Home pedicure equipment
November 18, 2014 11:01 AM Subscribe
My sister has requested a pumice stone for her feet for Christmas. I'd like to go a step further and get her all the stuff she'll need to give herself a nice home pedicure. I'm not so interested in polish, I think she has that covered. But any recommendations for equipment/clippers/cleansing goo/foot baths/etc are welcome.
I was recently convinced to try Babyfoot, which is the grossest, most ridiculous thing to ever happen to my feet. Does what it says on the box, though it takes about a week to happen, and it's spectacularly cathartic and effective, if a bit revolting! It's one of my Christmas gifts to my sister, who will find it as hilarious as I did.
posted by kittyb at 11:16 AM on November 18, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by kittyb at 11:16 AM on November 18, 2014 [5 favorites]
What's your budget? This Pfeilring flat-fold nail clipper has made me absurdly, stupidly happy for well over a decade. You know how a Rolls-Royce is supposedly sleek and perfect and precision-engineered and swaddles its owner in luxury? This nail clipper is like that, on a teeny-tiny level. It's seriously the best-made thing I own. I can be stingy - I'm all about generic cereal and used cars - but if I lost this nail clipper, I'd buy another one THAT DAY at full price. It is seriously a great lifetime investment. She will never, ever have to buy another clipper. And she will never, ever lose it, because it's so awesome that she'll find herself treating it with care and reverence.
Also: a good callus shaver. There is a learning curve - and it can be a somewhat-bloody one - but once you learn to use one, you don't go back to Ped Eggs and other such B.S.
posted by julthumbscrew at 11:21 AM on November 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also: a good callus shaver. There is a learning curve - and it can be a somewhat-bloody one - but once you learn to use one, you don't go back to Ped Eggs and other such B.S.
posted by julthumbscrew at 11:21 AM on November 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: This Emjoi Micro-Pedi Nano Callus Remover is awesome. It also comes in a battery-powered version. Get some extra rollers. It's a really great gadget - I imagine you could do the same thing with a Dremel or power drill but this little package does its job very well.
Other specifically great foot products:
Microplane Colossal Pedicure Rasp
Callus Eliminator Bundle
Tweezerman LTD Soft Grip Foot File
posted by barnone at 11:22 AM on November 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
Other specifically great foot products:
Microplane Colossal Pedicure Rasp
Callus Eliminator Bundle
Tweezerman LTD Soft Grip Foot File
posted by barnone at 11:22 AM on November 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
Cuticle nipper
Pushy
Pedicure sticks
Buffer block
Callus shaver
Nail clippers
Cuticle oil
Toe separators (I prefer to just use paper towels, but ymmv)
She may also be interested in a Home shellac kit.
posted by melissasaurus at 11:23 AM on November 18, 2014
Pushy
Pedicure sticks
Buffer block
Callus shaver
Nail clippers
Cuticle oil
Toe separators (I prefer to just use paper towels, but ymmv)
She may also be interested in a Home shellac kit.
posted by melissasaurus at 11:23 AM on November 18, 2014
Don't get the pumice stone in the beauty isle, look by the toilet cleaner and find the one meant for cleaning rings off your toilet (you may have to go to the hardware store). They are much coarser and actually work. I use it on my feet dry and it works so much better than the beauty isle ones. The packaging is not as pretty though.
posted by BoscosMom at 11:53 AM on November 18, 2014
posted by BoscosMom at 11:53 AM on November 18, 2014
Seconding the Emjoi Micro-Ped, which is an amazing miracle tool. I have the battery-powered one and I'm embarrassingly wedded to it. Without it, I have terrifying scaly lizard feet, and I am not a lizard.
Also, many years ago, my sister was given a low-end paraffin foot bath, and though it sounds ridiculous, they're basically amazing. I looked them up for this, and it turns out you can buy them for under fifty bucks--I'm pretty tempted to buy one for myself for Christmas.
posted by MeghanC at 12:04 PM on November 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also, many years ago, my sister was given a low-end paraffin foot bath, and though it sounds ridiculous, they're basically amazing. I looked them up for this, and it turns out you can buy them for under fifty bucks--I'm pretty tempted to buy one for myself for Christmas.
posted by MeghanC at 12:04 PM on November 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
Oh god, I too just tried that Babyfoot stuff last week, and it is so creepy, but also very effective and weirdly soothing having my feet just suddenly shed a layer of skin. I have been pretending to be a snake. It's delightful in a weird way.
