10 Health Benefits of Getting Manicures and Pedicures

When it comes to getting manicures and pedicures we often view the act as a way to look clean, professional, as a form of self- expression, or even as an accessory. This often leads manicures and pedicures to be the first thing cut out of a routine or a budget due to the expense and time commitment involved. Sometimes we may even feel guilty for spending money on getting our nails done, but in reality we should embrace the pass time. It’s okay to indulge a little- especially when the pass time is a form of self care.

Physical Benefits of Getting Manicures and Pedicures

Getting a regular pedicure leaves you with softer skin and clears away the dead skin cells, but that’s not all… here’s a breakdown of 5 physical benefits to getting your nails done:

1. Smoother Skin!

The first and most evident benefit of getting your nails done is the rejuvenation of your skin. When it comes to our hands, they are constantly being worked and as a result are collecting dirt and grime on a regular basis. Getting a manicure will help keep your hands soft as well as exfoliate the skin to remove all of the dirt and grime.

The same can be said about feet in terms of cleanliness. Feet are constantly retaining moisture and sweat throughout the day (gross), and are rarely properly cleaned and or moisturized. We know not everyone is comfortable with feet, so let someone else give them some love and care for you!

2. Enhanced Weight Distribution

What most people don’t know about pedicures, is that they level out the

surface of your feet allowing you to distribute your weight more evenly. Even weight distribution is important as it will help align your posture. Having bad posture according to a TedED video on the benefits of good posture, can create “wear and tear on joints and ligaments” as well as “increase the likelihood of accidents”, affect some of your organs, create back pain, and finally increase tension headaches.

In other words, in addition to working on correcting your posture yourselves, getting your feet leveled by a nail technician will increase your chances of being in balance and healthier. Plus, it may help you finally nail a difficult yoga pose or create less strain while deadlifting.

3. Increased Blood Circulation

The massages that nail technicians give you to get you to relax are much more than just that. These massages also help promote healthy blood flow. This increase in blood circulation will help your body distribute heat during the colder seasons. A necessary aide now that winter is officially here. According to the University of Illinois in Chicago, massages that increase blood flow also help reduce pain in your hands, feet, and legs.

Another great benefit of having increased blood circulation is that it’s good for your heart! As your heart pumps blood through your body, healthy levels of blood circulation allows nutrients and oxygen to be delivered to your body’s cells and takes away waste. Don’t let your body become a dumpster, make sure you’re getting rid of that waste and look good for it too.

4. Prevents Infections

Getting a pedicure and manicure can also be an easy way to get someone to spot a

fungal infection for you. Fungi thrive in dark damp spaces, which according to Harvard

Medical School, is what attracts them to the tissues of the feet. With our feet constantly

exposed to moisture, it’s easy to develop fungal infections on our feet.

Luckily, nail technicians are very familiar with feet and are able to spot infections in their

beginning stages before they spread. Feet are gross enough as it is, don’t let it get

worse with not so “Fun”gi lurking around.

5. Prevents Calluses

Health Link BC states that calluses “are caused by repeated pressure or friction on an

area of skin”. This means that the pressure of your shoes, walking around barefoot and

walking for long periods of time will cause calluses to appear on your feet. Calluses have the potential to become painful, and can be removed by your nail technician.

A nail technician can also help you prevent getting calluses as they scrub off the dead skin cells on your feet. So say goodbye to flakey dry feet and hello to feet as smooth as a baby’s!

Mental Health Benefits of getting Manicures and Pedicures

Manicures and pedicures do not only offer physical benefits but mental health benefits as well! Here are a couple of reasons for why getting your nails done is good for your mental health:

1. Increased Productivity

The act of going to get a mani-pedi in itself ensures that you are taking time out of your day to do something for yourself, as well as take a break from everything. Don’t think of it as keeping you from doing important tasks, but as a time to sit and relax. Taking a break, (even if it’s to get your nails done) is known to increase productivity. This is accredited to the fact that you are allowing your mind to refresh. Kinda like that moment when your phone restarts and the screen lights up bright with possibilities as it boots up it’s latest update.

Keeping yourself and your mind busy all the time results in a decrease in your “attentional resources” which according to the University of Illinois will decrease your focal capacity. Taking this break to get your nails done will allow you to stop overworking your brain for the duration of the appointment, and help your brain feel relaxed. It’s like Yoga without all the bending.

2. Ease Anxiety

While getting your nails done, you are forced to spend time away from your phone and end up disconnecting. Being present and away from our phones is what allows us to relax and clear our minds. It is also a small way in which you are improving your mental health as according to the Harvard Business Review, our phones increase anxiety.

Phones also affect your ability to pay attention, and keep your brain from releasing levels of melatonin at night that help you sleep. The more time we spend not on our phones and doing activities such as getting our nails done, the less you’ll be building up your anxiety. So let someone else take care of things for once! Afterall, it’s not like these nail appointments last that long.

3. Stress Relief

As mentioned before, the massages help your blood circulation, however these massages will also help you destress and relax. The fact that your hands are occupied and you’re disconnected from your phone, also allows you to be present and enjoy your massages that much more! Getting your nails done is a time to allow yourself to destress as it is giving you the time to clear your mind from all of your tasks.

4. Increased Confidence

Going back to the aesthetic aspect of getting your nails done, mani-pedi's are a way of self expression. You get to choose the colors that you want, designs, length and shape of nails. The amount of choices allows you to customize your nails as you wish, showing people a sense of your style and personality.

Expressing yourself through nail design as one may through the clothes you wear, leads to increased confidence. Your hands are nothing to be self conscious about after a nail technician has made them soft, given you a fresh coat of polish, and removed any hangnails. You can be sure that every presentation you do, every hand you shake, and in every picture you take, people will take notice of your nice nails.

5. Enhanced Self-Esteem

Practicing self-care is an easy way to increase your self-esteem as you are investing time and money in yourself. When you’re investing in yourself, you’re sending a positive message to your subconscious telling it that you matter, and you’re worth the cost. It’ll leave you feeling that YAAASS Queen sensation.

Having nice nails also leads to an increase in compliments from others, which increases our self-esteem and makes us feel nice. Working on your self-esteem is important as according to mentalhealth.net, it influences the decisions you make and how well you take care of yourself. With better self-esteem you’ll live a happier and more fulfilling life.

Even though getting your nails done may only be for a short amount of time, the benefits last a couple of weeks. More importantly it forces you to take a step back, which we often forget to do in our busy lives. And who knows, maybe now that you’ll be left feeling your best self you may get the boost you need to try something new and exciting. Or maybe it won’t but you’ll still have nice nails to look at all day.