At tranquil Granny Mouse Country House & Spa treat yourself to an
ultra-soothing spa treatment for the busiest part of your body – your
feet.
“We are open every day” says Granny Mouse GM Sean Granger. “And, we
have a 30% discount on all treatments every Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday until the end of September 2024. We also have other specials
that include either complimentary spa treatments or spa discounts.”
Granny Mouse Spa facilities include a steam room, jacuzzi and a
hydrotherapy bath, but if you can’t get away, we have some tips.
With a little time and effort, and a few supplies you can find at your
local pharmacy, you can give yourself a fabulous foot makeover at
home.
What You Will Need
· Non-acetone polish remover
· Aromatherapy oil
· Emollient moisturizer
· Toenail scrub brush
· Pumice stone, callus file, or emery board
· Stainless steel nail clipper
· A cuticle pusher or orange stick
· 2kg of food-grade paraffin wax
· Double boiler or portable paraffin wax bath
· Reliable candy thermometer
· Pair of socks
· Box of plastic cling wrap
· Towels
Step 1: Remove Your Toenail Polish
Stripping nail polish allows you to inspect your toenails and look for
any problems, such as onychomycosis (nail fungus) or hangnails. It’s
best to use a non-acetone polish remover. Polish removers containing
acetone are very harsh on the nails and may cause the thinning of the
nail plate and the formation of unsightly ridges.
Every now and then, you should give your toenails a break from nail
polish. Keeping your toenails constantly painted may cause them to
become discoloured. If that does happen, leave them bare for a couple
of weeks. They should soon return to their normal colour.
Step 2: Soak Your Feet
A relaxing foot soak for 15 to 20 minutes will do wonders for your
feet. You can add aromatherapy oils to the tub of water if you choose,
but it’s not necessary. Soaking your feet will loosen dry scales and
soften the thick, hardened layers of skin on your heels, toes, and
balls of your feet.
There are no rules as to how often you should do it. You can soak your
feet every day if you enjoy it—especially if your feet are sore from
being on them a lot.
If you are concerned about calluses, try soaking your feet for 30
minutes two or three times a week to soften them.
Do not use water that is too hot. It can cause the skin to become dry
and crack as the water quickly evaporates and draws moisture from the
outermost protective layer of the skin. Use a toenail brush to gently
scrub your toenails at the end of the soak.
Step 3: Trim Your Calluses and Corns
After the soak, use a pumice stone, emery board, or callus file to
gently reduce corns and calluses. It may take a few trimmings before
you can remove all of the hardened skin. Take care not to cut or file
your skin too deeply.
Removing calluses can help prevent cracks from forming, but trimming
too much can cause the skin to split if pressure is applied to overly
thin tissues. This not only causes pain and bleeding but also can
increase the risk of infection. Remember that your goal is to remove
dead skin cells, not healthy tissue.
Take It Slow
If it has been a long time between pedicures, don’t try to remove
calluses and corns in one sitting (you may not be able to do so
anyway.) Instead, break up the task over the course of two or three
treatments every four to six weeks.
Step 4: Trim Your Toenails
Use a stainless-steel nail clipper to trim your toenails. To prevent
over-trimming, cut the toenails straight across. Then gently round the
corners with an emery board.
You can push your cuticles back, but make every effort to avoid
cutting them. Most dermatologists will tell you that there is no good
reason to cut your cuticles. Cutting cuticles not only increases the
risk of splitting and bleeding but also provides easier access for
bacteria and fungus to the nail bed.
Step 5: Give Yourself a Wax Treatment
A paraffin wax treatment will make your feet feel incredibly soft. The
warmth of the wax helps increase blood flow and opens up the pores in
the skin. When your pores are open, they are able to absorb more
moisture.
A portable paraffin wax bath ensures the wax temperature never exceeds
52°C. There are also pre-packaged paraffin wax kits that can save you
the hassle of having to break down a large block of wax and melt it in
a double boiler.
Once the wax bath has begun to cool, wrap your feet in a towel to
retain the therapeutic heat for a while longer.
Use only food-grade paraffin. Additives like stearic acid, colouring,
and perfumes can increase the melting point of the wax and cause skin
irritation.
Step 6: Moisturize and Massage Your Feet
To finish your foot spa treatment, apply an emollient moisturizer to
your feet. The softened tissues will better absorb the emollients in
the lotion and ensure softer, well-hydrated feet.
Gently massage your feet as you apply the lotion, stretching tendons
in the toe joints and the arch of your feet. This is especially useful
if you have plantar fasciitis, a disorder of the tissue that supports
the arch.
After applying lotion, put on a pair of socks or wrap your feet in
plastic wrap for an hour or two. Known as occlusive therapy, this step
ensures better absorption of the lotion—a big plus if you have dry,
flaky feet.
Alternatively/additionally: try a weekly foot soak with Epsom salt and
lemon. Epsom salt is known to detoxify and soften the skin. The acid
from the lemon juice helps to remove dead skin. Plus, it smells
amazing!
Foot Soak Ingredients:
· 1 lemon (juice and peel)
· 2 tablespoons vinegar (white or apple cider)
· 3 cups Epsom Salt
Foot Soak Instructions
Add lemon juice, vinegar, and Epsom salt to a tub of warm water.
Use the insides of the lemon to clean the feet.
Soak feet for 10-15 minutes.
