What Is A Dry Pedicure?

The image of a traditional pedicure has been ingrained in the minds of people worldwide.

It’s cushy and luxurious, often involving hours spent at the salon partaking in probably one of the most accessible forms of self-love out there.

In short, it’s a pampering treatment that everyone should experience at least once.

But have you heard of an emerging form of pedicure that’s revolutionising the experience for both clients and technicians?

That’s right, there’s more than one way to get a pedicure done, and though the change may seem minor,

Its benefits are drawing the attention of beauty enthusiasts worldwide.

So, what is a dry pedicure?

A dry pedicure is a pedicure done while the feet are dehydrated. Keeping the process entirely water-free may seem like an unusual approach to getting your toenails done. Still, it’s actually considered the future of the pedicure process, offering a list of benefits that outweigh the cons.

Despite its growing popularity, it’s fair to say that the majority of the world doesn’t know what a dry pedicure is.

We’ll break down all the ins and outs of a dry pedicure and more in this handy article.

Differences With Traditional Pedicures

When you step foot into a professional nail salon and ask for a pedicure, the first part is pretty uniform, regardless of where you go.

You’ll be led over to a big, cushy chair and left to soak your feet in a foot spa full of warm water.

This process of washing the feet is said to make it easier to remove calluses and dry skin.

For many, this part of the process is vital, and it would feel rather strange to have your nail technician skip out on it altogether, but that’s exactly what the dry manicure process does!

It eliminates the need for soaking and reduces the requirement to wet your feet entirely.

Although it may sound like an easy enough process to grasp, upon closer examination, it appears somewhat unconventional, especially in a professional setting.

However, people who do their own nails at home may rarely ever soak their feet before applying polish, so it isn’t as strange or ineffective a method as some may make it out to be.

Here’s the main thing to keep in mind: professional nail salons that offer the dry manicure experience don’t just go at your calluses and cuticles while they’re in their bare state.

They’ll find a sort of water alternative (don’t worry – we’ll break this down too) to make the process easier for you, while still avoiding the need to fill up that foot spa with water.

Benefits Of A Dry Pedicure

As unconventional a method as it may be, there is a growing list of benefits that have clients coming back again and again, asking for this approach over the traditional manicure.

Let’s break down some of our top reasons:

Efficiency

How much time do you have to carve out of your weekly social/work/leisure schedule to book an appointment at your nail salon?

Depending on the complexity of your design, you may need to schedule a 2-hour window every couple of weeks to keep your feet in tip-top shape.

So many supporters of the dry pedicure love the process because they find that they can get it done during their lunch breaks at work.

That may sound absolutely unfeasible, but it does make sense!

A lot of the process of getting your toes done isn’t spent on the actual painting, but rather waiting for your feet to soak. Regular pedicures can just take too long!

This cuts 20-25 minutes out of the entire nail process, not to mention drying times!

If you’re constantly on the go and have a busy schedule 90% of the time, maybe it’s time to try out the dry pedicure and see how well it fits into your hectic timeline!

Callus Friendly

As we previously mentioned, there’s a common misconception about the fact that calluses and dry skin need to be softened before your nail technician (or yourself) goes at them with exfoliating tools.

Softening the calluses with water surprisingly makes them even more challenging to remove than trying to remove them dry.

By softening the skin, you actually make it harder to find the calluses and dead skin that need attention.

Depending on how long you’ve soaked your feet, it may be increasingly complex to gauge how much attention your build-up needs.

Eliminates Callus Recurrence

By eliminating the soaking process and water, your nail technician can place complete, undivided focus on your calluses and dry skin.

By properly attending to the issue, they’ll be able to handle it to their fullest capacity.

If you’ve ever tried using a pumice stone in the shower, you’ve probably found that your feet feel silky smooth while they’re wet.

But find that they’re actually still calloused and thick once all the moisture has evaporated. It’s the same concept, just professionally!

Nail Polish Lasts Longer

Now, this benefit is a great one! Pedicures cost more than just time; they cost your hard-earned money.

And if there’s anything that we can do to ensure that you get the most bang for your buck, you can bet we’ll let you know about it!

By soaking your feet, you can soften the toenails to unprecedented levels.

Yes, this may make it handy for your technician to cut your nails into shape, but all that moisture may be causing significant damage to your nails.

Not only could this lead to eventual ripping (mainly if your nail technician uses a file), but it can also cause damage to the nail bed.

However, the excess hydration could also prevent any polish you use from adhering properly to your nail, including gels.

Your nails need a grip for the polish to adhere effectively, and the water from soaking could prevent that, not to mention,

It could compromise the vibrancy and formulation of your chosen nail polish.

Preserves Nail Shape

Soaking your feet for long periods can actually temporarily change the shape of your toenails.

The moisture from the water adds to the increased flexibility of your nail, making it appear flatter and longer than it might be when dry.

That may not seem like a particularly detrimental issue at first, but when it comes to shaping and polishing, it can make a significant difference.

