Pedicure

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A pedicure in progress Pedicure 1.jpg
A pedicure in progress
Street pedicure in Bamako Pedicure ambulante a Bamako.jpg
Street pedicure in Bamako

A pedicure is a cosmetic treatment of the feet and toenails, analogous to a manicure.

Contents

During a pedicure, dead skin cells are rubbed off the bottom of the feet using a rough stone (often a pumice stone). Skincare is often provided up to the knee, including granular exfoliation, moisturizing, and massage.

The word pedicure is derived from the Latin words pedis , which means "of the foot", and cura , which means "care". [1]

History

People have been pedicuring their nails for more than 4,000 years. In southern Babylonia, noblemen used solid gold tools to give themselves manicures and pedicures. The use of nail polish can be traced back even further. Originating in China in 3000 BC, nail colour indicated one’s social status, according to a Ming Dynasty manuscript; royal fingernails were painted black and red. Ancient Egyptians have been manicuring all the way back to 2300 BC.

A depiction of early manicures and pedicures was found on a carving from a pharaoh’s tomb, and the Egyptians were known for paying special attention to their feet and legs. The Egyptians also colored their nails, using red to show the highest social class. It is said that Cleopatra’s nails were painted a deep red, whereas Queen Nefertiti went with a flashier ruby shade. In ancient Egypt and Rome, military commanders also painted their nails to match their lips before they went off to battle.

Pedicures in the United States

Pedicures generally take approximately 45 minutes to an hour in the US. According to the US Department of Labor, manicure and pedicure specialists earned a median income of around $20,820 in 2015. [2] [3] Most professionals earn an hourly wage or salary which can be augmented through customer tips. Independent nail technicians depend on repeat and consistent business to earn a living. The most successful independent manicure technicians may earn salaries of over $50,000 per year. [4] Nail technicians can earn up to $100 per hour from performing more technical nail treatments, such as a French pedicure and sculpting, although these treatments are not popular for the feet. A standard pedicure treatment usually costs around $40.

Tools and nail cosmetics

Pedicure Pedicure NYC.jpg
Pedicure
Tools
Nail cosmetics

Types of pedicures

There are various different types of pedicures. Some of the most common types are as follows (names and products may vary from spa to spa):

Foot soaking at a spa in Botswana Foot Soaking at a spa.jpg
Foot soaking at a spa in Botswana

Risks

Improper or unsanitary pedicures can increase the risk of infection. First, some pedicure practices can damage the skin if performed too aggressively and thus increase infection risk. For example, using a pumice stone to shave off calluses on the sole of the foot can result in abrasions and cuticle nippers may accidentally remove too much of the cuticle. Second, instruments or foot baths may not be properly sterilized, introducing pathogens into already vulnerable skin. Mycobacterium fortuitum is known to cause infection in foot spas. [5] These risks are particularly high for people with medical conditions that affect blood flow, sensation, immune response, or healing in the feet, such as diabetes. Major health organizations such as the CDC recommend that diabetics do not soak their feet or remove calluses, and often have a podiatrist cut their toenails, which are some of the key parts of many pedicures. [6]

Solutions and chemicals used to cleanse or soak feet can also cause skin irritation. There can be a risk of developing an ingrown toenail from improper trimming. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manicure</span> Cosmetic beauty treatment for hands and fingernails

A manicure is a mostly cosmetic beauty treatment for the fingernails and hands performed at home or in a nail salon. A manicure usually consists of filing and shaping the free edge of nails, pushing and clipping any nonliving tissue, treatments with various liquids, massage of the hand, and the application of fingernail polish. When the same is applied to the toenails and feet, the treatment is referred to as a pedicure. Together, the treatments may be known as a mani-pedi. Most nail polish can stay on nails for 2–3 days before another manicure is required for maintenance, if there is no damage done to it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pumice</span> Light colored highly vesicular volcanic rock

Pumice, called pumicite in its powdered or dust form, is a volcanic rock that consists of highly vesicular rough-textured volcanic glass, which may or may not contain crystals. It is typically light-colored. Scoria is another vesicular volcanic rock that differs from pumice in having larger vesicles, thicker vesicle walls, and being dark colored and denser.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nail (anatomy)</span> Hard keratin protection of digit

A nail is a protective plate characteristically found at the tip of the digits of all primates, corresponding to the claws in other tetrapod animals. Fingernails and toenails are made of a tough rigid protein called alpha-keratin, a polymer also found in the claws, hooves and horns of vertebrates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Facial</span> Procedure involving a variety of skin treatments on the human face

A facial is a family of skin care treatments for the face, including steam, exfoliation, extraction, creams, lotions, facial masks, peels, and massage. They are normally performed in beauty salons, but are also a common spa treatment. They are used for general skin health as well as for specific skin conditions. Types of facials include European facial, LED light therapy facials, hydrafacials and mini-facials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nail polish</span> Lacquer applied to fingernails and/or toenails

Nail polish is a lacquer that can be applied to the human fingernail or toenails to decorate and protect the nail plates. The formula has been revised repeatedly to enhance its decorative properties, to be safer for the consumer to use, and to suppress cracking or peeling. Nail polish consists of a mix of an organic polymer and several other components that give it colors and textures. Nail polishes come in all color shades and play a significant part in manicures and pedicures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ingrown nail</span> Medical condition

