7 Things to Know Before Your Next Pedicure

September 4, 2026

I love the finished part.

Fresh white toes.

Smooth heels.

Cute sandals.

A tiny toe ring.

An anklet catching the light.

That’s the part that makes the picture.

But I’ve spent enough time building a business around feet to realize that the prettiest part of a pedicure actually starts before somebody opens the polish bottle.

There are little decisions we make at home and at the salon that can affect how our feet feel long after the polish dries.

So before your next pedicure appointment, here are seven things worth knowing.

🪒 1. Don’t shave your legs right before your pedicure

This surprised me when I first learned it because getting completely smooth before the salon feels like the logical order.

The American Podiatric Medical Association advises against shaving your legs immediately before a pedicure. Small nicks from shaving can provide an entry point for bacteria.

So apparently the toes can get cute first.

The legs can have their turn afterward. 😂

🛁 2. Pay attention to the foot bath

That bubbling pedicure chair might feel like the official beginning of relaxation, but cleanliness matters more than the massage setting.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends making sure a salon sanitizes its foot baths and nail-grooming tools between customers.

APMA even suggests scheduling earlier in the day when salon foot baths are typically at their cleanest—or verifying that the bath is properly cleaned between clients.

That isn’t being difficult.

That’s being somebody who wants cute toes and healthy feet.

✂️ 3. Your toenails shouldn’t be rounded like your fingernails

Your hands and feet don’t necessarily get the same nail shape.

Dermatologists recommend trimming toenails straight across because this can help reduce the chance of developing an ingrown toenail.

APMA gives the same advice and recommends using a straight-edged toenail clipper rather than rounding the corners.

So when we’re choosing a shape, we’re not just thinking about what looks pretty in the sandal.

We’re thinking about what happens when the nail starts growing again.

🚫 4. Leave the cuticles alone

This one is especially interesting because cuticle cutting can feel like part of getting a very “clean” pedicure.

But your cuticles aren’t useless skin.

AAD explains that cuticles protect the nail root and recommends avoiding cutting or pushing them back because damaging that protective barrier can make it easier for germs to enter.

APMA similarly advises against cutting cuticles because of the infection risk.

Sometimes more removed doesn’t mean more cared for.

🦶🏽 5. Please don’t let anybody take a razor to your heels

Rough heels can make us want the most aggressive treatment available.

But aggressive isn’t automatically better.

APMA specifically advises against having a salon use a foot razor to remove dead skin because removing too much skin can cause damage and increase infection risk. Instead, its pedicure guidance recommends gentler approaches such as a pumice stone or foot file for callused areas.

Your heel doesn’t need punishment.

It needs maintenance.

🎨 6. Don’t paint over something that doesn’t look right

This might be the most important one.

If a toenail suddenly looks thick, discolored, split or lifted, covering it with the prettiest polish in the salon doesn’t solve whatever is happening underneath.

AAD lists those changes among signs that can occur with nail fungus and recommends seeing a board-certified dermatologist if you notice them.

APMA likewise advises against simply covering a thick or discolored toenail with polish and recommends having persistent problems evaluated.

The pedicure can wait.

The foot comes first.

🧰 7. Bringing your own tools isn’t doing too much

If you’re particular about your feet, APMA actually recommends bringing your own pedicure utensils to the salon because bacteria and fungi can spread when tools aren’t properly sterilized.

And if you’re doing your pedicure at home, don’t forget the tools there either.

AAD recommends regularly disinfecting nail clippers and keeping nail-grooming tools clean.

Clean tools.

Healthy-looking nails.

Then we can talk polish.