For me, visiting a nail salon is not an option. That’s because I have a painful and “incurable” nerve disease.
Therefore, I don’t want to be around the various chemicals found in these establishments.
However, by eating organic food, and avoiding environmental toxins, the worst of my symptoms have disappeared. I also take natural herbal anti-inflammatory supplements.
Staying healthy is a balancing act.
So going to a nail salon doesn’t work. That’s because of all the questionable chemicals used in these establishments.
Do Electronic Foot Files Work?
(This post contains affiliate links, and if you purchase a product I receive a commission, at no extra cost to you.)
Instead, I keep my feet smooth with various home remedies, including an easy-to-use electronic foot file. This works better at keeping my skin smooth than anything else I’ve tried.
In addition to avoiding toxins, I also save a lot of money.
Many women go for regular pedicures to keep their feet smooth. However, this is a luxury you may not be able to afford, at least on a regular basis.
Pedicures typically run around $25. You can expect to pay about $20 at a small nail salon. At a larger, more extensive establishment, this service will run about $35 to $40. At a day spa, you may spend $50 to have your feet worked on.
Plus tips. It’s important to tip service workers so they can enjoy a more livable wage.
Nail Salon Health Hazards
As I mentioned earlier, nail salons may not be conducive to good health. From the minute you walk in, a wave of noxious chemicals hits your face. This problem is so bad that it’s caught the attention of the United States Occupational Safety & Health Administration.
According to OSHA, there are more than 375,000 nail technicians working in America. This agency also notes they “face possible health hazards every day.”
These technicians are exposed to a veritable witches brew of chemicals, along with their customers.
Some of the potentially dangerous substances they work with include toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate and a class of chemicals known as methacrylate compounds. Formaldehyde is a potent toxin and a carcinogen.
You will be exposed to the same toxins, although at a reduced level since you aren’t spending all day in a salon.
Electric Foot File Sander
Even though I don’t visit nail salons, I still want my feet to look nice.
This means removing any ugly dead skin on my heels and on the sides of my feet.
I do own a pumice bar. This works, if I keep it up. But it doesn’t work nearly as well as the Amope Pedi Perfect Electronic Pedicure Foot File.
This file makes it infinitely easier to remove dead skin, since you don’t have to use any elbow grease.
I don’t know why I delayed so long in buying one of these foot filers.
The filer is, by far, the easiest and most efficient way I’ve found to keep my feet smooth.
It has a little whirring file that you put on dry skin. (It won’t work well if your skin is wet. At least mine won’t. But I also see filers advertised that will work on wet skin as well as dry skin)
You can barely feel it as the dead skin is filed away. On my feet, what’s left is an area that looks visibly smoother, and feels softer.
Since I’m staying out of nail salons, this is a device I’ve decided I can’t live without.
I’ve found the best results by using this, along with a moisturizer on my heels. Probably any natural plant based moisturizer will work. But here is an earlier post I published on How To Make Your Own Essential Oil Salve for Dry Heels.
The electric foot file removes the dry skin. But the dryness remains unless you use a moisturizer. My own feet require much less maintenance and filing if I use a good plant-based moisturizer after filing.
Diamond Electronic Foot Sander
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So it’s important to follow up with a moisturizing regimen. This will likely have to be repeated (file and moisturize) until the heels soften up. That’s why you may want to consider using certain essential oils believed to have skin healing properties.
Home Pedicures Made Easy
Sometimes, though, it’s nice to soak your feet. Plant-based remedies can be easily substituted for the potentially toxic ingredients used in nail salons.
Here is a simple recipe for a foot soak, using only safe ingredients. After soaking my feet in it for just 15 minutes, I was amazed at how smooth my skin afterward. This can be followed up by rubbing your feet with a natural pumice stone. Unlike the foot file, this works well on wet skin.
- 1 1/2 cups of Epsom salt
- 1/4 cup of baking soda
- 10 drops of lavender oil (available here)
- Thoroughly combine mixture and store in a covered jar
- Each time you use it, dissolve 1/3 of a cup of this mixture in a basin of warm water to soak your feet.
The lavender essential oil in this recipe is made by Plant Therapy, an Idaho-based company with some of the highest standards in the industry. I love its oils and I’m a repeat customer.
Natural Foot Scrub Recipe
After soaking your feet, you can also exfoliate your heel area with an all-natural foot scrub. I made this recipe last Christmas to give as presents to give to people not normally on my shopping list, just as small tokens to let them know I was thinking about them.
Here is a great recipe for an all-natural foot scrubbing solution.
- One cup of brown sugar
- Enough coconut oil to make it most and crumbly. You can gently melt this on the stove to make it easier to mix.
- 8 drops of peppermint oil (available here)
If you plan to give it as a gift, put it in a small jelly jar and wrap it with an attractive ribbon.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils unless directed to do so by a healthcare provider.
