AZ Nail Technician cheat sheet

Disinfection destroys most pathogenic microorganisms on surfaces but not bacterial spores; sterilization destroys all microorganisms, including spores.

Implements that contact blood or broken skin must first be cleaned with soap and water, dried, then fully immersed in an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant labeled tuberculocidal, for the label's stated contact time.

Porous items - emery boards, buffers, wooden sticks, cotton, foam toe separators - cannot be disinfected and must be discarded after a single client.

Order of reusable-implement processing: scrub with soap and water, rinse, dry completely, then immerse completely in disinfectant; residual water dilutes the disinfectant.

Hand washing standard: soap and water, lather at least 20 seconds covering wrists, between fingers, and under nails, before and after every client.

Blood or body-fluid spill: stop the service, don gloves, cleanse the area with soap and water, apply antiseptic, cover the site, and disinfect contaminated implements with a tuberculocidal product.

UV light cabinets and jars of colored liquid labeled 'sanitizer' are not disinfectants; sanitizing lowers the microbial count to a safe level but does not kill all pathogens.

Gloves, linens, and single-use items are discarded after each client; reusable linens are laundered with detergent and bleach according to the product label.

Nail plate growth rate: fingernails about 1/8 inch (roughly 3 mm) per month; toenails grow more slowly, at about half that rate.

Filing rule: use a fine-grit file with gentle strokes from sidewall toward the center of the free edge; sawing back and forth promotes splitting and delamination.

Pedicure trimming rule: cut toenails straight across and only slightly round the corners with a file; cutting down the sides promotes ingrown toenails.

Cuticle versus eponychium: only the nonliving cuticle is pushed back after softening; the eponychium is living tissue and cutting it can open a portal for infection.

Callus reduction: soften tissue in the soak, then reduce gradually with a foot file or pumice; credo blades and razor-type tools are not used on living tissue.

Client with diabetes: no sharp tools or cutting, moderate soak water temperature, and referral to a physician at any sign of cut, redness, numbness, or delayed healing.

Massage stroke set: effleurage (gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (tapping), friction (circular pressure), and vibration.

Footbath protocol: drain, clean, and wet-disinfect the basin with an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant after every client, following the label contact time.

Acrylic system = liquid monomer plus powder polymer; the powder carries the initiator, and the mix hardens as monomer evaporates and polymerization proceeds.

Gel enhancements contain photoinitiators that cure only under UV or LED light; lamp output and cure time must match the specific product line.

Acid-based primer (methacrylic acid) increases adhesion to the natural nail plate but must be kept off skin and cuticle to avoid irritation and sensitization.

Apex and stress area: the junction where the free edge meets the nail bed bears the most force, so the enhancement is built thickest at that point.

Grit rule: coarse bits and files are used on product only; the natural nail is refined with fine grit to avoid thinning the plate.

Removal rule for acrylic or hard gel: file down the bulk, then soak in acetone until the product releases; product is never pried or forced off the plate.

Monomer is dispensed with a pump or spatula into a disposable cup; pouring used monomer back into the supply container cross-contaminates the product.

Dip powder systems bond through cyanoacrylate resin plus powder layers; powder is poured out for the client and never returned to the original container.

Nail plate cells are keratinized cells produced by the matrix; the nail bed beneath carries the nerve and blood supply, so the plate itself has no nerves.

Lunula is the visible whitish half-moon portion of the matrix at the nail base; trauma to the matrix can permanently deform the growing nail.

Structural seals: the nonliving cuticle seals the nail base, the eponychium is the living skin fold at the base, and the hyponychium seals under the free edge.

Perionychium refers to the nail folds on the sides and base; the lateral folds form the sidewalls that guide the nail as it grows.

Timeline: fingernails replace in about 4-6 months, toenails in about 9-12 months, based on the approximate 1/8 inch per month fingernail growth rate.

Onychomycosis is a fungal nail infection marked by thickening, yellow-brown discoloration, and crumbling; nail technicians may not treat it and must refer.

Paronychia is infection or inflammation of the nail fold with redness, swelling, and possible pus; it is a medical condition requiring referral.

Onycholysis is separation of the nail plate from the nail bed, caused by trauma, harsh chemicals, or fungal infection.

Leukonychia is white spotting or streaking from minor matrix trauma; melanonychia is a dark streak of pigment that must be evaluated by a physician.

Nail technology is regulated by the Arizona Board of Cosmetology under A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 5, together with the Board's administrative rules.

Performing nail services for compensation without a current Arizona license is unlawful; a licensee's credential must be available for inspection.

A business offering nail services must hold a current salon license, and the salon must have a designated licensed manager responsible for compliance.

Salons are subject to inspection by the Board; sanitation violations, unlicensed practice, and record failures can lead to citations, fines, suspension, or revocation.

Board rules require EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectants, cleaning and disinfection of reusable implements between clients, and disposal of single-use items.

Services may only be performed by licensed individuals; students may practice only in a Board-approved school under instructor supervision.

Practicing on an expired or lapsed license is a violation; the license must be current and renewed in the manner set by the Board.

Intake form contents: medical history, allergies, medications, skin and nail conditions, and prior enhancement use, updated at each visit.

Contraindication decision rule: infection, open lesions, severe inflammation, or uncontrolled diabetes with complications means the service is declined and the client is referred.

Open-ended questions plus paraphrasing confirm the client's goal and catch mismatched expectations before product is applied.

Informed consent for enhancement services covers benefits, risks, alternatives, aftercare, and removal costs before the service begins.

Client records are confidential; they are released only with the client's permission or as required by law.

Service price = product cost + labor and time + overhead allocation + profit margin; each item appears on the printed service menu.

Salon sanitation and implement logs are business records kept available for Board inspection.

Retail recommendations follow the assessed needs of the client's nails and skin, not a commission or sales quota.