I have been doing an experiment for a while now. I, like most women, like to primp. I like to have certain services done for me rather than do them myself. I can do my own acrylics but I prefer to pay others to do them for me. I could never get my right hand perfect. My feet were another thing I opt out for. It used to be hard for me to bend over to do my feet. But I lost a few pounds and I can do that now without getting light headed.
But the real build is my foot skin. I have been suspicious that pedicures lead to more pedicures. I have wanted to have pretty hands and feet all my life. My hands are short, rough and wrinkled. I have old man's hands. Always did. And still do. But I make them look attractive by keeping my nails long and manicured. The length makes my fingers look longer. And by keeping them polished folks call my hands "pretty" so I go with it. My feet are the lower versions of my hands: Rough wrinkled skin with Barney Rubble toes. Polished, all greased up and shoved into a pair of heels, I get complements. I have even put foundation on my feet to hide the occasional corn. And I mean occasional!
But I have often wondered if I stopped all the foot maintenance would my feet look like I was half alligator? The answer is no. But it took 3 years to complete my research. Since I didn't have a man when I began this experiment and I don't wear open toe shoes in the winter, I would not get my feet done in the winter. There are a bunch of things I don't do when the weather turns cold.... I noticed that my feet would get super crusty then said crust would go away and my feet would just look like feet. Hmmmm....? Inevitably, the summer would return and I would get back into the pedicure chair. But 3 years ago I decided to not return to the chair when the weather got warm. And just do my own polishing and see what would happen to my feet.
The results are finally in..... Pedicure manipulation of my feet causes my feet to need more manipulation. But if left alone, yes, I would get the rusty crusties but it would go away and I would have the feet that were normal for me. My feet don't require pedicures. Wow!
There are a few things I learned along the way. A good damp emollient combined with consistent sock use will soften my feet and keep the skin on the soles and sides of my feet healthy. I have noticed my tendency to grow cuticle unashamedly. Especially on the pinky toes. That has to be removed and it's easy to remove them if I soak my feet 1st; Like in the bathtub. And since I prefer showers, but will take at least 1 bath/month, when in the tub it's important to take care of the cuticle condition. That combined with weekly polish changes, phat shoes and ankle and toe jewelry will give me the pretty feet I crave with no down time.
This...
vs....
This...
Peace
