Products, Chemistry, and Client Consultation
Chemistry you are expected to know
The pH scale runs 0 to 14, with 7 neutral, below 7 acidic, and above 7 alkaline. Skin and nails are slightly acidic, around pH 4.5 to 5.5, and strongly alkaline products swell and soften the nail plate. Know that acetone dissolves acrylic and gel, while non-acetone removers (often ethyl acetate) work more slowly and are gentler. Know the roles of monomers, polymers, initiators, and photoinitiators in enhancement products, and that cyanoacrylate adhesives bond to skin almost instantly.
Handling and storage
Read the safety data sheet for every product you use. Store in closed, labeled containers away from heat and flame; never decant into unlabeled bottles; never mix brands; never transfer product back into the original container. Use ventilation and gloves where the SDS advises.
Consultation
A defensible consultation includes a medical history form and verbal questions about diabetes, circulatory problems, nail or skin infections, allergies (especially acrylate allergy), medications, pregnancy, and recent surgery. Confirm expectations, explain maintenance and aftercare, perform a patch test when a new product warrants it, document consent and any conditions observed, and refer when something falls outside your scope.
Traps
Questions often imply that natural or organic products are automatically safe, that a strong odor proves a product is hazardous, or that one product suits every service. All three are wrong. Another common trap is skipping documentation after observing a contraindication.
Rule of thumb
When the SDS says avoid skin contact, treat every client as sensitized: gloves, ventilation, and no product on broken skin.