Fajera's Feet -- Your Feet

Think of the magic of that foot, comparatively small, upon which your whole weight rests. It's a miracle, and the dance is a celebration of that miracle. -- Martha Graham

I have always been in awe of feet.  They have a very thankless job.  

Back several years I worked as a licensed professional nail technician, in a salon.  One of my jobs was also pedicures.  It was there that I really began to develop and appreciation for feet.
During this time, I remember reading somewhere, that during the course of a day, our feet carried the weight of a full grown elephant.  (sadly, I cannot site the source, even with trying to find the quote on the internet)

Since becoming a more serious dancer, I have come to the very clear understanding that a dancers feet are incredibly abused.

If our feet as dancers are not cared for, we kind wind up with all kinds of foot injuries and ailments.  

One of the biggest is Plantar Fasciitis.  Which is defined as irritation and swelling of the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot.  Sounds painful, right?  Imagine having your feet hurt so badly that you don't want to walk, let alone dance on them.

(dancers and athletes are no longer the only people who suffer from this problem...  many full time heel or flip flop wearers are reporting this type of injury)

My goal with this blog is to get you to look down at your tootsies and take notice of the miracle that is the human foot. 
I have said many times since retiring from the professional nail care profession, that there has been a huge plus side to the number of Mani-Pedi salons that have popped up.... (besides putting many professionals out of business, by the business practice of undercutting prices.... We're dancers, we know all about undercutting, right?).  That plus-side is the fact that more women (and men) than ever before have taken advantage of getting regular pedicures.
They have taken it from a luxury item to something affordable and instead of an hour with a pedicurist, you can get in and out in record time.

However, there are a few things that any person, but most importantly a dancer should know about their feet before ever dipping them into the water.

• There is a right and wrong way to trim your toenails.  Just ask anyone who has ever had an ingrown toenail.  Not everyone's toenails can bet cut in the same manner. Just like finger nails, the way I wear mine and the way you wear yours are not going to be the same.

It is highly recomended that you leave your toenail a little on the long side and trim them straight across, not in a round shape.  They should be trimmed when dry, never when they are wet, because the nail itself can and will tear, creating an environment for problems.
Since most nail trimmers are in a round shape, the best way to get them straight across is with a nail file.

However, if you do need to trim them...  doing it in small cuts and sections is much easier. 

Never, let anyone cut down in the side of the nail..  Those grooves are there for a reason and a bad cut down the side.... you are just begging for an ingrown toenail.

( I do indeed use a file on mine and happen to prefer a bit of a free-edge instead of being level with the tip of my toe)

• The next thing that you need to understand is callouses.  The callous of your foot is there to protect your foot from damage.  The skin is supposed to grow thick in the areas in which your feet touch the ground, which for most of us, is the heel, the outside edge, the ball of the foot and the toes.  (One has only to get their foot wet and make a foot print to see where those areas are).

 The goal of a pedicure is to soften the callous so it does not look, dried, cracked or thick.  Do not under any circumstance allow a pedicurist to "remove" the callous.  As a total removal or, removing too much of that thickened skin will cause the callous to grow back with a vengeance. 
Remember it is there to protect the foot.

It is often frowned upon for anyone other than a Podiatrist to use a metal implement on the foot.  This includes metal rasps and razors. (and yes, even that god-awful "Ped Egg. Cheese grater looking thing.)
The best way to soften callous is with a pumice "sponge" (which is not the stone, style) or a foot file. 
A little bit of exfoliant or soap will give it a hand.

• Go easy on the toe cuticle too... again, there for a reason!!!!

To polish, or not to polish.... Totally your choice.
Me, I like polish.   Love it, actually.  I may not polish my fingernails regularly, but, you can bet I have color on my toes. 

As we all know, some of us like to be barefoot, wear mole skins or sandals, ballet/jazz flats or heels.  That it completely and utterly dancers choice.  There is no wrong school when it comes to foot wear, unless of course your choice of footwear is ill-fitting.  Certainly, this is an aesthetic that is dependent on the dancer. Some styles look best with shoes, others, look best with bare feet.  Some venues call for covering the feet, some do not.

If you choose to dance in your bare footed glory, remember to care for your feet post show.  This may mean a scrubbing and a self-massage post show.   We have all come home from a show with "Mystery Black Gunk" on our feet.    Dancing in heels may require the same kind of post-show rub down. 

We are only granted one pair of original hardware from birth to death.  So, it is our job to care for them for as long as they keep us upright and moving.

Take care of them and they will care for you.