It's that time of year again. Time to break out your sandals, open-toed shoes and even those $2 flip-flops from Old Navy that are bad for your soles yet we all seem to get them anyway.
Since pedicures are a form of reflexology that exfoliates your feet, reduces the chances of infection, promotes circulation, relaxes your body and helps your feet to maintain its much-needed moisture, hopefully, you've been getting them all year long. But let's be real with each other—pedicures are also what keep our toes looking as cute as ever! That's why the summer season is usually when we choose to shell out a little more cash so that our feet can receive some extra special treatment.
Well, before heading out to your favorite salon to get your feet and toes ready for what this summer has to offer, take out a moment to read about what you should do to get your feet on the right foot and then the all-natural things that you can—and should—try and home so that everything from your ankles down look, feel and even smell amazing long after Labor Day has come and gone.
Do a Rosewater, Vegetable Glycerin and Milk Soak
Soaking in nature's goodnessGetty Images
Sandals and open-toed heels are cool but walking around with most of your feet out is a way to expose them to a ton of sunlight and even bacteria. Something that can prevent sunburn and protect your feet from germs is to soak them in some rosewater (click here to learn how to make some from home). Vegetable glycerin makes it easier for you to slough off dead skin. Milk is the ultimate moisturizer.
Pamper your feet by filling a basin a little more than halfway with warm water. Then add two cups of rosewater, a half cup of vegetable glycerin and a cup of milk. Soak for 15 minutes and use a pumice stone to hit the "rough areas". Your feet will be unbelievably smooth after you're done.
Use a Black Tea Foot Soak to Avoid Feet Sweat
I've got some people in my life who have a pretty bad case of sweaty feet. Although cornstarch works pretty well during the colder seasons, who wants to look like they've been kicking up dust in their sandals during the summertime?
If sweaty feet are something that you struggle with, consider soaking them in some black tea. It might sound crazy, but the tannic acid in the tea will not only close up your feet's pores so that you'll sweat less, it also kills bacteria so that your feet won't smell as much too.
Also Put Your Feet in Baking Soda Once a Week
Baking soda is one of the most effective (and inexpensive) exfoliants there is! It removes tartar from teeth, lifts up dandruff flakes from your scalp and gets rid of the dry skin that's on your feet too. If you want to maintain the pH balance of your feet and toes while also removing calluses and soothing aching feet, pour 3-4 tablespoons and add 10 drops of lavender essential oil into a basin of warm water. Soak your feet for 20 minutes and I guarantee your feet will instantly feel soothed, pampered and summer ready!
Sleep with Shea Butter and Socks
I don't miss my monthly pedicure. But there is a place on my left heel that stays hard, no matter how much my nail tech tends to it. Something that has finally "tamed" that area is shea butter. Only, I don't rub a lot of shea butter on my feet during the daytime (that makes them all slippery 'n stuff). Instead, I put a generous amount of it on my feet and toes at night and then put a pair of socks on. It is the ultimate moisturizer that has my feet feeling and looking amazing by morning.
Apply Honey and Olive Oil Once a Week
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Whether your heels are rough, your feet are sore or you simply want another way to keep your feet bacteria-free, honey's got your back. One-half cup of manuka honey, two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and half of a freshly-squeezed lemon in a basin of water is a great DIY foot soak. But if baby soft feet are what you're after, mix one-third cup of organic honey with one-half cup of virgin olive oil. Rub your clean feet with the solution, let it sit for 15 minutes and rinse. Your feet will be date—and other stuff—night ready all night long!
Buff Your Toenails. Then Apply Some Cuticle Oil.
To tell you the truth, I can't remember the last time I only wore clear polish on my toenails (or fingernails, for that matter). That's how much I like colored nail polish! But I will say that whenever it's time to switch over to a new look, those white spots that sometimes show up, they get on my last nerve.
Can you relate and are looking for a remedy? Buff your toenails first. Apply some cuticle oil next. That should be all that you need to get your nails looking back to "normal" again.
Apply Orange Oil to Kill Fungus
If you're wondering if you've got a little bit of toenail fungus lurking around, some signs include nails that crumble at the corners, scaling underneath your toenail, yellow streaks on your toenails, distorted-looking toenails or toenails that are super thick (thicker than your "normal").
While it's always a good idea to see a doctor if you're not sure about a health matter, if money is tight at the moment and you want to use as few chemicals as possible to get the fungus under control, something that you might want to try doing is applying some orange oil. Scientific research reveals that the properties in orange essential oil is able to kill most strains of fungal and bacterial infections (peppermint and lemongrass oil can too but orange smells really good).
Eat Keratin-Rich Foods
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Your nails are made up of the protein keratin. That's why it makes sense that, in order to keep them healthy from the inside out, you should eat foods that are rich in keratin. Some of those include blueberries, almonds, eggs, whey protein, fish, collards and kale and citrus fruit. These are the kinds of foods that will make sure that your nails will be strong, not brittle and will keep that nice pink glow.
