What Is a Dry Pedicure? - Waterless Pedicures and Foot Care

If you are a pedicure connoisseur then no doubt you have tried everything from Margarita to Volcano Pedicures in your local spa (pedicure menus can be extensive). Foot pampering comes in all shapes and sizes but they all tend to have one thing in common and that is water. However, a dry pedicure knocks convention on the head and is based on an entirely waterless experience.

Dry pedicure services for salon clients are all the rage but what exactly is involved and why are some people choosing to opt for a foot treatment without water?

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What is a Waterless Pedicure?

A waterless pedicure is a pedicure that does not use water in any part of the process. Traditional pedi services in a spa or beauty salon tend to use footbaths and soaks. A waterless or dry pedicure works by doing all the usual treatments for clients but without needing to soak the feet in the water as part of the process.

Is It Better to File Feet Dry or Wet?

The jury is still out about whether it is better to file your feet when they are dry or wet. Some experts claim that when you file your hard skin and feet when they are dry it is easier to see exactly how much dead skin you are removing. This is why many salons offer dry pedicures for clients who have problems with calluses and need regular debridement. Others claim that having wet skin on the feet makes it easier for the dry skin to be removed. Beauty salons however believe that the water can prevent accuracy meaning that more skin could be taken off than absolutely necessary.

Are Dry Pedicures Better?

From a medical and health perspective dry pedicures in a spa are believed to be more hygienic and better for your foot health. Water can be a breeding ground for bacteria. If multiple customers are using a salon daily it is easier to maintain high levels of cleanliness if water isn't used.Dry pedicures also tend to involve a more accurate removal of dead skin and are believed to keep your nail polish lasting longer as well.

Dry Pedicure Benefits

There are a number of benefits as a customer to having a dry pedicure including:

Dry pedicures are eco-friendly as they don’t waste water.
Dry skin and calluses are more easily seen and treated.
Nail polish is likely to last longer.
The process is more hygienic and cuts the risk of bacteria or fungus spread.
They stop cuticle expansion.
Feet are supposed to be softer and calluses take longer to reform.

Margaret Dabbs was one of the pioneers of using this form of pedicure in her London salon. Margaret is a leading podiatrist and has developed a huge range of luxury foot products to use on your feet. She created a waterless foot care service and place it on her pedicure menu for her customers. Instead of water, she used her Emu oil-based products on her customers.

Dry Pedicure Vs Wet Pedicure

So what are the main differences between a dry and a wet pedicure? In fact, both types of pedicures are relatively similar apart from right at the beginning of the process. Just about every wet Pedi service involves nail polish removal followed by soaking the feet in warm water and products such as essential oils or foot products. The idea is that the footbath helps to relax the feet and softens the skin. Once the feet have been soaked they are dried with towels and the remaining service begins.

If you are a customer looking for a dry pedicure then the experience starts with nail polish remover and then the feet are sanitized and work begins on the foot treatments without the time spent soaking the feet first. This means that dry pedicures can also be considerably quicker than a normal pedicure. Dry pedicures are however suitable for medical pedicures with a podiatrist.

Dry Pedicure Steps

A typical dry pedicure will have some simple basic steps. When you enter the salon you will be asked to take a seat and the nail technician will begin by sanitizing their hands and your feet. This is usually done with a spray sanitizer.

Once the feet are sanitized your nail polish is removed (if you are wearing any) and your nails are trimmed and filed to the shape you want. Next, your cuticles are attended to and pushed back with an orange stick. Cuticle oil or product may be used in the process.

The nail technician will begin to file or remove any dead skin on your feet with a foot file or pumice. If you are seeing a podiatrist or having a medical pedicure the skin may be removed with a blade. Once the hard skin is removed your feet are sanitized again and dried with towels.

A foot massage can take place as part of the treatment. Just because no water is used it doesn’t mean to say that other products are not allowed. Massage oil or lotion can help to soften the skin on the foot and the massage makes the whole process a more luxurious experience.

Finally, your nails will be painted with a nail polish color of your choice. In certain salons, the polish may be replaced by gel nail products.

Dry Pedicure Kit

To create your own dry pedicure kit you just need a few simple products. After you have removed your nail polish trim and shape your nails with this 9 piece rose gold pedicure kit. This kit has everything you need to trim and shape your nails including nail clippers, scissors, and a file to shape your nails.

Our favorite dry pedicure products also include this Diamoncel Foot Buffer which is great if you have lots of dry skin or calluses. We have owned ours for years and it is still as good as the day we bought it. If you want something a little less abrasive use the Diamoncel Luxury Foot Rasp and Buffer.

Our next waterless pedicure product helps to moisturize your feet. We love the Ancient Greek Remedy Foot Balm which contains extra virgin olive oil, sweet almond, grape seed, and lavender essential oils plus vitamin E.