HI 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.
- Disinfection
- A process using an EPA-registered hospital-grade product that kills or destroys nearly all pathogenic organisms on nonporous implements, following the label's contact time.
- Sterilization
- A process that destroys all microbial life, including bacterial spores, and is required for implements that have broken the skin.
- Porous implements
- Items such as wooden sticks, cotton, and emery boards that absorb liquid and cannot be reliably disinfected, so they are single-use only.
- Sharps container
- A rigid, closable, puncture-resistant container used to discard contaminated blades and other sharps; sharps never go in regular trash.
- Nail matrix
- The tissue at the base of the nail that produces new plate cells; injury or disease here permanently alters the nail's shape, thickness, or presence.
- Nail bed
- The skin beneath the nail plate, attached by longitudinal ridges, which supports the plate and contributes to the free edge as the plate advances.
- Lunula
- The whitish, half-moon area at the base of the nail plate, which is the visible portion of the matrix where cells are not yet fully flattened.
- Nail growth rate
- Fingernails grow about 3 mm per month and toenails about 1 mm per month; growth is faster in summer, in youth, and on the middle finger.
- Onychomycosis
- A fungal infection of the nail plate and bed causing thickening, yellow-brown discoloration, crumbling, and separation; it requires medical referral and disinfected implements.
- Paronychia
- Inflammation or infection of the nail fold, presenting as redness, swelling, and pain, sometimes with pus; it requires referral and no service on the area.
- Onycholysis
- Separation of the nail plate from the bed, leaving a whitish area, caused by trauma, psoriasis, or fungal infection; product must not be packed into the gap.
- Beau's lines
- Transverse depressions across the nail plate caused by a temporary interruption of matrix growth after illness or trauma; they grow out without treatment.
- File direction rule
- File natural nails in one direction from corner toward center; sawing back and forth splits and peels the free edge.
- Pedicure basin disinfection
- Between clients, clean the basin and disinfect it with an EPA-registered hospital-grade product at the labeled contact time, running it through whirlpool jets.
- Cuticle nipper use
- Nippers are used only on hangnails and dead tissue with consent; cutting live tissue or pushing the eponychium opens a portal for infection.
- Tip blending
- Filing the tip seam until it is flush with the natural nail so the enhancement looks continuous; over-thinning the blended area weakens the tip.
- Fabric wraps
- Silk, fiberglass, or linen applied with resin over the plate, cured, filed, and sealed to add strength while remaining thin; used for repairs.
- Tip curve match
- A tip must match the natural free edge in width and C-curve; a mismatched curve creates stress points that cause lifting and breakage.
- Monomer and polymer
- The two-part acrylic system: liquid monomer (ethyl methacrylate) mixed with polymer powder to form a workable bead that hardens into the enhancement.
- Acrylic mix ratio
- The proportion of liquid to powder in the bead; too wet causes shrinkage and lifting, too dry causes brittle, cloudy, poorly adhering product.
- Apex placement
- The strength point built in zone 2, the stress area of the acrylic, giving the enhancement structural support and a natural curve.
- Sensitization
- An allergic reaction to uncured monomer, appearing as itching, redness, and lifting at the nail folds; repeated skin contact is the main cause.
- Photoinitiator curing
- Gel contains photoinitiators that react only to a specific wavelength of light, so it cures under a matched UV or LED lamp and never by air.
- Inhibition layer
- The sticky uncured film left on some gels after curing; it is normal and is wiped away with the manufacturer's cleanser, not a sign of undercuring.
- Gel polish removal
- Break the seal with a file, soak a cotton pad in acetone, wrap in foil for the manufacturer's time, then gently push off softened product without scraping.
- Heat spike
- A burning sensation during curing caused by thick gel layers; thin, even application reduces the exothermic heat and prevents shrinkage and lifting.
- Informed consent
- Explaining the procedure, products, risks such as sensitization and infection, and aftercare to the client before beginning the service.
- Scope of practice
- The legally permitted services of a nail technician: cosmetic care of nails, hands, and feet, with identification and referral of disease but no diagnosis or treatment.
- Contraindication screening
- Checking for active infection, open lesions, product allergy, or uncontrolled systemic disease, which require postponement or physician clearance before service.
- Hawaii nail technology licensure
- Licensure under HRS Chapter 436 through the state board, requiring an approved program (commonly 350 hours), state written and practical exams, and fees.
- Hawaii shop license
- A valid license required for the establishment, with displayed licenses, hand-washing facilities, and sanitation standards subject to board inspection.
- Unlicensed practice
- Performing nail services or using a licensed title without a current Hawaii license, which is subject to fines, suspension, or revocation.