How to Do a French Pedicure

Applying the French Pedicure

Remove any existing nail polish. Soak a cotton ball with nail polish remover and gently rub the cotton ball on the surface of the nail. Keep rubbing until you see that the polish is completely removed. You may need to use a bit of pressure to remove the polish entirely. You can also use a nail file to file off the remaining nail polish on your toes.

Trim your cuticles with a cuticle trimmer. Cuticle trimmers get rid of hangnails and dead skin around your nail beds. Hold your cuticle trimmer carefully in one hand, and stabilize your foot with the other. Cut any hangnails as close to the base as you can, and trim away any cuticles that are starting to lift away from your nail bed. Use caution when using cuticle trimmers, since they’re very sharp. If your toes start bleeding at all, put pressure on the area for a few minutes and cover the spot with a bandage. If you don't want to trim your cuticles, just use a cuticle pusher to move them back.

File and shape your nails. Go over the tips of your nails with a nail file, shaving them down carefully so they’re all straight. If your nails are long, you can trim them with nail clippers before filing. The length of your nails is up to you, but for French tips, you’ll want at least a thin sliver of white on the top of your nails. If you’d like to, you can buff your nails by gently using the nail file on the surface of your nails. Buffing is optional, but it helps the base layer of polish stick to your toes better.

Place toe separators between your toes. These will prevent the nail polish from smudging against your other toes as you wait for it to dry. Toe separators aren’t totally necessary, but they can help beginners keep their toes from smudging together during the polishing process. Don’t have toe separators? Use cotton balls instead.

Apply a coat of clear or baby pink polish. This first layer is your base coat, and it’s what gives the French pedicure its signature shine! You can go for a clear polish, a baby pink polish, or a beige polish that complements your skin tone. Swipe a thin layer onto each toenail, then let the polish dry completely. If you’re using gel polish, cure your nail polish in a UV lamp for about 30 seconds.

Dot white polish onto the tips of your nails. Grab a white nail polish and use the applicator brush to pick up a small bead of polish. Stabilize 1 toe at a time and gently tap the tip of your applicator brush against the tip of your toenail. Follow the natural white line on the tips of your toenails for a perfectly even French tip. Most French tips only need 1 coat of polish. However, if your white polish is a little transparent, add a second coat. You can also use a French tip stencil to easily press on your white polish in a straight line.

Clean up the French tips with a concealer brush. If your French tips aren’t perfect, that’s okay! Grab a concealer brush and gently swipe underneath the wet polish to clean it up. Try to form it into a perfectly straight line along all of your toenails for that professional French pedicure look. If you get polish anywhere it’s not supposed to be, don’t fret. Simply dip a clean concealer brush into acetone, then gently wipe up the polish.

Let your nails dry completely. Your nails will look the best if you let them dry all the way before moving on. If you’re using classic nail polish, give your nails at least 5 minutes to dry, or until they stop feeling tacky. If you’re using gel polish, grab your UV light and cure your nails for about 30 seconds.

Coat your nails with clear polish. Use your favorite top coat or a quick-drying top coat to cover the nails in one layer. This will finish off the look for your French-pedicured nails. You can also try a top coat that is slightly pink to go for a softer look. Let the top coat dry completely before putting your shoes on!

Try colorful tips or a glitter base to mix up your design. If you’re tired of the plain white French tips, get creative with it! Try using glitter polish as your base, or do a bright pink French tip for a pop of color. Try different color combinations to match your mood or your overall look. You could also use a nail stamp as a fun way to add an intricate design to your nails.

Optional Pedicure Techniques

Soak your feet in warm water. This step is optional, but it will really make you feel like you’re at the nail salon. Grab a bowl or plastic container large enough to place both of your feet inside. Fill it with warm (but not hot) water, and stir in a cup of bath salts to soothe and moisturize your skin. Take a minute to enjoy the warmth of the water on your feet and relax. Want to make a full day of it? Pour yourself a glass of wine and apply a face mask, too. It’s all about relaxation!

Use a pumice stone to exfoliate your feet. Are your feet feeling rough or coarse? After soaking your feet in warm water for 5 minutes, grab a pumice stone and get it wet. Gently rub your feet with the pumice stone for 2 to 3 minutes each, focusing on any dead or dry skin. Use light pressure the entire time to avoid any irritation. Use caution when using a pumice stone on your feet, especially in sensitive areas. Too much pressure can take off fresh skin, leading to bleeding or irritation.

Moisturize your feet with lotion. When finished with the pumice stone, rub your favorite softening lotion into your feet and legs to create soft, silky skin. Squirt a quarter-sized amount of lotion into the palm of your hands, then rub your hands together and begin applying the lotion to your legs and feet. Rub your skin until the lotion has absorbed into the skin.