You or your technician may cut nails too short, inappropriately shape them, or apply too much polish to work for (what looks to be) your nail’s natural shape.

You won’t notice any mistakes or issues until your natural nail dries entirely, leaving you with a pedicure that looks less perfect than it did while you were in the chair.

Are Dry Pedicures More Hygienic?

If we had to pick a single lifestyle choice that we’re thankful for becoming more normalised.

It’s acts of thoughtful self-care and making the conscious decision to do things that are good for you.

Healthy eating habits, healthy sleep cycles, healthy…pedicures?

Dry pedicures are actually more than just a time-saving technique! They’re actually the more hygienic choice.

We trust our nail technicians to do a great job with designing art, but we rarely think about the cleanliness of their workspace and the tools they use on us.

You wouldn’t ever allow a doctor to use the same tools they used on another patient on you, and the same mindset should go for your salon visits as well.

Yes, we’re talking about the foot spa.

Although your salon may be diligent about changing out the water or the plastic that lines the body of the tub with each customer,

You should always take their words with a grain of salt, especially if it’s your first time at a new salon.

Waterborne bacteria and pathogens are very real and can wreak havoc on your feet from just a single ill visit.

Bacteria travel through water at crazy rates, and with your pores open from the warm water and massage jets, they have a one-way pass into your delicate skin.

Getting rid of that need for water not only limits the number of shared tools you come into contact with, but also

However, it also prevents other people from being troubled by bacteria or pathogens that you may unknowingly be carrying as well.

It’s a healthy choice, not just for you, but for fellow nail enthusiasts who follow suit.

Are Dry Pedicures More Eco-Friendly?

Another trend we love seeing rise? Eco-friendly decisions!

Our planet can always benefit from making environmentally friendly decisions, and these choices are accessible throughout the day.

From taking shorter showers to opting for a dry pedicure.

The surprising aspect of getting a pedicure is the significant amount of water waste associated with the experience.

In just one visit to the salon for a traditional pedicure, you can use up to 15 gallons of water.

It’s such a high number, and almost unbelievable to wrap your head around, because it definitely doesn’t feel like it’s that much while you’re in the chair.

Going waterless saves the water for a better cause and reduces your own water footprint.

Even if it’s just that 15 gallons you save every couple of weeks (and if you’re a nail salon regular, think of all the water you’ll be saving overall).

Waterless Pedicure

If you’re convinced that you need to try the waterless pedicure experience, we couldn’t be more excited for you!

However, while the basics of the pedicure are the same, the overall experience may be a bit strange to undergo, so here’s what to expect once you’re in the chair:

Your feet will be cleaned. Going about this without the traditional pedicure experience may be unusual, which is why we recommend checking the salon’s reviews to ensure it’s a trustworthy experience.

With a dry pedicure, it’s likely a cleansing wipe will be used, but it depends on the salon.
Your skin will be hydrated– but not wet or dampened.

This is done with a lotion that is focused on the areas of your feet with the most calluses or build-up to add surface-level hydration to make it easier to “break into” the callus.

It won’t compromise their ability to work into the build-up at all, so you’ll get a deeper removal.
Specialized tools will be used. The tools traditionally used during a pedicure, such as files, nippers, and pushers, may be too strong or aggressive for use on dry feet.

Therefore, expect your nail technician to have special tools designed to handle skin in its dry state.

If they don’t have these, or use the same tools as they would during a classic pedicure, don’t hesitate to end the appointment altogether, as these tools could harm your feet.
Polish is applied as usual. Once the feet are prepped, the polish process isn’t any different!

There are no specialty polishes that need to be applied, and the best part is that, due to cutting out the middleman of water, your feet will be ready for polish in no time flat.

If you’d like to see the process in action, here’s a video tutorial from Erica’s Dry Manicure + Pedicure on YouTube.

Downsides Of The Dry Pedicure

Though there are a ton of benefits that come with the dry pedicure, there are some minor cons that may hinder you from wanting to try one out:

As we talked about earlier, you likely have a “picture” of the perfect pedicure in your head that includes the twenty-minute soaking at the start.

It’s standard practice, and one more easily accessible to people around the world.

Due to this, you may not feel that your pedicure experience is “complete” after trying out the waterless alternative.

There’s also the question of how luxurious it feels to receive a dry pedicure.

A majority of the reasons why people consider pedicures a pampering treatment are due to the soaking process and the benefits that come with it.

Cutting out the experience of the foot spa makes it seem less like an “experience” and more like something you can do yourself.

The biggest downside, however, is accessibility.

Unfortunately, the waterless pedicure is not yet offered in every state, much less in every town or individual salon.

Although it’s gaining popularity in major cities like New York and Los Angeles, it may be some time before it’s offered everywhere.

Because of this, you may only be able to treat yourself to a dry pedicure during a vacation or trip, that is, until the time comes when it’s offered at your local salon.

So, what is a dry pedicure?

Differences With Traditional Pedicures