During what stage of a pedicure is soaking the feet particularly important?

Soaking the feet is particularly important before foot filing for several reasons. This stage helps to soften the skin and calluses on the feet, making it easier to remove any rough or dry patches. When the skin is softened from soaking, the filing process becomes more effective and comfortable for the client. This also minimizes the risk of injury or irritation that can occur if filing is done on dry or hard skin.

While other stages of a pedicure involve important procedures, like nail trimming or applying polish, those processes do not benefit in the same way from the softening effects of soaking. For instance, nail trimming can be done without soaking as the nails themselves do not require moisture to be cut. Similarly, polishing requires a clean and dry nail surface, meaning soaking would not be appropriate at that point. Therefore, emphasizing soaking before foot filing ensures that the pedicure experience is not only effective but also pleasant for the client.