I ditched the professional pedicures a year or so ago as a cost cutting measure, and personally, some sort of foot bath (water or paraffin) would be the most amazingly delightful gift if someone were wanting to spoil me and my feet. I might pick up a pumice stone or a buffer or whatever on my own on a whim, but I would not get a full-on foot bath for myself, but would love love love it as a gift.
posted by Stacey at 12:10 PM on November 18, 2014
I ditched the professional pedicures a year or so ago as a cost cutting measure, and personally, some sort of foot bath (water or paraffin) would be the most amazingly delightful gift if someone were wanting to spoil me and my feet. I might pick up a pumice stone or a buffer or whatever on my own on a whim, but I would not get a full-on foot bath for myself, but would love love love it as a gift.
posted by Stacey at 12:10 PM on November 18, 2014
I came to tell you what not to get. Don't get the PediSonic.
It takes 24 hours to charge, runs out of juice after one pedicure, and the smoothing disc that's supposed to be used on the rough areas that need filing down is a joke.
posted by Dragonness at 12:17 PM on November 18, 2014
It takes 24 hours to charge, runs out of juice after one pedicure, and the smoothing disc that's supposed to be used on the rough areas that need filing down is a joke.
posted by Dragonness at 12:17 PM on November 18, 2014
I came to suggest Babyfoot as well. It's so wonderfully gross and effective.
Also, I like foot files far more than pumice stones. They're way more effective, IMO. A good nail clipper from Tweezerman in is my kit along with cuticle pushers and large nail files.
If she likes to polish, I'd also get toe separators.
Origins also makes a wonderfully minty and tingly foot and leg lotion.
posted by quince at 12:53 PM on November 18, 2014
Also, I like foot files far more than pumice stones. They're way more effective, IMO. A good nail clipper from Tweezerman in is my kit along with cuticle pushers and large nail files.
If she likes to polish, I'd also get toe separators.
Origins also makes a wonderfully minty and tingly foot and leg lotion.
posted by quince at 12:53 PM on November 18, 2014
If she likes pumice stones how about a Hawaiian pumice stone? They're actually black lava and last forever unlike grey pumice. I've had mine for over a decade and barely made a dent in it's surface.
posted by redindiaink at 1:20 PM on November 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by redindiaink at 1:20 PM on November 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
I, too, love my Emjoi. My version has different shaped attachments which is great for toes. I am also a fan of the softer pumice stones vs. the hard ones; I find if I use those every day in the shower it reduces all the other upkeep I need. I find them all the time at T.J. Maxx.
Don't get the pumice stone in the beauty isle, look by the toilet cleaner and find the one meant for cleaning rings off your toilet (you may have to go to the hardware store).
Oh, I'm going to try this! I've been buying them at my local 99-cent stores for a decade, but they have them at my supermarket for 3 or 4 dollars.
I was recently convinced to try Babyfoot, which is the grossest, most ridiculous thing to ever happen to my feet.
OMG the Amazon reviews are hilarious.
posted by Room 641-A at 3:16 PM on November 18, 2014
Don't get the pumice stone in the beauty isle, look by the toilet cleaner and find the one meant for cleaning rings off your toilet (you may have to go to the hardware store).
Oh, I'm going to try this! I've been buying them at my local 99-cent stores for a decade, but they have them at my supermarket for 3 or 4 dollars.
I was recently convinced to try Babyfoot, which is the grossest, most ridiculous thing to ever happen to my feet.
OMG the Amazon reviews are hilarious.
posted by Room 641-A at 3:16 PM on November 18, 2014
Does she have one of these? They are fantastic. Add cheap Epsom salt. Soak for at least 10 min, then scrub. Sally or other discount beauty supply will have the same pumice and other tools your local mani pedi place uses. Add a bottle of wine.
posted by cestmoi15 at 5:03 PM on November 18, 2014
posted by cestmoi15 at 5:03 PM on November 18, 2014
Queen Helene FooTherapy Natural Mineral Foot Bath looks like total old-lady rub, but it's great and it works in 10 minutes or so. Works especially well with a Pedro (which is way better than a regular pumice stone).
posted by Madamina at 6:36 PM on November 18, 2014
posted by Madamina at 6:36 PM on November 18, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by poffin boffin at 11:15 AM on November 18, 2014