The 12 Most Essential Mani-Pedi Tools

To give your hands and feet salon-like treatment right at home, you need
these basic supplies that you can easily find online or at your local drugstore.

1. Nail Cutter

Manicure And Pedicure Tools - 1. Nail Cutter

Image: Shutterstock

A nail cutter or a nail clipper is the most basic tool that you require for a manicure or a pedicure. Your
nails are a breeding ground for bacteria and are one of the dirtiest parts of your body. Trimming them
from time to time is important if you want to maintain your overall health. It’s best to keep them short
at all times as this helps to prevent the spread of diseases.

How To Use Nail Cutter At Home?

You can either use a nail cutter/clipper or nail scissors to trim your nails. Make sure your tool is clean
before you begin. Place your nail between your nail cutter, making sure you aren’t touching the skin. Do
not cut too much as this can expose the sensitive part of your nail-bed and lead to infections.

Pro Tip: Nails are softer after a shower so that’s a good time to trim them.

2. Cuticle Pusher

Manicure And Pedicure Tools - 2. Cuticle Pusher

Image: Shutterstock

Image: Shutterstock
Cuticles require special care so they don’t become dry or flaky. A cuticle pusher is used to push the skin
from your nails back and away. If you have tough, hard skin then it’s best to use a steel cuticle pusher. If
you have soft cuticles, use a wooden one.

How To Use Cuticle Pusher?

You should never cut your cuticles, only push them back and be gentle! If you happen to slice the thin
lining on the bottom of your nail bed, it will lead to infection. Use the spoon end to push it back, it’s that
simple. Use the sharper end to push against the cuticles around the corners. Be as gentle as you can.

Pro Tip: A good time to deal with this area is right after a shower because that’s when your skin is soft,
and it gets really easy to push back any excess cuticle growth. It also helps to prevent any damage or
hurt yourself in the process.

3. Cuticle Nipper

Manicure And Pedicure Tools - 3. Cuticle Nipper

Image: Shutterstock

Image: Shutterstock

A cuticle nipper is a tool that is used to deal with hang nails, tough cuticles and the dry skin around your
nails. It offers great precision to reach those tight spaces and to trim those annoying ingrown nails. It
also enables the delicate removal of unwanted soft tissue around your nails.

How To Use Cuticle Nipper?

Once the cuticle is pushed back, it’s time to use the cuticle nipper. If you have tiny pieces of skin or
cuticle around your nail bed, use this tool to gently trim the unsightly skin. Use an upward motion to lift
this dead skin up and away from the nail.

Pro Tip: After the cuticle has been pushed and trimmed, use a hand-cream or lotion to moisturize.

Always make sure to sanitize your cuticle clipper before and after use. Store it in a dry place to prevent
rust.

4. Nail Buffer

Manicure And Pedicure Tools - 4. Nail Buffer

Image: Shutterstock

Image: Shutterstock

Have you ever wondered how to achieve naturally glossy nails? If you want to get rid of the dullness on
your nails, use a nail buffer to provide your nails with shine. It also helps to remove any dry ridges or
peeling on your nails by smoothening them out. The main purpose of this tool is to polish your nails and
give them a consistent look.

How To Use Nail Buffer?

Before you start, make sure your nails have been soaked and cleaned. Ensure your nails are dry and
always buff in one direction. You can go either forward or backward – it’s best to stick with one. Don’t
be over-enthusiastic and buff too vigorously as this may cause thinning of nails. Also, excessive buffing is
harmful – just once a month will help you preserve the shine of your nails.

Pro Tip: Use the finer side of the tool for shining and smoothening.
Once you finish, apply beeswax or some cuticle oil on the nails!

5. Nail File

Manicure And Pedicure Tools - 5. Nail File

Image: Shutterstock

Image: Shutterstock

This tool is used to gently grind down the edges of your nails, making them smoother and helping you in
shaping them. There are various types of nail files in the market – emery boards and plain metal files
being the most commonly used tools. It’s advisable to use emery boards as they are more gentle. Metal
files tend to be very harsh on your nails.

How To Use Nail File?

Before you begin, ensure your nails are dry because wet nails split more easily. Hold the file at a 45-
degree angle, parallel to the sides of your nails. Start at one corner and move to the center of your nail.
Apply less pressure and file the nails in only one direction for a smooth finish.

Pro Tip: In order to prevent your nails from chipping or breakage, shape them into an oval or square
shape. Once you achieve your desired result, wash and moisturize your nails well.

6. Pumice Stone/ Foot File

Manicure And Pedicure Tools - 6. Pumice Stone/ Foot File

Image: Shutterstock
Image: Shutterstock

A pumice stone is used to remove the outermost layer of dead skin cells and calluses usually found on
the bottom of your feet. Doing this also helps in getting rid of cracked skin on feet.