Always Keep Them Polished
Even if your budget won't let you get professional pedicure every 3-4 weeks, most spas/salons will paint your toenails for you for a pretty nominal fee (if you're wondering, the current hottest nail polish colors for the summer are nude, neon, polka dot, rainbow and pastels). A fresh coat will make your feet look like brand new; especially if you follow through with all of the at-home suggestions you just read.
Remember, summer beauty is all in the details. So, don't you dare step out this summer season without taking good care of those feet of yours!
Get a Professional Pedicure
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In order to get your feet off to a great start, I personally think it's a good idea to invest in a professional pedicure. That way, you can get your calluses removed, cuticles pushed back, toenails trimmed and nails professionally painted.
Just make sure that you shave your legs no less than two days before going (so that bacteria from the foot tubs don't get into your legs' pores), that the spa/salon you go to sanitizes the tub before you put your feet in it and that there are other options than those callus shavers (the things that look a lot like cheese graters). Believe it or not, in many states, those are now illegal because of the risk they run of cutting you. #themoreyouknow
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Different puzzle pieces are creating bigger pictures these days. 2024 will mark a milestone on a few different levels, including the release of my third book next October (yay!).
I am also a Professional Certified Coach. My main mission for attaining that particular goal is to use my formal credentials to help people navigate through the sometimes tumultuous waters, both on and offline, when it comes to information about marriage, sex and relationships that is oftentimes misinformation (because "coach" is a word that gets thrown around a lot, oftentimes quite poorly).
I am also still super devoted to helping to bring life into this world as a doula, marriage life coaching will always be my first love (next to writing, of course), a platform that advocates for good Black men is currently in the works and my keystrokes continue to be devoted to HEALTHY over HAPPY in the areas of holistic intimacy, spiritual evolution, purpose manifestation and self-love...because maturity teaches that it's impossible to be happy all of the time when it comes to reaching goals yet healthy is a choice that can be made on a daily basis (amen?).
If you have any PERSONAL QUESTIONS (please do not contact me with any story pitches; that is an *editorial* need), feel free to reach out at missnosipho@gmail.com. A sistah will certainly do what she can. ;)
Exclusive: Dreka Gates Talks Farm Life, Self-Mastery, And Her Wellness Brand
Dreka Gates is making a name in wellness through authenticity and innovativeness. Although we were introduced to her as a music manager for her husband, Kevin Gates, she has now carved out her own lane outside of music as a wellness entrepreneur. But according to Dreka, this is nothing new.
In an xoNecole exclusive, the mom of two opened up about many things, including starting her wellness journey at 13 years old. However, a near-death experience during a procedure at 20 made her start taking her health more seriously.
“There's so many different levels, and now, I'm in a space of just integrating all of this good stuff that I've learned just about just being human, you know?” Dreka tells us. “So it's also fun because it's like a journey of self-discovery and self-mastery. That's what I call it. So it's never-ending.”
Courtesy
If you follow Dreka, then you’re familiar with her holistic lifestyle, as she’s no stranger to promoting wellness, self-care, and holistic living. She even lives part-time on a Mississippi farm, not far from her grandmother and great-grandmother’s farm, where she spent some summers as a child.
While her grandmother and great-grandmother have passed on, Dreka reflects on that time in her life and how having a farm as an adult is her getting back to her roots. “So the farm was purchased back in 2017, and it was like, ah, that'll just be a place where we go when we're not touring or whatever,” she said.
“But COVID hit, and I was there, and I was on the land, and I just started remembering back to going to my grandmother's during the summertime and freaking picking peas and going and eating mulberries off the freaking tree in the bushes.
“And she literally had cotton plants. I know some people feel weird about picking cotton and stuff. She had cotton plants and I would go and pick cotton out of her garden. And she had chickens, and I literally just broke down in tears one day when I was on the farm just doing all the things, and I'm like, ‘Oh my gosh. I'm literally getting back to my roots.”
"I literally just broke down in tears one day when I was on the farm just doing all the things, and I'm like, ‘Oh my gosh. I'm literally getting back to my roots."
You can catch glimpses of Dreka’s farm life on Instagram, which shows her picking fruit and vegetables and loving on her animals like her camel Eessa. Her passion for growing and cultivating led her to try and grow all of her ingredients for her wellness brand, Dreka Wellness. However, she quickly realized that she might be biting off more than she could chew. But that didn’t stop her from fulfilling her vision.
Watch below as Dreka talks more about her business, her wellness tips, breaking toxic cycles, becoming a doula, and more.
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8 Things To Know About Aaron Pierre, The 'Rebel Ridge' Actor On Everyone’s Radar
Netflix viewers are rejoicing that "a star is born." James Bond fans are calling for him to be the "next James Bond." With starring roles in films like the Netflix hit Rebel Ridge and a lead voice role as Mufasa in the Barry Jenkins-helmed Mufasa: The Lion King to drop later this year, Aaron Pierre is proving he has arrived.
Much of the actor's previous work included a main role in the Syfy series Krypton, a recurring role in the Amazon Prime Video miniseries The Underground Railroad, and a starring role as Malcolm X in the National Geographic award-winning anthology drama series, Genuis: MLK/X. In 2021, he landed his first film role as the character 'Mid-Size Sedan' in M. Night Shyamalan's Old.
