Create Diy Foot Spa to Treat Cracked Feet
Edited by Sobi, Sean, Dougie, Grimm and 3 others
Going to a professional manicurist to get a pedicure and have a foot massage is a relaxing and stress relieving experience that some women and men love. Others prefer to do it at home, by purchasing any of the many electric foot spas available, or using their bath tubs. Whatever you decide to use, this article will teach you how to make a do it yourself foot spa.
You'll need to first prepare your tools and ingredients. Then, you'll want to be prepared to take the following four steps:
- 1This is where you will soak your feet to soften up the dead skin, and make it easier to remove.Soak Your Feet:
- 2Once your feet have soaked, you'll want to exfoliate, removing any dead skin.Exfoliate:
- 3While your nails are still soft, you will want to trim and file them. This will leave them neat and clean.Trim Nails:
- 4The last thing you will do is to make sure your feet are properly moisturized. This will help your skin hydrated and soft.Moisturize:
- 1 What You Need to Make Your Own Foot Spa
- 2 How to Soak Your Feet for a DIY Spa
- 3 How to Exfoliate Your Feet for a DIY Spa Treatment
- 4 How to Trim Your Toenails After a Home Foot Spa
- 5 Moisturizing Your Feet After a Home Foot Spa
- 6 Tips and Suggestions for a Home Foot Spa
- 7 Questions and Answers
- 8 Comments
What You Need to Make Your Own Foot Spa
Sometimes the comforts of home are all you need.
For a DIY foot spa you will need the following ingredients.
- 1This should be large enough to accommodate your feet, and deep enough to reach your ankles.A Basin:
- 2This is used to slough off dry, dead skin. Pumice stone is featherweight hardened lava foam. After wetting, use it gently in a circular motion over your feet, especially over areas of hardened dry skin.Pumice Stone:
- 3You can choose to use a loofah sponge in addition to or instead of the pumice stone. The loofah is the fibrous center of a mature fruit that has been dried.Loofah Sponge:
- 4These should be strong enough to cut your toenails.Metal Nail Clippers:
- 5This will be used for smoothing rough edges of your nails.Nail File:
- 6In the event you spill any water, you'll want a towel handy, and of course when you're finished, you'll want a towel to dry your delicate feet.Towels and Wash Cloths:
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How to Soak Your Feet for a DIY Spa
Soak those puppies; they work hard all day carrying you around.
Soaking your feet not only relaxes the foot muscles. It also loosens the dry dead skin in preparation for exfoliation. To get started soaking your feet, follow these steps:
- 1An ideal level to fill the basin to is about three inches below the edge. This way there is room for your feet, and water won't spill out.Fill your basin with water that is comfortably warm to you, and place it on a towel to catch any splashes.
- 2There are a number of solutions you can use, with plain white or apple cider vinegar being the easiest. We've also included a recipe below that will let you mix and match some ingredients to suit your own personal preferences.Add your preferred soaking solution to the water.
- 3As a general rule, you should soak your feet for at least 15 to 20 minutes. You want to have them soaked enough that they are soft, but not so soaked that the skin is all wrinkled, because then you will not be able to exfoliate properly.Now relax and soak your feet.
How to Make Your Own Foot Soak at Home
It's not that difficult to make your own home foot soak with our recipe.
All you need to do is mix the following ingredients into your basin of warm water:
- 11 cup of Epsom salt
- 21 cup of vinegar
- 3A few drops of essential lavender oil, or any other oil you prefer the smell of.
How to Exfoliate Your Feet for a DIY Spa Treatment
Exfoliating is a gentle massage that stimulates blood flow, relaxes muscles and also cleans away layers of dead skin.
There are a variety of products that can aid in the process of exfoliating, but pumice stone is one of the best. It is formed from volcanic rock, and is slightly rough and porous. People have used it for centuries to remove dry and dead skin. You can also use loofah sponges, foot scrubs, and washcloths.
You'll start out by soaking your feet. Once they are properly soaked, you'll then gently rub the skin all over each foot using your exfoliator of choice (pumice stone, loofah, foot scrub, or a wash cloth). Keep in mind that whichever method you use, you'll need to make sure you get between your toes and around your ankles when exfoliating.
Exfoliating Your Feet with a Pumice Stone
Using a pumice stone is relatively easy.
It involves the following simple steps.
- 1Soak your stone in water prior to use.
Exfoliating Your Feet with a Foot Scrub
Foot scrubs are also exfoliating tools.
They can be purchased from most stores, or you can make your own at home. Many of store bought foot scrubs contain ground pumice stone or crushed almond shells as a mild abrasive. With foot scrubs, all you need to do is massage the scrub onto each foot for about two minutes, and then rinse.
You can also make your own foot scrub at home. The recipe below is for a holiday scented foot scrub, but you can always add or remove ingredients to suit your own personal tastes.
Ingredients for a holiday scented foot scrub:
- 11 cup sea salt
- 2½ cup brown sugar
- 31 tbsp honey
- 4½ cup almond oil
- 5½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 6½ tsp ground ginger
- 7¼ tsp ground cloves
- 8¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- 9½ tsp vanilla
Directions for mixing and applying your holiday scented foot scrub:
- 1In a small bowl, mix all of the ingredients.
