CO Nail Technician cheat sheet

Sanitation reduces the number of microorganisms on a surface to a safe level; disinfection destroys most microorganisms on nonporous implements and surfaces.

Implements must be washed with soap and water and dried before disinfection, because organic debris such as oil, skin, and polish blocks contact with the disinfectant.

Use an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant with a tuberculocidal claim and follow the label dilution and contact time, typically about 10 minutes.

Porous items - files, buffers, wooden sticks, cotton, and sponges - cannot be disinfected and must be discarded after one client.

Autoclave sterilization uses steam under pressure at about 250°F (121°C) and 15 psi for 20–30 minutes and is limited to metal and glass implements.

UV light cabinets are not an accepted method of disinfection or sterilization for nail implements.

Wash hands with soap and warm running water for at least 20 seconds before and after every client and after removing gloves.

Federal roles: OSHA enforces workplace chemical safety and the Hazard Communication Standard, EPA registers disinfectants, FDA regulates cosmetic product safety, and state boards license and inspect salons.

Standard manicure sequence: shape the free edge, soak, gently push back the eponychium, clean the nail plate, apply base coat, two color coats, and top coat.

File natural nails in one direction with a 180- to 240-grit file; back-and-forth sawing separates keratin layers and causes the free edge to peel.

The cuticle is thin dead tissue on the nail plate and may be softened and gently removed; the eponychium is living tissue and must never be cut.

Shape toenails straight across and slightly round the corners to reduce the risk of ingrown nails.

Pedicure soak water should be about 98–100°F (37–38°C); service is contraindicated for open sores, fungal infection, or uncontrolled diabetes with foot ulcers.

Massage movements are effleurage (gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (tapping), and friction (rubbing), applied toward the heart.

Paraffin wax is maintained at about 125–130°F (52–54°C); test on the technician's wrist and never let a client dip directly into the warmer.

Over-buffing with a coarse abrasive thins the nail plate and causes sensitivity; use a fine-grit buffer with light pressure and only on ridges.

Acrylic is formed by mixing liquid monomer with powder polymer; a medium-dry bead ratio controls set time and final strength.

Use EMA (ethyl methacrylate) monomer; MMA (methyl methacrylate) is banned in many states because of severe allergic reactions and nail plate damage.

Product must not touch skin or cuticle; contact causes lifting, which traps moisture and creates a harbor for bacteria.

A dehydrator removes surface oils and moisture before application, and primer adjusts pH to improve adhesion on the natural plate only.

UV gel products cure only under a UV or LED lamp; follow the manufacturer's lamp wattage and cure time or the gel will undercure and lift.

Nail tips are blended at the seam with a fine file, while forms are placed under the free edge to sculpt an extension without a tip.

Wraps (silk, linen, fiberglass) are applied with resin or cyanoacrylate over the plate to strengthen or repair a natural nail.

Enhancements need a fill or rebalance every two to three weeks; removal is by filing or acetone soaking, never by forcing or prying.

Do not apply enhancement over a thin, damaged, or infected nail plate; stop the service and refer the client for medical care.

Nail structures include the nail plate, nail bed, matrix, lunula, cuticle, eponychium, hyponychium, perionychium, nail folds, free edge, and mantle.

New nail cells are produced in the matrix; damage to the matrix produces permanent grooves, ridges, or deformity of the plate.

Average fingernail growth is about 1/8 inch (3 mm) per month; toenails grow more slowly and take 12 to 18 months to replace.

The lunula is the visible whitish half-moon at the base of the plate and is the forward portion of the matrix.

Onychomycosis (fungal infection) causes thickening, yellow-brown discoloration, and crumbling; it is a contraindication and requires medical referral.

Paronychia is inflammation or infection of tissue around the nail, and onychocryptosis is an ingrown nail; both require medical referral.

Onycholysis is separation of the plate from the bed, Beau's lines are transverse grooves from interrupted growth, and onychorrhexis is brittleness with splitting.

Leukonychia (white spots) usually follows minor matrix trauma; a new or changing dark streak (melanonychia) should be referred.

Koilonychia (spoon nails) is associated with iron-deficiency anemia, and pterygium is forward growth of the cuticle onto the plate.

Nail polish film formers: nitrocellulose creates the film, plasticizers add flexibility, resins improve adhesion, and solvents carry the pigments.

Apply base coat before color to prevent plate staining, then two thin color coats, then top coat for gloss and protection.

3-free polish excludes toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP); 5-free also excludes camphor and formaldehyde resin.

Acetone dissolves polish, acrylic, and gel; non-acetone removers are gentler to skin but slower and less effective on enhancements.

Airbrush nail art uses low-pressure compressed air (roughly 15–25 psi) with stencils; clean the airbrush between colors to prevent clogging.

Detail brushes include the striper for fine lines and the fan brush for soft blending; sanitize or discard them between clients.

Store products tightly capped, away from heat, flame, and direct sunlight; keep safety data sheets accessible and observe manufacturer expiration dates.

Cuticle oil, often jojoba or vitamin E based, hydrates the eponychium and is massaged gently into surrounding skin after the service.

Consultation covers health history, medications, allergies, occupation, nail condition, and expectations, and findings are documented on a client record card.

Contraindications requiring referral include fungal or bacterial infection, open wounds, paronychia, severe nail disease, and diabetes with foot ulcers.

Nail technicians are licensed for cosmetic services only; diagnosing or treating disease is outside scope of practice and can jeopardize the license.

Perform a patch test 24–48 hours before first use of a new product on a client with sensitive skin or known allergies.

Use open-ended questions and active listening, and repeat back the client's request before starting to confirm the agreed service.

Price a service as materials plus overhead plus labor plus profit margin; discounting below cost erodes the business even when volume rises.

Maintain a written cancellation and deposit policy, keep appointment records, and confirm the next appointment at checkout.

Keep client information confidential, follow state board licensing and inspection rules, and verify professional liability insurance coverage.