Pedicures are an absolute scam?

[purrrge]

I've suffered from cracked heels for all my adult life, previously no amount of creams etc would solve it. I used to go for pedicures, wherein my feet would be soaked in water for a length of time, and then depending on the place filed, scrubbed or even razored to remove hard skin. I assumed this was how you were supposed to solve this problem, short of seeing a podiatrist, and duly trotted off every few months to have one of these pedicures. Each time apologising for my dry feet.

This year, at the grand old age of 42 and thanks to an informative thread on here I finally discovered that in fact you should be filing your feet DRY. £6 glass foot file later, and my feet are sorted and better condition than at any point in my adult life.

Why are we forking out £60 in some areas for spa pedicures, which make the condition of your feet worse rather than better and in some cases cause actual damage to the skin.

I'm not debating that nicely polished and tended for toe nails are worth the money, and generally a third party professional seems to get a much better result than I can manage. So a file and polish is not a scam.

Sorry missed your post and posted the same. Only difference is I buy my footpeels at Poundland.

Because people enjoy it / find it relaxing and can spend their money on what they like … £60 is extortionate, not sure where you got that from?!?
Do what you like but why judge others???

I personally have always used a pumice stone in the shower maybe once every few weeks to keep the skin nice and soft. I would be embarrassed to show my feet in public with hard skin as it's so easy to deal with at home.

You just need a foot cream with urea - game changer.

I had my first pedicure about 30 years ago; the beautician filed dry then soaked my feet which is what prefer and in my opinion is more effective. I walked away from one pedicure session because the beautician refused to file my feet before soaking. However, different beautician courses teach different methods so it’s not so much a scam as a different way of doing things

My current beauty therapist sells Flexitol for cracked heels

I think a lot of beauty treatments are a bit of a cod really

Manicures make your nails soft and weak so you have to keep it up to have presentable hands.

My hairdresser swore blind that dyeing my hair professionally actually improved its condition. I’ve let it grey for two years now and the condition is amazing

I’m not convinced that peeling layers of skin away is advisable. And nothing will convince me to inject a botulism derivative into my face or go under anaesthetic to get a pair of grapefruit breasts.

I’m 36 and suffered so much with dry and cracked heels and foot , probably due to running / cycling and work , wearing wrong socks etc.

I got my foot done once years shoe before I got married. They soaked in etc and got my toe nails painted.

This march I’ve found a local Russian lady who specialised luxury pedicures and manicures.

she dry files my foot , and use different machines , then some cream , no idea what but my foot never been softer. Ever. And it doesn’t crack. Then she paints my toenails , normal colours not gel. After shaping it etc. the whole thing just takes over an hour, and it’s £50.
Im seeing her every 5 weeks and totally worth it.

She also does manicures and using her for that as well.
My previous lady who worked from home got my gel nails done in from start to finish in 45-50 mins tops.

This new lady , it takes her just an hour to take off the old gel , shape and cut cuticles etc. then another hour to do the gel colours. I have plain gels. So no drawings stickers gems etc. and it’s gel , so not acrylic extensions.
Have to say she’s much better than the first lady I used to go.

Think of it from a hygiene perspective. The provider is washing your feet prior to treating them. Simply sanitary.
Foot care is a daily thing, if you did a daily soak/scrub and moisturize it helps long term.
Dry cracked heels is partially a footwear issue.

It sounds like you needed more care than a nail salon that does pedicures could give. A pedicure is a beauty treatment.

Urea creams also work well for that.

I use Korean exfoliating towels in the shower at home.

I used to go the chiropodist every few months who would scrape off dead skin with a razor, started using a burts bees foot cream every day now and haven’t had to go since. Never had a pedicure, thought it was more of a beauty treatment than an actual treatment

I’ve never been for a pedicure because they are beauticians mainly interested in the nail painting. I go to a chiropodist who removes all dead and hard skin, callouses, treats corns, trims and files nails etc. I recommend that, it’s much more medical and not at all like a salon or spa. They can also treat veruccas, foot and ankle pain etc.

After a long period..3 months..in intensive care, my heels were in a diabolical state. So dry and cracked to the point they were bleeding. Vaseline intensive moisturiser did the trick. I couldn't believe how well it worked tbh. Lashings on my heels, massaged in, socks put on..repeated twice daily..within a week they were right as rain.

What would actually concern me about pedicures is the equipment they use on all of their clients. Do they disinfect them properly? I’m sure they don’t use a brand new nail file or toe clipper on each individual client and then dispose of it. But maybe someone will come along and enlighten me how this works.

I find it only works if file dry. I buy files for about 79p ish I think, from Home Bargains. I'm on my feet all day at work.
If I file nightly and then moisturise (swear by Soap & Glory foot cream) I don't get build up of dry skin. I'm very prone to it if I miss a day.
I really only view a pedicure as having gels on toe nails (although never do these days due to ingrown toenails so I'm always having to cut them myself, and v short, also I wear steel toe boots at work)
The only place I ever had the full works (ie colour, attention to cuticles, dead skin removal, soak) was in USA. It was lovely...but..they didnt remove the skin as well as I do!
My best tip is, file in every direction too...

and never, ever those metal raspy files or egg things. I actually found they made things worse for me...

When I've suffered from painful cracked heels, I've always upped my hydration and while doing so, applied a really good moisturiser to the cracks. It tends to heel them quickly. I'm terrible for not drinking enough. Just something for you to consider.

Yes they put everything in disinfectant between clients.

Or a hard floor issue. We have flagstone floors and my preference is bare feet at home. It's very very hard on heels.

@purrrge I have to thank you. I bought a glass foot file today and it's made my feet so smooth!! Brilliant mumsnet tip!

Looking forward to rubbing in some cream before I put my shoes on tomorrow (I don't know how people can sleep with it on/in socks - don't you get hot?)

I use this, twice a week. Used to suffer from split heels, particularly on outer edges as flat footed. Use after showering and allow it to soften the skin and then gently effoliatecwith a good pumice. This works wonders.https://www.boots.com/flexitol-rescue-heel-balm-485g-10277691?CAWELAID=620000410000601375&srsltid=AfmBOorSJLendMjTTp6BnAZxzbPIUnPOskBCLtxHULynWxqsmvqyqWSgko&gStoreCode=3095

When I had pedicures at the salon, she dry filed them, with a rasp. She did soak the feet first though for hygiene reasons and then dry them after. They then air dried more while she was filing the nails, removing cuticles and pushing the skin back. But, as others say, it’s a cosmetic treatment, not a medical one. And definitely not a scam.

@Ilovelowry cream on your feet and flagstone? Sounds like a fall risk!
Eucerin do a very nice urea based cream for feet.
Eucerin Complete Repair Moisturizing Foot Cream for Very Dry, Rough Skin.

I'm 63 and dont have cracked skin at all. That's not why I have a pedicure. I have it because I cant easily cut my own nails - i tried that and got an ingrown toenail. Im in London and it's only £25 where I go.

Never had a pedicure but I regularly go to a podiatrist/chiropodist. 30 minute appointment and we have a good laugh and chat - £40

I put Avon overnight foot cream on regularly, have never had a pedicure and never have cracked heels.

I used to get painful hard skin on the balls of my feet at one time but never get it now.

I get pedicures because they are so relaxing. That and a head massage are my favourite things.
i have a medical pedicure every 3 months where I see the podiatrist first and then the nail tech.