How Often Do You Need a Pedicure? Foot Maintenance & Care

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Your guide to soft skin, perfect nails, and pampered feet

Written by Marta Nagorska | Edited by Savannah Vold

Last Updated: October 30, 2024 Fact Checked

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Recommended Pedicure Frequency

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What is a pedicure?

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Pedicure Benefits

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Signs You Need One

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Preserving Your Pedicure

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Tips

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Warnings

It doesn't feel like it's been that long since your last pedi, but when you go to put on a pair of open-toed shoes, you can't help but gasp, “The horror!” Has it really been that long? Is there a standard amount of time to wait between pedicures, and if so, how long? In this article, we’ll tell you exactly how often you should get a pedicure and provide a list of signs indicating your feet are ready for some TLC. Plus, we’ll even give you tips on how to make your pedicure last as long as possible. Read on for happy feet!

This article is based on an interview with our professional nail artist, Marta Nagorska. Check out the full interview here.

Things You Should Know

Aim to get a pedicure about once a month, whether you’re going to a salon or treating your feet yourself.
Schedule a pedicure if you notice cracked heels, ingrown toenails, corns, overgrown nails, cuticles, and chipped polish.
Extend the life of your pedicure by regularly exfoliating your feet with a pumice stone and applying a clear top coat over your original polish.

Section 1 of 5:

Recommended Pedicure Frequency

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Aim to get a pedicure once a month. Whether you treat yourself to pedicures in a salon or do at-home pedicures yourself, most nail techs recommend getting a pedicure about once every 4 weeks. After a month, your feet will have built-up dead skin, your nails will have grown out, and your polish (if any) will likely be chipped or tarnished.^{[1]
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Research source} That said, some people choose to get pedicures more frequently for the following reasons:
- Every week: If you lead an active lifestyle, stand on your feet all day, or simply enjoy being pampered, getting a pedicure once every week might be a good option for you.
- Every 2 weeks: If you frequently wear open-toed shoes and your feet are exposed to pollution and grime, or if you’re on your feet a lot and build calluses quickly, a pedicure every 2 weeks might be beneficial.
- Getting a pedicure once a month gives your skin time to regenerate between treatments, as pedicure-grade exfoliation can irritate your skin if done more often.
- If you're just switching out your polish shade, go as often as you’d like (just skip the exfoliation).

Section 2 of 5:

What is a pedicure?

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A pedicure is a therapeutic foot treatment for your skin and nails. If you have cracked heels, calluses, and/or corns on your feet, a pedicure may be calling your name! This great opportunity for me-time is not only relaxing but also highly beneficial to the overall health of your feet, as a pedicure removes dead skin and trims and shapes your nails so they stay in tip-top shape.^{[2]
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- A full-package pedicure typically involves a warm foot bath to soften your skin, a massage, exfoliation, and toenail trimming and shaping, followed by an application of polish. Because your feet are being exfoliated, you’ll only need to get a pedicure of this type about once a month.
- If you want a pedicure to change the color of your toenail polish, simply ask your nail technician not to over-exfoliate your feet. This way, you can have a pedicure as often as you’d like—hello, self-care!

Section 3 of 5:

Pedicure Benefits

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Regular pedicures help to prevent foot issues like ingrown toenails. Ingrown toenails and other foot-related skin conditions, like corns, can worsen if they’re not properly treated as they arise and may need to be medically removed later down the line. Believe it or not, staying on top of your pedicure routine, whether it's at home or in the salon, can prevent a costly trip to the podiatrist.^{[3]
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Trustworthy Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services

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- You don’t have to have a reason, like a special occasion, to get a pedicure done. Wanting some extra TLC and relaxation is reason enough.
- Pedicures typically last around 30-60 minutes. Bring a book, catch up on work, or close your eyes and relax—you’ve got options!

Section 4 of 5:

Signs You Need One

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1
Your current nail polish is chipped. Keep an eye out for chipped toenail polish when you go to take a shower or bath. If your nails look worse for wear, it might be time to make an appointment for a pedicure or paint them yourself.
- Your toenail polish doesn’t have to be chipped to want to swap it out for something else. Pedicures are an opportunity to have fun and express yourself.
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Your nail shape is uneven, broken, or grown out. Few things are as frustrating as having a snaggle nail that catches on your socks and sheets. If you notice your toenail shape looking too long for your liking, broken, or uneven, it may be time for a nice trim and buff.^{[4]
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- If you’re giving yourself a salon-style pedi, be sure to sanitize your cuticle/nail clippers and file with alcohol between uses.
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Your cuticles look untidy. Dry skin builds up quickly around the nail bed, resulting in overgrown cuticles. If your cuticles are taking up most of your nail bed or are cracked and ripped, a pedicure might be just what you need to get back to looking your best.^{[5]
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- Use cuticle remover to slough off excess dead skin around your toenails during an at-home pedicure.
- A cuticle is the clear layer of skin that’s located at the bottom of your finger or toe, which helps to protect the nail bed.
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You have cracked heels, calluses, corns, or ingrown toenails. It’s easy for the skin on your feet to get dry, especially during the summer months. Take a moment in the shower to feel your feet for dryness, cracking, or calluses. If you have any of those foot conditions or a painful ingrown toenail, a pedicure can help.^{[6]
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- Get your ingrown toenails treated as soon as they arise to avoid needing surgery later.
- Calluses and corns are hardened, thick layers of dead skin that build up on your foot and can cause pain.

Section 5 of 5:

Preserving Your Pedicure

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1
Exfoliate your feet with a pumice stone in the shower weekly. Wet your feet and a pumice stone in the shower, and gently rub the pumice stone across your feet. Focus on the areas that tend to get dry the most, such as your heels and the sides of your feet.^{[7]
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- Use gentle pressure when you exfoliate. The pumice stone shouldn’t hurt, nor should you be rubbing your skin raw.
A nourishing cuticle oil is a fantastic way to keep the skin around your toes happy, healthy, and moisturized. Simply apply a few dots of cuticle oil to every nail and rub it into the surrounding skin.^{[8]
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Trustworthy Source

PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

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Moisturize your feet and wear socks in bed. Apply a thick layer of moisturizer to your feet before bed and seal it all in with a pair of socks you don’t mind getting oily to pamper your feet. Moisturize and wear socks to bed a few times a week—you’ll be shocked by how soft your feet get!^{[9]
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Trustworthy Source

PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

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- Some socks are specially made to moisturize your skin and have lotion built-in.
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Apply an extra layer of top coat to your painted nails to preserve them. If you’re worried about your fresh new color cracking or losing its luster, don’t be afraid to apply a clear coat over the top. This quick touch-up will help strengthen your polish and protect them from chipping sooner than you’d like.^{[10]
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- Any top coat will do, so long as it’s clear and won’t alter the color of your polish underneath.

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Tips

Ask your salon about what additional treatments to add to your pedicure, like special oils, waxes to nourish your skin, or special polishes like shellac to make your pretty nails last longer.

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Warnings

Avoid getting exfoliating pedicures too often (more than once a month) or over-exfoliating (more than once a week) at home. Your feet should never be scrubbed raw or painful to the touch.

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Avoid pedicures if you have diabetic foot issues, have toenail fungus, are immunocompromised, or have recently injured your foot to avoid potential complications, such as infection.^{[11]
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