How To Use

Before you start exfoliating with a pumice stone, you need to soak your hands or feet in warm, soapy
water for at least ten minutes. Once your dry skin softens, wet the stone and gently rub it over the area
you’re working on.

Pro Tip: This multi-purpose tool can also be used on your knees and elbows to help exfoliate.

Use the stone daily for your feet, especially if your footwear involves sandals or anything that exposes
your feet. Also, be very careful and do not put too much pressure while exfoliating.

7. Nail Brush

Manicure And Pedicure Tools - 7. Nail Brush

Image: Shutterstock

Image: Shutterstock

Nail brushes are used for thorough cleaning of nails. They can also be used to remove stubborn stains or
dirt from the nails. If you simply want your nails to look as neat as possible, you can use this daily.
How To Use Nail Brush?

Start by holding the nail brush under warm water and squirting a small amount of anti-bacterial soap
onto the brush. Move the brush from side to side over your nails, creating lather while doing so. Once
you finish, wash up and dab some moisturizer on. Say hello to squeaky clean nails!

Pro Tip: Stick to warm water for this step as it will help soften the nails while giving you a more thorough
clean.

8. Toe Separator

8. Toe Separator

Image: Shutterstock

This is used to place between your toes before you put on nail polish, so it doesn’t smudge. Additionally,
this wonderful tool helps realign joints, improve circulation and straighten any bent toes which help with
foot pain. Multi-purpose, much?

How To Use Toe Separator?

Just place this between your toes for a while and do your thing – apply nail polish, perhaps? Simple!

9. Orangewood Stick

Manicure And Pedicure Tools - 9. Orangewood Stick

Image: Shutterstock

This can be used for several things – push back cuticles, clean out any dirt or even fix nail polish errors.
Handy, isn’t it? Have these around for a quick fix.
10. Mild Scrub

Manicure And Pedicure Tools - 10. Mild ScrubSave

Image: Shutterstock

Exfoliation is the key to soft, smooth skin and using a mild scrub for your hands and feet is not only
relaxing, but it also helps to remove the outermost layer of dead skin cells. This also helps in promoting
circulation so scrub away but be gentle, especially with your hands.

11. Pediklear – A Quick Fix For Your Feet

If you’re looking to achieve gorgeous feet with the help of just one tool, we highly recommend Pediklear
– with its specially formulated Mineral Surface Roller that makes only external contact and removes
cracks, calluses and hard skin in front of your own eyes. No side effects, guaranteed. It is waterproof and
also works well on wet skin.

For more information on this product, visit https://www.stylecraze.com/pediklear-for-feet/

12. Callus Remover

Callus RemoverSave

Shutterstock

A callus remover or foot scraper efficiently gets rid of dead, dry, and rough skin from your heels to
reveal softer, smoother skin.

How To Use

Start by soaking your feet in a basin of warm water for about 10 to 15 minutes. Then, lay a towel next to
the basin and put your feet on it to dry them. Your feet need to be dry enough to use the callus remover
effectively but moist enough to stay soft. Check for the areas that are callused and scrape the skin using
a downward motion until all areas of your foot are smooth.
Pro Tip: Add oils, salts, and vitamins to the water to give your skin the nourishment it needs.

*Subject to Availability

Now, let’s quickly glance through certain other basic requirements besides the above tools we
mentioned. Here we go:

1. A Basin or A Bucket For Your Feet

You can use a small tub or bucket for you to soak your feet into.

2. A Finger Bowl

A plastic bowl or a glass bowl would suffice.

3. Warm Soapy Water

This is an essential element through the whole process.

4. Cuticle Oil/ Olive Oil

You can also use sweet almond oil if you do not find cuticle or olive oil.

5. Hand Cream

A nice moisturizing hand cream to pamper those babies. The Body Shop has some great stuff you can
try.

6. Foot Cream

How about some peppermint foot cream? It’s a great option to massage your feet with.

7. Nail Polish (Optional)

For all the ladies, this is optional, you can also use a base coat that strengthens and promotes nail
growth to keep them healthy!
Important Tips To Maintain Manicure And Pedicure Tools

You may wonder what’s the need to clean these tools when it’s only you who’s using them? True, but it
is always advisable to clean these tools. The dirt and dead skin on these tools obviously have some
adverse effects. They may result in the growth of bacteria and germs thus causing infection. Therefore,
cleaning them is very essential before and after each use.

Keep your tools soaked in warm soapy (anti-bacterial) water. This will kill all the germs and help keep
your equipment bacteria-free.

It’s advisable to not share your tools with others just like you wouldn’t share your tooth brush.

So, now that we’ve covered all the essential manicure and pedicure tools, we hope that you will give it a
shot on one of those lazy Sundays, perhaps? You don’t have to spend thousands of rupees to visit the
salon for a manicure/pedicure when you can achieve just as amazing results right at home.