How Often Should You Get a Pedicure? It Depends on Your Feet

Most answers to this question say four to six weeks and leave it there. We say it too, on our pedicure page, because it is a fair average. But we have guests who could go eight weeks and guests who should be back in three, and the difference has nothing to do with the calendar. It has to do with their feet.

The five-minute self-check

Socks off, good light. Four things tell you whether you are due.

• Heels. Run a thumb across them. Smooth and a little dry is fine. A ridge of hard skin, or fine cracks at the edge, means callus has built past what a quick file will handle.
• Polish. Lifting at the free edge, or a gap of bare nail at the cuticle, means it has done its time. Polish lifting on a nail that looks thick or yellow underneath is a question for a doctor.
• Length and corners. If the nail reaches the end of the toe, or the corners are starting to dig, it needs trimming. The StatPearls review on ingrown toenails names improper nail trimming and inadequate foot hygiene as the most common causes, with tight-fitting shoes behind them.
• Rough patches. A small dry patch on the ball of the foot or the heel is normal. A patch that is painful, cracked or bleeding is not a salon job.

Two of those four and you are due. Three and the Deluxe will do more for you than the Classic.

A cadence by foot type

The dermatologist quoted in PureWow's piece on this, Dr. Dana Stern, puts it plainly: some people naturally produce more callus or do activities that create a lot of friction at the feet, so the frequency varies from person to person. The manicurist in the same article, Jin Soon Choi, suggests every two to three weeks; that is more often than most of our guests need. Here is how we would sort it.

The sandal-wearer

Open shoes mean the heel takes every step without a cushion. If you live in sandals from spring to fall, expect to want a visit every three to four weeks, and expect the heel to be the reason. Mayo Clinic's summer foot care notes say to moisturize dry heels and soles; that stretches the interval.

The runner or walker

Friction builds callus, and callus that gets thick enough can crack. Three to four weeks is typical, and it is worth telling your tech how much you run. We will smooth rather than strip, because a runner with no callus at all blisters.

Desk feet

Closed shoes, short walks, little friction. Polish is usually what brings you back, not skin. Five to six weeks on a Classic is realistic, longer still with gel on your toes.

Anyone with diabetes or neuropathy

Shorter, with a podiatrist in the loop. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases says to check your feet each day, trim toenails straight across without cutting into the corners, and get a thorough foot exam at least once a year, including a check of the feeling and pulses in your feet. It also says to bring your own nail tools to a salon pedicure; you are welcome to do that here. UR Medicine adds that people with diabetes are at increased risk for infection. Tell us before we start; it changes how we work.

Gel toes versus regular polish

This is where the generic answer falls apart, because the two finishes run on different clocks. Regular lacquer on toes typically looks good for a week or two. Gel on toes lasts longest of anything we do, often a month or more, because toenails grow slowly and the cuticle line takes longer to show. A gel-toes guest is usually back for the skin, not the color.

The catch is removal. Gel on toes is soaked off at the next visit, never pried, which is what keeps the nail plate intact. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests going without polish for one to two weeks or longer now and then, and says to see a board-certified dermatologist if you notice any unusual changes to your nails.

Between-visit care that stretches the interval

• Moisturize heels and soles most evenings, but not between the toes. Mayo and NIDDK both say moisture trapped there can lead to infection, and that matters most with diabetes.
• Trim straight across between visits and leave the corners alone.
• Do not shave or wax your legs in the 24 hours before a pedicure. The AAD says shave your lower legs after getting a pedicure, not before, because a nick is a way in for infection. UR Medicine says the same about waxing.
• Never cut or forcefully push back your cuticles. The AAD files that under preventing infection.
• Let regular polish dry fully before closed shoes; smudges in the first hour are a common reason a pedicure looks worn early.

When to see a podiatrist first

Sometimes the right advice is not to book with us yet: a thick, crumbling or discolored toenail; a red, sore corner; a callus with a hard core that hurts when pressed; a cut or rash that has not healed. UR Medicine's list is simple: a rash, a cut or even bug bites make you more vulnerable to infection during a pedicure, and afterwards watch for redness, tenderness or rash.

Mayo's rule of thumb for summer foot complaints is that if symptoms have not improved after two to four weeks of over-the-counter treatment, contact a health care professional. With diabetes or poor circulation the bar is lower: Mayo says small problems such as blisters, cuts, burns or fungal infections can become serious quickly.

What to ask for

If the self-check says polish and nails, ask for the Classic. If it says heels, ask for the Deluxe and tell us where the callus is. If you want gel color on your toes, say so when you book; your tech will confirm the full total before starting. If you have diabetes, neuropathy, take blood thinners or are pregnant, say so at the desk. Walk-ins are welcome, and you can book online.