DaytonDailyNews.com

Don't be embarrassed. Get your feet ready to go bare.

With sandal weather fast approaching, it's a great time to tackle dry skin, calluses and any other problems your feet have encountered this winter.

"Not everyone is born blessed with pretty feet, but everyone can have well-groomed feet," says Chondalyn King, managing manicurist at the new Square One downtown's salon and day spa in Centerville. King views feet as an extension of the wardrobe.

Whether you have a do-it-yourself approach to foot care or prefer to visit a salon for a professional pedicure, King says that foot care should never be painful. If you experience any discomfort, someone's doing something wrong or there's a medical problem that needs to be addressed.

Discolored toenails, signs of fungus or bacteria, or inflammation require medical attention.

Proper foot care should relax and beautify. And, King's six-step plan is sure to result in happy feet.

Six steps to sandal-ready feet

1. Cut and file: Use toenail clippers. Cut nails just beyond the end of the toe. File edges to smooth and shape so the nail is straight. If toenails are thick or coarse, soak feet first and then cut and file.

2. Soak: Add 1-2 tablespoons Epsom or other bath salts in 1-2 gallons of warm water. Soak feet for 15-30 minutes. An alternative is to add salts to a bath and soak your entire body. Epsom salt soothes muscles and helps heal dry skin.

3. Cuticle care: Dry feet thoroughly. Apply cuticle cream (available at pharmacies and beauty sections of discount stores). Gently push down cuticle with an orange wood stick. Don't push too far as cuticles prevent infection from getting into the nail bed.

4. Pumice: Use a pumice stone (available at pharmacies and beauty sections of discount stores) to smooth dead skin from heels and calluses on the bottom of the feet.

5. Moisturize: Apply a moisturizing lotion. Start on the legs and work down toward feet. Pay special attention to the heels.

6. Buff/polish: Use a cotton ball to apply acetone (aka nail polish remover) to remove moisturizer from the surface of toenails. For those who don't want polish, use a buffer to add a shine. A buffer is a two- or three-sided file. When rubbed in a side-to-side motion, the nail is left with a natural polished look. If you prefer polish, apply a clear base coat first. This helps the polish adhere to the nail and prevents it from being stained by the color. Add two layers of polish and complete with a quick-dry product to speed the process; otherwise it takes up to 30 minutes to dry sufficiently. Remember: Next pedicure, the first step will be to remove the polish with acetone.

Tools and supplies needed: Acetone (nail polish remover), cotton balls, nail clippers, orangewood stick, nail file, nail buffer, pumice, bath salts, cuticle cream, moisturizer, base coat, nail polish and quick dry.

Estimated time: 1-1 ½ hours.

Contact this reporter at ferris-olson@woh.rr.com.