An ingrown nail, also known as onychocryptosis from Greek: ὄνυξ 'nail' and κρυπτός 'hidden', is a common form of nail disease. It is an often painful condition in which the nail grows so that it cuts into one or both sides of the paronychium or nail bed. While ingrown nails can occur in the nails of both the hands and the feet, they occur most commonly with the toenails, and for the most part are only problematic and painful on the big toe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moisturizer</span> Type of cosmetics

A moisturizer, or emollient, is a cosmetic preparation used for protecting, moisturizing, and lubricating the skin. These functions are normally performed by sebum produced by healthy skin. The word "emollient" is derived from the Latin verb mollire, to soften.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beauty salon</span> Hair and cosmetic treatment salon

A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment that provides cosmetic treatments for people. Other variations of this type of business include hair salons, spas, day spas, and medical spas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paronychia</span> Medical condition

Paronychia is an inflammation of the skin around the nail, which can occur suddenly, when it is usually due to the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, or gradually when it is commonly caused by the fungus Candida albicans. The term is from Greek: παρωνυχία from para 'around', onyx 'nail', and the abstract noun suffix -ia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hangnail</span> Torn piece of skin next to a fingernail or toenail

A hangnail is a small, torn piece of skin next to a fingernail or toenail, related to ingrown nails. Hangnails are typically caused by having dry skin, or by trauma to the fingers.

A nail file is a tool used that can be used to gently grind down and shape the edges of nails. They are often used in manicures and pedicures after the nail has been trimmed using appropriate nail clippers. Nail files may either be emery boards, ceramic, glass, crystal, plain metal files or metal files coated with corundum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exfoliation (cosmetology)</span> Removal of dead skin cells from the epidermis

In cosmetology, exfoliation is the removal of the surface skin cells and built-up dirt from the skin's surface. The term comes from the Latin word exfoliare. This is a regular practice within the cosmetic industry, both for its outcome of promoting skin regeneration as well as providing a deep cleanse of the skin barrier. Being used in facials, this process can be achieved by mechanical or chemical means, such as microdermabrasion or chemical peels. Exfoliants are advertised as treatments that enhance beauty and promote a youthful and healthy appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nail salon</span> Beauty salon specialising in nail care

A nail salon or nail bar is a specialty beauty salon establishment that primarily offers nail care services such as manicures, pedicures, and nail enhancements. Often, nail salons also offer skin care services. Manicures are also offered by general beauty salons, spas, and hotels. People who work at nail salons are usually called nail technicians, manicurists, or nailists.

Personal care products are consumer products which are applied on various external parts of the body such as skin, hair, nails, lips, external genital and anal areas, as well as teeth and mucous membrane of the oral cavity, in order to make them clean, protect them from harmful germs and keep them in good condition. They promote personal hygiene and overall health, well-being and appearance of those body parts. Toiletries form a narrower category of personal care products which are used for basic hygiene and cleanliness as a part of a daily routine. Cosmetic products, in contrast, are used for personal grooming and beautification. Pharmaceutical products are not considered personal care products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nail buffing</span>

Nail buffing is the act of polishing the nail using buffers of successively finer grit in order to make nails look more consistent and shiny. A paste is used to fill ridges on nail surfaces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nail technician</span> Occupation

A nail technician or nail stylist is a person whose occupation is to style and shape a person's nails. This is achieved using a combination of decorating nails with coloured varnish, transfers, gems or glitter. Basic treatments include manicures and pedicures, as well as cleaning and filing nails and applying overlays or extensions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lydia Sarfati</span>

Lydia Sarfati is a Polish-born American esthetician, entrepreneur, consultant and author. She is credited with having introduced seaweed-based skin treatments in the United States. In 1980, she founded the Sarkli-Repêchage, a seaweed-based cosmetics company, together with her husband David Sarfati. She is the author of several books on cosmetology and wellness.

A Shanghai pedicure is a type of pedicure. The pedicure involves soaking feet in hot water and using scalpels to remove dead skin, calluses, corns, and ingrown nails from the feet. This style of pedicure utilizes Chinese medicine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nail art</span> Decoration of fingernails and toenails

Nail art is a creative way to paint, decorate, enhance, and embellish nails. It is a type of artwork that can be done on fingernails and toenails, usually after manicures or pedicures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Callus shaver</span>

A callus shaver is a tool for the medical and cosmetic removal of a callus, mainly on the feet, or hands. Technically speaking, its function is the abrasive treatment of hyperkeratotic skin lesions.

References

  1. "Pedicure - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms".
  2. "Manicurists and Pedicurists : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics". www.bls.gov. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
  3. "Faux ongles" . Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  4. "Nail Technician School Programs". Skilled Trade School. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  5. United States Environmental Protection Agency (2015-10-07). "Preventing Pedicure Foot Spa Infections". www.epa.gov. Archived from the original on 2023-08-07. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  6. "Diabetes and Your Feet". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  7. Writer, Rebecca Adams Voices Staff; Post, The Huffington (2014-03-24). "How Your Pedicure Could Be Hurting Your Health". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2016-08-12.