or Priceline.

3. Dry your feet and massage a nice rich moisturiser into your feet. Clip and file your toenails in preparation for applying a nail colour. Use a cuticle tool to gently push back your cuticles off your nails. L’Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream is divine!!!

These cuticle sticks are available at Priceline for $3.59

4. Gently buff the surface of your toenails to smooth out any ridges or damage from shellac. I like this little 4 sided buffer from Sally Hansen $7.99 which makes the nails really smooth and shiny.

5. Apply a base coat to your toenails this will ensure the colour goes on smoothly and evenly and will make the nail varnish last longer. After the base coat has dried apply your desired colour to your toenails. I currently love earthy tones, soft browns, greys and pastels. I prefer to use a quick dry polish so there is less waiting time and the chances of me messing it up are much lower. My current faves are Sally Hansen Insta-Dri polishes $5.37, they have really pretty colours and last really well.

6. Apply a second coat of the nail colour, then apply a top coat to seal in the colour. A top coat will ensure your pedicure lasts longer and will prevent the colour from chipping from your toenails. So many people neglect to use a top coat and base coat, but believe me if you do your polish will last twice as long!!!

7. Give the polish plenty of time to dry before you put shoes on or get into bed. While you’re waiting why not sit back enjoy your glass of champagne and a good chick flick. The perfect end to a night of pampering!