Manicuring and Pedicuring Procedures
Manicure sequence and shaping
A professional manicure flows: consultation and hand washing, sanitized implements arranged, shaping, cuticle care, buffing, massage, base coat, polish, top coat. Shapes - square, squoval, oval, round, almond, coffin - follow the client's sidewalls and lifestyle. File natural nails with a fine-grit (240 or higher) board in one direction, corner toward center, to protect the free edge; sawing back and forth creates stress and splitting. Over-buffing with a coarse buffer thins the plate and causes sensitivity. Push back - never cut - the cuticle; nippers are for a hangnail or clearly dead, non-living tag only.
Pedicure
Pedicure adds soaking, exfoliation, callus smoothing, and massage. The foot spa must be cleaned and disinfected between clients. Reduce callus gently with a paddle or pumice; never slice with a blade. Massage is contraindicated or requires caution over varicose veins, open lesions, unexplained swelling, recent surgery, diabetes with poor sensation, and suspected DVT - refer when in doubt. Strokes include effleurage (gliding), petrissage (kneading), friction, and tapotement (percussion).
Traps and rule of thumb
Questions punish cutting live tissue, reusing a porous file, calling a rinsed foot spa "sanitized," and serving a client with an infected toe. Distinguish thin, even polish coats from thick bubbled application, and remember to cap the free edge.
Rule of thumb: shape and file dry nails, never freshly soaked ones, and when a foot shows a medical problem the answer is almost always "refer."