- 2Scoop them into an 8-12 ounce glass jar with a tight fitting lid.
- 3After your feet have soaked for 15-20 minutes, open the jar.
- 4Gently massage a small amount of foot scrub onto each foot, moving in a circular motion, and paying attention to dry and rough areas.
- 5You should spend at least two minutes per foot.
- 6Rinse each foot off with warm water.
- 7Pat your feet dry with a soft towel or washcloth.
- 8Now trim your nails, as discussed in the next section.
How to Trim Your Toenails After a Home Foot Spa
Once your feet are soaked, you'll want to take care of your toenails.
An important part of having healthy feet is keeping your toenails properly trimmed. This prevents bacteria from getting under the nails and growing, but it also keeps your nails looking nice.
- 1Your nails should be trimmed straight across, at the level of the toe tip. You should not round them, or trim at angles, as this can cause the nails to grow into your toes.Trimming your toenails:
- 2Once you have trimmed your toenails, smooth the edges with your nail file. Be careful, as the skin of your toes and cuticles will be soft from soaking, and can be easily damaged.Filing your toenails:
- 3Now you can moisturize.
Moisturizing Your Feet After a Home Foot Spa
Keeping the skin of your feet hydrated is important, and will help them stay soft.
Many people have dry feet, which can lead to cracked skin. Often they may incorrectly moisturize to try and correct the issue. The steps below will help you moisturize properly, and we've also included a recipe for you to use.
- 1Put some cream in your hands, but not too much.
- 2Starting with the soles and heels of your feet, gently rub your moisturizing cream into each foot.
- 3Be careful not to get cream between your toes, as it might not dry out.
- 4The moist areas between toes make a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.If you do get moisturizer between your toes, it is best to wipe it dry.
- 5Lightly massage the tops of your feet too, gently rubbing cream in to keep the skin fresh and soft.
- 6Sit back and relax, with your feet up, until the moisturizer has been absorbed, and is dry on your skin.
- 7You can also put on a pair of cotton socks, and remove them in the morning after sleeping.
- 8If there is any residue left, simply rinse it off with warm, not hot, water.
Basic Foot Moisturizer Recipe for Home
You can easily make your own foot moisturizer at home.
A good foot moisturizer is an important part of finishing up your home foot spa. You'll want to follow these steps to make your own.
Ingredients for making your own foot moisturizer:
- 12/3 cup coconut oil
- 2¼ cup Shea butter
- 36 oz essential oil of your choice
How to mix the ingredients for your foot moisturizer:
- 1Put a small saucepan on the stove, on low heat.
- 2Combine the coconut oil and Shea butter until melted.
- 3Remove the pan from the heat
- 4If you want to be creative, you can add in more than one type of essential oil.Add your essential oils, and stir.
- 5When your foot moisturizer is no longer hot, pour it into a glass jar with a lid.
- 6The coconut oil will solidify when it cools.This will make about one cup.
- 7You can also use it to moisturize your hands, elbows, or other areas of dry skin.Use as needed to moisturize your feet.
Tips and Suggestions for a Home Foot Spa
Make sure to read these tips before making you foot spa at home.
- Use warm water, not hot, as you don't want to strip the natural oils off your skin.
- Inspect your feet daily for any forming blisters, calluses or sores. Treat them as soon as possible to prevent further injuries. The following link is from the National Institute of Health and refers to diabetics, keep in mind it pertains to everyone regarding good foot care. [1]
- Shoes that are too tight and rub on your feet can cause corns and calluses. Wear proper fitting shoes.
- When soaking your feet, remember to remove nail polish before soaking. Make sure you use a non-acetone polish remover, as acetone will dry out your nails.
- Never use razor blades for callous removal. You can seriously injure yourself. It is always better to use a pumice stone.
- The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends not rounding the corners or cutting the sides of your toenails at any angle. Doing so may cause the corners to grow into your skin, causing ingrown toenails, and possibly requiring surgery. [2]
- If you are a diabetic, have your podiatrist assist with nail cutting.
- Honey is a natural moisturizer. You can add it to your moisturizer, but keep in mind that honey will make it sticky.
- When making a foot scrub, you will want to use non-irritating essential oils if your skin is particularly sensitive.
- When soaking your feet, you can place a folded towel in the bottom of your basin, cover the towel with marbles of varying sizes, and add your water and soaking solution. Then, while your feet are soaking, you can move them around on the marbles to massage the bottom of your feet.
- Always check with your health care provider before beginning any therapies, especially if you have any illnesses, wounds or skin conditions that could be affected.
Questions and Answers
What electric foot spa will accommodate big feet?
Is there a brand of home foot spa that is roomy enough for size twelve feet?. I have tried: The foot spas I have been looking at in stores seem too small.. I think it was caused by: My feet are size 12 and seem small for most plug-in home foot spas.
Here are some I found online that can accommodate a size 12:
All of these would fit your feet and you should still have some room. Read reviews and most state size 13 or 14 can fit in the foot spas. Some you may even be able to find at local stores.
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.
