Ask two women if they are embarrassed by their feet and at least one of them will say yes.

According to the American Podiatric Medical Association's survey, 60 percent of women prefer not to show their feet in public. The association's survey shows things like discolored toenails, neuromas, dry skin, corns and calluses are holding too many of us hostage.

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To avoid the risk of infection, it pays to bring your own utensils to the nail salon.

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Can't afford regular pedicures? Soothe your soles on a regular basis with a foot massage. Your toes will thank you!

Pamper those feet! Jin Soon's beauty mantra of "Buff 'n' Go" stresses that taking care of one's feet should be at the top of a daily grooming to-do list. The professional nail artist and owner of Jin Soon's Natural Hand and Foot Spas in New York City is all about saving time while getting pretty feet and hands. She suggests these five simple steps that anyone can do at home to get the ultimate pedicure: Step 1: Remove all calluses and dead skin. Jin's secret weapon is an egg-shaped buffer known as the PedEgg. It delivers the best results for velvety soft skin, she says. Step 2: File your toenails. Filing helps shape the nail and prevents clipping too far back in the nail bed, potentially causing infections. Step 3: Apply cuticle remover and gently push back the cuticles. Step 4: Massage feet with a moisturizing balm and carefully remove all grease and oil from the surface of nails. Step 5: Apply base coat, two coats of color, topcoat and then buff. RELATED • Read more about women's health • More Health stories

It's time to stop the madness.

Foot-baring phobias may be common this time of year because our soles have been battered from boots and pinned up in pumps all winter. But spring is here and it's time to put on our happy feet. Let's tame those tootsies and polish up those peds in the season's prettiest hues.

"Putting your best foot forward is quite easy to do," says Jin Soon, who has helped superstars like Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez.

KEEP HYGIENE IN MIND

If you prefer to be pampered by professionals, remember to make pedicure safety a priority by observing the following tips:

• Avoid pre-pedicure shaving: You may feel awkward not shaving your legs before a pedicure (stubble, yuck!), but it's for your own good. Shaving just before a pedicure can irritate the skin on your legs and even create nicks or tiny abrasions that become gateways for bacteria that can enter during a salon pedicure.

• No cutting allowed: While most states have banned the use of razors, credo knives and other cutting instruments in nail salons and spas, you will find that they are still used every now and then, especially on women with heavily callused feet. Instead of turning to sharp-cutting instruments, request that your salon use the new Microplane Foot File. It's an instrument with 175 tiny, bidirectional files that remove dry skin and tough calluses without cutting or tearing the skin.

• Keep your cuticles: Instead of having your cuticles cut, it's best to have them pushed back with a nail stick that has its ends covered in cotton.

• BYOT — Bring Your Own Tools: The ultimate step for safety is to not leave it up to chance — bring your own tools. Many salons will even sterilize them for you and/or store them in your own box at the salon. Or, you can carry them to and from the salon and clean them by placing them in hydrogen peroxide. Leave them in the solution until the peroxide stops bubbling.

• Footbaths aren't mandatory: Even if you see them being cleaned and disinfected between uses, you may still feel a little uneasy about sticking your feet in a communal footbath. Remember, you're the customer, so see if they will let you soak in a traditional bowl or basin instead.

GOOD FOR THE SOLE

Of course, not everyone can have a pedicure every night, but the APMA suggests we soothe our soles on a regular basis by following this simple regimen:

• Fill a bucket with warm water and be sure it is large enough for both of your feet to soak. Find a comfortable chair where you can relax and place the bucket in front of the chair.

• Remove nail polish with non-acetone polish remover.

• Stimulate foot circulation and warm your feet: Prop one foot at a time on your lap, grasp the foot and begin slowly moving your thumbs from the top of your toes to the bottom of your heel and back. Repeat this stroking technique as many times as needed to get your feet warmed for some serious pampering.

• Use a nail clipper to cut toenails straight across. Then use an emery board to smooth the nail edges by filing in one direction without drastically rounding the edges.

• Soak feet in the warm water for at least five minutes. Raise feet out of the bucket and dip either a foot file or a pumice stone into the water. Next, use the file or pumice stone to gently smooth the skin around the heel and the balls and sides of your feet.

• For extra soothing and softening, use a scrub and massage your entire foot and lower leg. The scrub exfoliates the skin by removing dead skin buildup that is often caused by wearing certain types of shoes. Remove scrub with a damp towel.

• Use a fresh towel to pat feet dry and be sure to dry between each toe. While you are drying, loosen your foot joints by cupping your heel with one hand at the ankle and grabbing the top of your foot with the other. Then rotate the foot slowly at the ankle a few times in each direction.