CA Nail Technician flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Nail technician training hours
- California requires a minimum of 400 hours of approved training for nail technician licensure, covering both practical and theoretical instruction in manicuring, pedicuring, and health and safety.
- License display requirement
- A licensed nail technician must display the license in the establishment where services are performed, and the establishment itself must hold a current Board establishment license.
- Board inspection authority
- Board inspectors may enter and inspect a licensed salon during business hours without advance notice; refusing inspection is itself a violation of Board rules.
- Disinfection versus sterilization
- Disinfection destroys most pathogenic microorganisms on surfaces but may not kill bacterial spores; sterilization destroys all microbial life, including spores, usually through heat or pressure.
- Hospital-grade disinfectant
- An EPA-registered disinfectant labeled for hospital use that is mixed at the labeled dilution, and in which implements are fully immersed for the full labeled contact time.
- Single-use implements
- Porous items such as nail files, buffers, wooden sticks, and toe separators cannot be reliably disinfected and must be discarded after each client rather than reused.
- Hand washing requirement
- Soap-and-water hand washing is required before and after each client; alcohol rubs are not a substitute when hands are visibly soiled or after contact with body fluids.
- Nail plate composition
- The nail plate is made of tightly packed keratinized cells produced by the matrix, and the visible plate rests on and slides forward over the nail bed.
- Matrix function
- The matrix is the growth center of the nail; injury or disease affecting the matrix can permanently change the shape, thickness, or surface of the growing nail plate.
- Eponychium sealing role
- The eponychium, commonly called the cuticle, seals the proximal nail fold against the plate, limiting entry of pathogens and moisture into the nail unit.
- Fingernail growth rate
- Fingernails grow approximately 3 mm per month, or about 0.1 mm per day; toenails grow more slowly at roughly 1 mm per month.
- Hyponychium
- The hyponychium is the seal of skin beneath the free edge of the nail plate; damage to it can allow debris and pathogens under the nail.
- Consultation content
- A consultation records the client's goals, allergies, medications, medical history, and prior nail services, and identifies any contraindication before products are applied.
- Contraindication examples
- Inflamed, broken, or infected skin, open wounds, active fungal or bacterial infection, and undiagnosed discoloration or swelling are contraindications requiring withheld service and medical referral.
- When to stop and refer
- Pus, spreading redness, red streaks, fever, sudden dark bands under the nail, or severe pain are signs to stop the service immediately and refer the client for medical care.
- Patch test purpose
- A patch test applies a small amount of a new product to intact skin before full service to detect sensitivity or allergic reaction, following manufacturer directions.
- One-direction filing
- Filing the free edge in one direction rather than sawing back and forth reduces stress on the nail plate and helps prevent splitting and peeling of the natural nail.
- Cuticle nipper use
- Cuticle nippers are used only on loose, dead tissue; cutting live tissue can cause injury, bleeding, and infection and is avoided in standard manicuring.
- Pedicure basin sanitation
- Between clients, pedicure basins are drained, cleaned of debris, and disinfected with an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant for the full labeled contact time.
- Massage direction
- Massage strokes follow venous return toward the heart and are omitted over inflamed, bruised, or broken skin to avoid injury and spread of irritation.
- Nail tip sizing
- A nail tip must match the natural nail's width with sidewalls aligned and no overhang; an oversized or undersized tip causes lifting, pressure, or an unnatural look.
- Wrap system materials
- Wraps use fabric such as silk, linen, or fiberglass bonded with resin or adhesive to strengthen the natural nail and repair splits and breaks.
- Monomer-polymer ratio
- The correct liquid-to-powder ratio creates a workable bead; too wet a bead causes shrinkage and lifting, while too dry a bead makes weak, brittle product.
- Avoiding skin contact
- Enhancement product must not touch skin or cuticle; contact causes lifting, trapped moisture, and possible allergic sensitization to monomers or resins.
- Acrylic curing chemistry
- Acrylic enhancements cure by exothermic free-radical polymerization of monomer, typically ethyl methacrylate, initiated by benzoyl peroxide present in the polymer powder.
- MMA restriction
- Methyl methacrylate monomer is restricted for cosmetic nail use in California; ethyl methacrylate is the standard monomer used in properly labeled professional systems.
- Gel photoinitiator cure
- UV and LED gels contain photoinitiators activated by light of the correct wavelength and intensity; a mismatched or weak lamp leaves uncured, irritating product.
- Cyanoacrylate skin bonding
- When nail adhesive bonds skin, the area is soaked in warm soapy water and gently separated; pulling or using solvent forcefully can tear the skin.
- Safety data sheets
- Safety data sheets for hazardous products used in the salon must be available on site, and product containers must stay labeled with the original manufacturer information.
- Clean and dirty separation
- Implements are kept in separate clean and dirty containers; disinfected tools are stored covered and labeled and are never returned to the contaminated side.
- Reusable metal tool steps
- Reusable metal implements are washed with soap and water, rinsed, dried, then fully immersed in an EPA-registered disinfectant for the labeled contact time.
- Electric file bit care
- Drill bits and electric file components are cleaned and disinfected per manufacturer directions; bits that cannot be properly disinfected are treated as single-use items.