Three years later, Aaron's turn as Terry Richmond in the recently-released action thriller Rebel Ridge is being praised as a "star-making performance." And he is yet again showing the world that he more than has the range for longevity, even securing a main recurring role in Season 4 of the acclaimed Apple TV+ show The Morning Show, as reported by Deadline.
Whether you happened upon this article to learn more about Aaron's background or his career highlights, get to know a little more about the rising star below.
1.Aaron Pierre stands at a towering height of 6'3''.
Aaron Pierre in 'Rebel Ridge.'
Allyson Riggs/Netflix
Aaron's good looks and striking blue-gray eyes aren't the only physical attributes that have viewers captivated, it's also his stature. At 6'3'', Aaron spoke about how important it is to work with filmmakers in his career who understand that "physicality is not indicative of emotional intelligence" has been in his career so far.
When asked what attracted him to his Rebel Ridge character Terry Richmond, the actor told Men's Health:
"Jeremy [Saulnier] had written Terry Richmond with an elite, intimidating level of physical prowess. At the same time, he is so centered, grounded, and emotionally intelligent. That he paired those traits—and arguably made a statement in doing so—was exciting. Something highlighted to me, early in my journey, was my height and my size; I was told that some people may not be able to envision me as a character with the capacity to be emotionally intelligent."
2.Yes, his baritone voice is glorious, but did you know Aaron Pierre is also British?
Aaron was born and raised in London. According to IndieWire, Aaron grew up around "culturally diverse children from immigrant families" in public housing in West Croydon. His environment ignited within him the drive to follow his desires in the pursuit of his calling.
"How all of us in that area were raised was, ‘It’s plan A or plan A. If you want something, you have to put all your eggs in one basket, and that way at least you know for certain whether it was your calling in life. And that’s a really scary thing to do."
3.Aaron's known to do a monologue or two.
Though the camera loves him, Aaron's first love is the stage. In fact, Aaron, who describes himself as "a nerd," studied playwrights like William Shakespeare and John Steinbeck and got lost in the pages of Greek tragedies. Aaron got his first taste of theater through a high-school production where he acted as a narrator.
Years later, he studied at Lewisham College in London for two years before training in Toronto and then an additional three years at the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art. Aaron went on to star in Othello in 2018, gracing the Globe Theatre in London as Cassio.
4.What is Aaron Pierre's ethnicity?
Aaron Pierre as Terry Richmond
Allyson Riggs/Netflix
When it comes to his ethnicity, Aaron resembles the melting pot he grew up in. Aaron is of Jamaican, Sierra Leonian, and Curaçaoan descent. His mother is Jamaican, and his father is Curaçaoan-Sierra Leonian. The English actor is also the eldest child of three siblings.
5.He is 'deeply in love' with martial arts.
Aaron's martial arts affinity goes beyond what you see in the movies. In fact, the actor shared with Men's Health that not only is he a "student of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and boxing," but that he is also "deeply in love with martial arts." He continued, "What I love about martial arts is, firstly, how deeply humbling it is. I love the family. I love the camaraderie. It feels like a unit or a team."
6.His top four favorite films are just as layered as he is.
Per an interview with Letterboxd, Aaron revealed some of his favorite movies in their recurring series, "Four Favorites." The Brother actor named The Departed, American Gangster, The Lion King, and the feature directorial debut of his frequent collaborator, Barry Jenkins, Medicine for Melancholy as his "Four Favorites."
7.Aaron is best friends with Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Best friends Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. link up at the 'Genuis: MLK/X' premiere.
Jemal Countess/Getty Images for National Geographic
To be young, Black, and in Hollywood is probably not the easiest path to navigate, but luckily, Aaron has a best friend in fellow actor and frequent collaborator Kelvin Harrison Jr. Kelvin dished to IndieWire about his support system in Aaron:
“Aaron’s always looking out for my best interest and making sure I feel safe and empowered, and I think a lot of that comes from how his parents raised him and his sense of identity. He has a very strong sense of where he’s come from, and that fuels a lot of it. He’s not taking on roles to figure himself out.”
Aaron and Kelvin both starred in Genuis: MLK/X as the civil rights icons themselves and will also star as Mufasa and Scar in the forthcoming live-action Lion King prequel, Mufasa: The Lion King.
8.Aaron Pierre says he got into the best shape in his life to play Terry Richmond.
In preparation for his character Terry Richmond, Aaron pushed his body to Marine Corps shape, and the work continued while filming on location in Louisiana. Per Men's Health, thanks to a warehouse set up by the director, Aaron was putting in work with "grappling mats, boxing bags, gloves, pads, wraps" and, of course, some weights. In the process of getting into action hero shape, he also did extensive weapons training and became a yoga fan. He added:
"We would spar. We would practice choreography. We would do drills. It was strength training, but I had to really work on being dynamic. This was one of the first times it fully set into me that flexibility is a strength, because without flexibility, you can’t engage with your strength to its fullest capacity. That’s one of the things I learned from this and have doubled down on since then. I’m a big Yin Yoga lover now."
We love a man who knows there's strength in flexibility.
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