Have you seen a rubbery tool used by salon professionals for painting your toenails? Wondering what it is? Well, it is called a ‘toenail separator’ and has multiple uses besides spreading your toes while nail painting. What are those uses? Let’s get into the details.
Toenail separators, as the name suggests, are primarily used in pedicures for separating your toes. But these can used in manicures also and are more important than they seem.
Toenail Separators: Benefits, How to Use and DIY?
Every tool in a mani-pedi kit has a specific role to play and so do toenail separators. Even though they have a very minute role on the front, they can elevate your nail painting experience to a splendid level. Here’s how.
What are Toenail Separators?
To define, a toenail separator is a nail art tool used for separating the toes to ease nail polish application by preventing contact between the toenails. While it is essentially used during pedicure procedures, it can also help in manicures especially if you have overlapping fingers or nails.
Also known as a toe separator, toenail spacer, or a spreader for toes, the tool is primarily used to keep your toes and fingers apart at a space during mani-pedi procedures. When painting your nails, it comes as a handy tool for keeping your toes straight and separate from each other to apply your nail polish perfectly. It prevents the wet polish from smudging or staining the adjacent toes.
These are made of a flexible gel or foam material that can be washed and reused. The material conforms to the natural physiological structure of the foot. They are also anti-allergic and can be used comfortably for different foot shapes. This is because they are elastic and stretchable and the soft material stretches your toes for trimming the nails easily. Toenail spreaders are also UV/LED-safe and can be used with curable gel polishes too.
What are the Benefits of Using Toenail Separators?
The toe dividers have several other benefits than just helping spread toes and paint nails carefully:
1) They do not prevent blood circulation and don’t cause squeezing or discomfort.
2) Besides mani-pedi, this nail tool can be used to relax your toes and feet after yoga or sports.
3) They can be used to alleviate any foot problems as they are suitable for bunions, hammer toes, and other orthodontic toe deformities.
4) The tool can help reduce pain and discomfort caused by inflammation so that you can walk and stand comfortably for long.
5) They also help reduce friction by keeping the toes separated from each other.
6) They can alleviate pain from overlapping toes, crooked toes, and hallux valgus by fixing and adjusting crooked toes and straightening them.
How to Use Toenail Separators and DIY
Not just by professionals, toenail separators are recommended for use in your DIY manicure routines as well. Here’s how you can make the most out of the tool:
1) Once you are done prepping your toenails for the pedicure, grab a nail separator before moving on to the nail painting step.
2) Wear your toenail separator keeping one head between each pair of toes. If using individual toe spreaders, use four of them for each foot.
3) Place the tool such that you neither feel any discomfort nor should it slide down easily, especially from the smallest toe gap.
4) Apply your nail polish perfectly. If using nail gels, cure them worry-free under your UV/LED lamps as these tools are safe.
5) Wait for the product layers to dry and swiftly remove the tool from underneath your foot. Your stainless and smudge-free nail polish is ready to flaunt.
Wrapping Up Toenail Separators
Embracing the use of toenail separators is a simple yet effective way to elevate your nail care routine. Whether you’re a seasoned nail pro or just beginning to explore the world of at-home pedicures, understanding the benefits, how to use, and DIY methods of toenail separators can make a significant difference. Not only do they help in achieving that flawless polish application, but they also promote healthier nails by preventing smudging and ensuring even drying.
So, next time you plan your pamper session, don’t forget to include these handy tools in your kit.
