AL Nail Technician flashcards
AL Nail Technician · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Disinfection
- A process using an EPA-registered product that destroys most pathogenic microorganisms, except bacterial spores, on hard, nonporous implements and surfaces.
- Sterilization
- A process that destroys all microbial life, including bacterial spores, typically by autoclave or chemical sterilant; used when instruments penetrate tissue or contact blood.
- Hospital-grade disinfectant
- An EPA-registered product labeled effective against tubercle bacilli that kills most pathogens on implements when used for the label's stated contact time.
- Single-use porous items
- Files, buffers, wooden sticks, and cotton that cannot be disinfected; they must be discarded after one client or handed to the client to keep.
- Safety Data Sheet
- A 16-section document supplied with each professional chemical listing hazards, first aid, storage, and disposal; it must stay accessible to employees under OSHA rules.
- Standard precautions
- Infection-control rules that treat all blood, body fluids, and non-intact skin as potentially infectious regardless of the client's apparent health status.
- Exposure incident procedure
- When blood appears, stop the service, keep gloves on, apply antimicrobial, clean and disinfect the area, and double-bag contaminated waste.
- Natural nail filing direction
- File in one direction from the side toward the center of the free edge; back-and-forth sawing thins and splits the layers of the nail plate.
- Effleurage
- A light, continuous, gliding massage stroke used to open and close a hand or foot massage, moving toward the heart along venous flow.
- Petrissage
- A kneading and grasping massage movement that compresses muscle tissue to stimulate circulation, applied after effleurage on hands, arms, or feet.
- Pterygium
- A thickened, overgrown cuticle that adheres to and can creep over the nail plate; it may be pushed back but never cut.
- Pedicure contraindications
- Open lesions, fungal infection, or physician-managed conditions such as diabetes with poor circulation require medical clearance before soaking, filing, or callus reduction.
- Nipper cutting rule
- Nippers are reserved for loosened hangnails or dead tissue with client consent; cutting living cuticle tears the seal and invites infection.
- Monomer
- The liquid component, usually ethyl methacrylate, that softens polymer powder and hardens into acrylic as it polymerizes; it is flammable and irritating to skin.
- Liquid-to-powder ratio
- The proportion of monomer to polymer that controls acrylic strength and curing; a medium-wet ball stays on the brush without dripping.
- MMA vs EMA
- Methyl methacrylate produces hard, brittle, difficult-to-remove enhancements and frequent allergic reactions; ethyl methacrylate is the accepted, safer substitute.
- Ultraviolet gel curing
- Soft and hard gels contain photoinitiators that polymerize only under a UV or LED lamp; uncured gel left on skin causes allergic sensitization.
- Acrylic fill schedule
- Enhancements are rebalanced every two to three weeks, before new growth creates a visible ledge that can lift and trap moisture.
- Nail wrap resin
- Fabric wraps of silk, linen, or fiberglass are bonded to the nail plate with cyanoacrylate resin to strengthen a nail or repair a split.
- Nail matrix
- The area at the base of the nail where new cells form; damage here permanently changes the shape and thickness of the nail plate.
- Hyponychium
- The skin seal beneath the free edge of the nail plate that keeps bacteria and debris out of the nail bed.
- Average nail growth rate
- Fingernails grow about 3 to 4 millimeters per month, roughly 0.1 mm per day, faster in warm weather and slower on toenails.
- Onychomycosis
- A fungal infection of the nail plate and bed causing thickening, yellow-brown discoloration, and crumbling; it is contagious and requires referral, not a service.
- Paronychia
- Inflammation or bacterial infection of the nail fold, showing redness, swelling, and pus, often caused by aggressive cuticle work or hangnail picking.
- Leukonychia
- Small white spots or streaks on the nail plate caused by minor matrix trauma; they grow out and do not indicate calcium deficiency.
- pH scale range
- A 0 to 14 scale measuring acidity and alkalinity; 7 is neutral, below 7 acidic, above 7 alkaline, and each whole step is a tenfold change.
- Acid mantle of skin
- The film of sebum and sweat on skin and nails at about pH 4.5 to 5.5 that inhibits bacteria and is disrupted by harsh soaps and acetone.
- Exothermic reaction
- Acrylic polymerization releases heat; an overly wet bead on a large nail can generate enough warmth to burn the nail bed.
- Patch test
- A small amount of product applied to the client's skin and observed 24 to 48 hours later to detect allergy before a full service.
- Alabama licensing board
- The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering writes rules, issues nail technician and salon licenses, inspects salons, and disciplines licensees.
- License display rule
- A current license must be posted in plain view at the licensee's station or in the salon; practicing without one is prohibited.
- Nail technician scope
- A licensed nail technician may perform manicures, pedicures, and nail enhancements; hair and skin care require a separate cosmetology or esthetics license.