The only thing worse than a sock inside a summer sandal is a raggedy, yellowing toenail peeping out, says a Victoria style maven.
“There is nothing worse than gnarly toenails,” said Khloe Campbell, stylist at Mayfair Shopping Centre and owner of Amelia Lee Boutique.
Campbell also said hiding any snaggy toes inside a sock inside a sandal, for men and women, is just not an option. “That is the ultimate ‘don’t’ in the fashion realm.”
To wear a sandal you need “a well-maintained foot, not full of callouses and with well-kept toenails,” said Campbell, “because there is nothing worse than a long, yellow toenail and you know what I mean.”
With summer here, Victorians are finally getting a chance to rock the more casual, airy look of sandals. There are wedges and sensible but fashion-forward Birkenstocks and some sexy strappy affairs. So it’s time to pay some attention to the toenails. And according to those who make their livelihoods attending to this little piggyº and that little piggy, nobody needs to be afraid of baring their toes because of ugly feet.
“Everybody thinks they have the ugliest feet,” said Anita Voorsluys, manager of Willow Stream, the spa at the Fairmont Empress. “We hear that over and over again, ‘Oh my feet are so ugly.’ But I can guarantee you that you do not have the ugliest feet.”
Podiatrists, such as Dr. Marshall Baer of Victoria, are more concerned with improper summer footwear than the toenails. And as for toenails, Baer said a big cause of discolouration or curling can be traced to allowing them to grow too long.
When toenails become too long, or are not properly maintained, they can be subjected to repeated pressure applications, or “microtraumas” inside a shoe such as when the toes are jammed into the toe.
“Repetitive micro-traumas injuries are the No. 1 cause of toenails to become discoloured,” said Baer. “I see that all the time in my practice. A patient comes in and says ‘My GP says this is a fungus.’ I look at it and say ‘This is not a fungus, this is wear and tear on the toenail.’ ”
The repetitive stress can also cause the toenail to lift off the nail bed and cause a painful blister underneath.
Baer recommends anyone who believes they are developing problems with their toenails or feet to see a podiatrist or a dermatologist. These medical specialists are best qualified to diagnose things such as fungal infections. They can also identify cancerous moles or lesions that can appear on the feet, between the toes even underneath the nail. “If people have any problems with their toenails, it’s probably best to have it looked at by a foot doctor,” he said.
Jill McQueen, Willow Stream esthetician, agrees. She is not a clinical practitioner and so doesn’t hesitate to advise any client to seek medical advice.
On the other hand, she knows feet and toenails and sees discolouring regularly. And most of it can be traced to improper foot care and poorly fitting shoes.
“Victoria is very much a walking city and we also have a lot of runners here,” said McQueen. “And with runners, they very often lose their toenails because of the pressure and the friction.
“The nails thicken and come off.”
For her, a pedicure, every four to six weeks, should be as regular as a visit to the hairstylist. It’s just one other aspect of personal maintenance. For runners and other athletes it’s a chance to keep their feet resting comfortably inside their shoe. For fashionistas, it’s a chance to bare a good-looking foot to the world, maybe even show off a hot, forward nail polish.
“It’s just part of grooming,” said McQueen. “Our feet are important to us. They affect our posture, our general well-being, all sorts of things.
“You can tell so much from somebody’s feet.”
TOENAIL TIPS
• The toenail should extend no further than the end of the toe. When cutting the toenail, leave only a sliver of white at the end. The toenail should be even shorter if you do high-impact activities such as running or squash.
• For polish, always use a base coat. Putting polish directly on the nail can discolour it.
• It’s easier to cut toenails after a shower when they are soft.
• Cut the toenails flat across, then use an emery board to file away any sharp edges or corners. File in one direction, not back and forth, to prevent splintering.
• Use nail nippers instead of toenail clippers, which can leave jagged edges. Nippers, which look like pliers and are sold with beauty supply products, are more expensive but they cut with greater precision.
Tips on nail salons
• Make sure the salon is clean. Look around and if you would feel uncomfortable walking around barefoot, find another salon or spa.
• Ask how the instruments are cleaned. Best is an autoclave, which sterilizes with high-pressure steam. Acceptable is sterilizing solution. With either method, instruments must be sterilized after every use. Emery boards or wooden tools should be used only once.
From podiatrist Dr. Coleen Napolitano, Loyola Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois.