Manicure, Pedicure and Nail Care
What this domain covers
This domain covers basic manicure and pedicure: soaking, shaping, cuticle care, exfoliation, massage, and polish. The exam tests hygiene, safe filing, contraindications, and client care.
Core rules and concepts
- Sanitise the work area and use clean or disinfected tools for each client. Single-use items such as emery boards and orange sticks should not be reused.
- Check for cuts, fungal infection, ingrown nails, warts, or inflamed skin. Do not treat infected nails; refer the client.
- Soak hands or feet in warm water with a suitable soak. Keep the water clean and at a comfortable temperature.
- File nails in one direction, usually from the corner towards the centre, to reduce splitting. Do not saw back and forth.
- Soften cuticles, push them back gently, and trim only a hanging tag. Cutting live cuticle can cause infection.
- Exfoliate and massage with a suitable scrub or lotion, then remove all product from the nail plate before polishing.
- Apply base coat, colour, and top coat thinly. Let each layer dry.
Worked example
A client has a thickened, discoloured toenail and wants a pedicure with polish. What should the nail technician do?
Reasoning: The technician should not polish over a suspected fungal infection or treat it as a cosmetic problem. The client should be advised to see a doctor or qualified health professional. The technician can offer a basic soak and safe nail care only if salon policy allows and there is no open infection, using gloves and strict sanitation. The reasoning is that polish can trap infection and sharing tools can spread it.
Traps that cost marks
- Filing back and forth or filing too deeply into the side walls.
- Cutting the cuticle deeply.
- Reusing emery boards or sharing tools without disinfection.
- Applying polish over a suspected infection.