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How Do I Choose the Best French Pedicure?

B. Miller
B. Miller

In a traditional French pedicure, the toes are painted using pink and white nail polish. The base of the nail is painted a light shade of pink or peach, while the tip of the nail is painted a bright white in order to imitate a French manicure on the fingernails. Some people choose to change it up a bit and will instead paint the nail tip an actual color, or even just a strip of a shiny silver or gold toenail polish. Most pedicures are pretty similar, so to choose the best French pedicure, you will want to consider the price as well as any other benefits that come with it, such as a foot scrub or massage.

The price of a French pedicure may be a bit more pricey than a traditional pedicure, simply because it takes a little more effort to apply the two colors of nail polish. Since you will likely be paying more anyway, you may want to choose a French pedicure that comes with other treatments for the feet. For instance, a complete pedicure will begin with a foot soak, followed by scrubbing with a pumice stone to remove dead skin, and eventually moisturizing with a rich lotion. Many include a foot massage as well.

A foot soak, the beginning of a French pedicure.
A foot soak, the beginning of a French pedicure.

If you are getting a standard French pedicure, your nail polish colors are already chosen for you. A traditional French pedicure uses a pink base with a bright white tip. To make it a bit more natural looking, you might choose a lighter pink shade, or swap it out for a nude or peach color. This type of basic pedicure is good for most occasions, and is appropriate for the workplace as well if you will be wearing open toed shoes. If you have more options or a less conservative work environment, you might choose a slightly more fun French pedicure.

Toenails with a French pedicure.
Toenails with a French pedicure.

The basic principles are the same -- a base color with the tip of the nail painted a different color -- but you may choose any color for each. For instance, you might choose to leave the base of the nail a nude color, but paint the tips a bright or sparkly shade. Or, you might paint the base of the nail a fun, bright color and the tip a different, complementary color. While not technically a traditional French manicure, it is still a good way to emulate the style with a little bit of creativity.

Discussion Comments

Wisedly33

The place where I get a pedicure does a French pedicure for the same price as color only.

I really like the look of a French mani-pedicure. It's a neat, groomed look, but unlike really bright polish, it's also a very adult, professional look, and it's never out of style or out of place in any office setting. Sometimes, bright polish can look a little garish at the office. A French look, on the other hand, is understated elegance, and even looks nice on shorter nails, which is another advantage.

My toenails are so tiny, a French pedicure wouldn't even show up, except on my big toes. So, when I get a pedicure, I opt for a nude/light pink polish that looks groomed, but natural.

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    • A foot soak, the beginning of a French pedicure.
      By: Jan Andersen
      A foot soak, the beginning of a French pedicure.
    • Toenails with a French pedicure.
      By: Valua Vitaly
      Toenails with a French pedicure.
    • A complete French pedicure includes scrubbing with a pumice stone.
      By: Anyka
      A complete French pedicure includes scrubbing with a pumice stone.
    • Many French pedicures include a foot massage.
      By: Gennadiy Poznyakov
      Many French pedicures include a foot massage.