Salon pedicure infection = home pedis

Waiting at the podiatrist’s office for my toe infection

I know I shouldn’t be embarrassed sharing this info, so here goes.  In the beginning of the year, I got an infection on my big toe (the right foot).  It was instant, in fact that night the side of my toe was glowing red.

I went to a podiatrist and was given 10 days worth of pills – to be taken 3 times a day.  That’s 30 pills.

Side effect warnings – diarrhea and yeast infection (a pill like that kills infection so that really cleans out your body).  So I had to take a probiotic.

40 pills over 10 days just because of a bad pedicure.  Oh, and this was over a family trip to DisneyWorld.

Side note: I did speak to the salon owner, only because my friends insisted I should tell her because she might not know.  She told me she had recently taken over the old staff which had never cleaned their tools before – even though they used the pedicure plastic liners which make it look clean!  Instead of an apology, I received a, “Thanks for telling me so I can regain control of my staff. When you come back, I’ll show you our back room now and how clean it is.”  Chances I’ll be back, -100.

So I’ve gone back to doing at-home manis and pedis, and while it does take more time, I think I’ve found it’s easier, and I’d much rather take the time than open myself up to getting another infection or even Mursa or flesh eating bacteria.

If I were to ever do it again, I’d say save yourself $50 bucks for a mani/pedi combo and take the time to do it at home in front of the TV while watching a movie.

Here are a few favorite things I love for at-home manis and pedis:

Foot Rasp / Nail buffer / Callus Eliminator  / Revlon Cuticle Nipper / Cuticle remover

Favorite polishes:

NARS Trouville /Sally Hansen Dries Instantly / Sally Hansen Double Duty / Butter Trout Pout / NARS Dovima

NARS and Butter are my favorite lines of polish – the Butter in Trout Pout is my absolute favorite!   I use the Double Duty as a base coat, the the Driest Instantly top coat is AMAZING!  It looks like you have gels on and it only takes a minute to dry.

Have any of you had any back run-ins with salons?  I am terrified to go back that I just don’t want to risk it.  Any good polishes I should try?

Diana Elizabeth used to paint her nails every Sunday night in high school.  She had a zillion bottles of polish!