A standard pedicure usually includes removal of thickened skin on the feet, filing and shaping of the nails and the application of polish to the nails while also moisturizing the feet. Some speciality manicures, such as the French Pedicure, may also be offered.

Treatments for feet usually include soaking in a softening substance and application of moisturizing lotion. The word pedicure comes form the Latin words pes, which means foot, and cura, which means care. It also means the care of the feet and toenails. Various services for nails can be provided, such as the beautification of nails such as nail tip rounding, applying acrylics compounds and artificial nail gels. A pedicurist can also apply other treatments to the nails, such as filing, polishing, and painting. Fancier pedicures include painting pictures or designs on the nails or applying small decals or imitation jewels while also giving the feet a good skin treatment normally involving skin moisturizing.

In many areas, pedicurists are regulated and must be licensed to operate since there are inherent risks in the business. Since the skin is being manipulated and sometimes trimmed, and because there is a risk of infection when tools are used on multiple people, proper sanitation is critical. This is where we at Pedicure-Tips.com try to educate people on the risks of pedicures and also what steps can be taken to minimize risks.

It began 5000 years ago. In India, henna was used for manicure which then extended to pedicures as a natural progression. The term mehendi, used synonymously for henna, derives from the Sanskrit mehandika. Much of the modern revival of henna derives from its popularity in India since ancient times.

A pedicurist prepares for a customer by ensuring that the working area and tools are properly sanitized and conveniently located next to the professional so he/she does not need to leave the client. Normally, to start things off, the pedicurist should also be  sanitizing the working surface, such as a table top, placing clean metal implements into a jar with sanitizing liquid, and having sanitized towels and new tools such as orange sticks and emery boards arranged neatly near the working area. Soaking liquids must never be reused, and all water used can be boiled or otherwise sanitized. These preparations prevent the possible spread of disease.

In some upper-class pedicure centres, the feet are sometimes dipped in melted paraffin or wax. The purpose of this is to impart heat to the feet for the purposes of relaxing the skin and making it better able to absorb lotion through the open pores, which is sometimes rubbed on the feet before submersion into the paraffin. The feet are usually dipped more than once to allow a thicker wax coat to form, making the coating stay warm for longer and less likely to break or tear apart before all the lotion is absorbed. After the hands have been dipped in the wax, they are wrapped in either plastic or tin foil, then covered with damn warm cloth to retain warmth.