Out on a limb

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">It''s all about legs this summer. And many are spending time and money to make a statement in their stride</span><br /><br />This summer, Bangalore''s PYTs are showing leg like crazy. Walk into any fashion event, night club or shopping mall and you''ll see young women in short skirts and shorter dresses with lots of leg on display.What does it take to show off a pair of smooth, well-toned legs? Lots of care and a bill to match. Here''s how...<br /><br />Beauty treatments: Beauty expert Manjul Gupta says special pedicures called silk wraps which leave the feet smooth and pretty are in demand these days. Pedicures today include scrubs and thermoherb masks. During these special treatments, toe nails are buffed to a natural sheen. A Thai massage in which the pressure points are stimulated concludes the pedicure/foot treatment.<br /><br />Nail art for toe nails is also becoming popular, says Manjul. French manicures can be done for toe nails and nail extensions can be added too.<br /><br />Dermatological procedures: Glycolic peels are the other hot treatment this season. The procedure takes about 20 minutes. The peel which is fruit-based is applied for two to four minutes. The ‘new'' skin looks fresh, lighter and even toned and hydrated. Salicylic acid peels can also be used. Sclerotherapy is a treatment where high frequency radio waves are used to treat broken capillaries. Each session takes between 15 minutes to an hour.<br /><br />Intense pulsed light (IPL) reduces hair growth and is another procedure becoming quite popular. You''ll need to do go a minimum of six sessions, says skin specialist Dr Susheel Gupta.<br /><br />Model Priya Reddy went in for IPL as she was fed up of getting her legs waxed. "Though all the hair has not gone, the growth is sparse and I''ll need to go for waxing maybe once in four months," she says. Regular pedicures at least once a month are a must for her.<br /><br />Exercise: A brisk walk, jogging, running and cycling, all help to make your legs shapely and toned, say fitness experts. Leg extensions and squats firm up muscles. "Learn the correct way to exercise from a qualified fitness instructor and work out at home if you can''t make it to a gym or fitness centre," says trainer Prakash N.<br /><br />Accessories: Footwear trends this summer include strappy sandals, ankle straps, flip flops, sandals in vibrant colours like lime green and bright pink, pale blue, orange and pastels. Bling is in for evening wear so sandals with glitter and sequins would look good.<br /><br />For legs, temporary tattoos around the ankle are in demand. Tanned legs are also being made up with a dash of gold glitter.<br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">cavalesangeeta@indiatimes.com</span></div> </div>