Nail Art, Filing, Shaping, and Finishing Techniques
What the exam tests
This domain tests shaping accuracy, filing safety, surface finishing, and nail art that does not compromise structure. The exam expects clean sidewalls, balanced shapes, controlled product placement, and a sealed finish.
Core concepts
- Filing should use controlled strokes in one direction with a suitable grit; avoid sawing back and forth and avoid filing into the sidewalls.
- Common shapes include square, squoval, oval, almond, coffin, and stiletto; each must suit the client's nail bed and lifestyle.
- Keep the apex and stress zone intact; do not thin the natural nail to make art sit flat.
- Nail art layers should be thin enough to cure and should be sealed with a top coat.
- Cap the free edge and clean the sidewalls for a snag-free finish.
- Check symmetry from the client's palm and from the side profile.
Worked example
A client requests a square shape but has a narrow nail bed and active hands. You shape a short square with slightly rounded corners and explain that sharp corners snag. You thin the free edge, seal it, and keep the sidewalls clean. The reasoning: the shape should follow the client's anatomy and reduce mechanical stress while meeting the requested look.
Traps
Sawing the file back and forth. Filing the natural nail with a coarse grit. Building art so thick that it lifts. Leaving sharp corners that catch on clothing. Shaping one nail without checking the full set.