KY Nail Technician cheat sheet

Define the three levels: sanitation reduces pathogens on surfaces; disinfection destroys most pathogens on nonporous implements; sterilization destroys all microbial life including spores.

Kentucky requires implements that contact blood or body fluids, and porous items that cannot be disinfected, to be discarded after a single use rather than reused.

Disinfectant immersion for implements must follow the manufacturer's label contact time; a common regulatory minimum is 10 minutes in an EPA-registered hospital-grade tuberculocidal disinfectant.

Clean before you disinfect: visible debris, product residue, and oils block disinfectant contact and invalidate the process.

Blood exposure protocol: stop service, glove, clean the wound, apply pressure, disinfect the station, and report per salon policy; exposure to HBV is preventable by vaccination.

Hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is required before and after each client; alcohol-based sanitizer is not a substitute when hands are visibly soiled.

Single-use items include nail files for clients with compromised skin, wooden sticks, cotton, and any porous buffer that cannot be disinfected.

Material safety: keep SDS sheets accessible for all products, store chemicals away from heat and food, and never mix products unless the label permits it.

Electrical safety in the salon: GFCI outlets near water sources, no cords across walkways, and unplug tools before cleaning.

Nail plate: keratinized, translucent cells produced by the matrix; the free edge extends beyond the fingertip.

Nail matrix: the living tissue beneath the proximal nail fold that produces the plate; damage here causes permanent grooves or thinning.

Nail bed: skin under the plate, rich in capillaries; its pink color shows through the translucent plate.

Cuticle (eponychium): the dead tissue seal at the proximal fold; the living tissue beneath it is the cuticle and must not be cut.

Lunula: visible portion of the matrix, typically pale and half-moon shaped at the base of the plate.

Hyponychium: the seal under the free edge that keeps pathogens out of the nail bed.

Nail growth: fingernails grow about 3 mm per month, toenails about 1 mm per month; toenails take 9-12 months to replace fully.

Hand anatomy: 27 bones per hand including carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges; the median nerve supplies sensation to the thumb, index, and middle fingers.

Blood supply to the nail bed comes from the digital arteries; nail services must never compromise circulation, especially in diabetic clients.

Manicure sequence: consultation and hand assessment, wash hands, shape with file in one direction, soak, push cuticle back, nip only dead tissue, massage, polish.

File in one direction from corner to center to prevent splitting; use the coarse side for shortening and the fine side for finishing.

Soak time for a manicure is typically 3-5 minutes; over-soaking softens the plate and causes peeling.

Pedicure basins: clean and disinfect after each client with an EPA-registered disinfectant per label contact time; whirlpool jets require the same treatment.

Pedicure sequence: assess feet, soak, clean under free edge, file, push cuticle, exfoliate, massage, polish.

Do not use credo blades or sharp tools to remove calluses; use a foot file or pumice and stop if skin is broken.

Massage direction follows venous return: strokes move toward the heart, and pressure should be light over joints and varicose veins.

Contraindications to pedicure: open wounds, active fungal infection, severe diabetes with neuropathy, and recent surgery; refer to a physician.

Polish application: thin base coat, two thin color coats, thin top coat; thick layers wrinkle and peel prematurely.

Tip application: size the tip to the natural plate, blend the seam with a file, and bond with nail glue; the tip must not extend past the fingertip.

Tip sizing rule: the tip should cover the free edge without overlapping sidewalls; a tip too wide causes lifting.

Fabric wraps: use fiberglass, silk, or linen with resin; the wrap reinforces the plate but does not lengthen it.

Wrap application: apply resin to the plate, lay the fabric, press to remove bubbles, apply additional resin, then file smooth.

Nail wrap removal: soak in acetone or use the manufacturer's remover; do not pull or pry, which damages the plate.

Enhancement structure: apex placement at the stress zone between the free edge and the nail bed resists breakage.

Tip-and-overlay services require proper blending of the tip seam; an unblended seam creates a weak point and visible ridge.

Client selection: enhancements are not appropriate for clients with active nail infection, severe plate damage, or known product allergies.

Removal of enhancement products must be done by filing or soaking; mechanical prying causes plate delamination and onycholysis.

Acrylic system: liquid monomer plus powder polymer; the mix ratio controls cure, with a medium bead that holds its shape without running.

Monomer-to-polymer ratio: too wet causes shrinkage and lifting; too dry causes brittle, cloudy product and poor adhesion.

Acrylic application zones: zone 1 free edge, zone 2 stress area, zone 3 cuticle area; build the apex in zone 2.

Gel system: photoinitiators cure under UV or LED light; gel does not cure in air and must be cured in a lamp.

Gel cure: follow lamp manufacturer's time; undercuring causes peeling and allergic reaction; overcuring is not a substitute for proper thin application.

Gel polish removal: soak in acetone with a wrap for 10-15 minutes; never scrape or pry.

Acrylic removal: file down and soak in acetone; do not use a drill on the natural plate or over the matrix.

Product safety: monomer is a skin and respiratory sensitizer; use in a ventilated area and avoid skin contact.

Allergy signs: itching, redness, or swelling at the nail fold or fingertips; stop service, remove product, and refer to a physician.

Onychomycosis: fungal infection of the plate, yellow-brown discoloration, thickening, and crumbling; refer to a physician and do not service the affected nail.

Paronychia: bacterial infection of the nail fold with redness, swelling, and pus; refer and do not manipulate the area.

Onycholysis: separation of the plate from the bed, often from trauma or product misuse; do not apply enhancement over the separated area.

Onychorrhexis: longitudinal splitting and brittleness; treat with moisturizing and gentle filing, not with aggressive buffing.

Leukonychia: white spots on the plate, usually from trauma to the matrix; not a sign of calcium deficiency.

Beau's lines: transverse grooves from interrupted matrix growth after illness or trauma; they grow out and require no treatment.

Melanonychia: dark longitudinal band on the plate; a new or changing band requires physician referral to rule out melanoma.

Pincer nail: the plate curves inward at the sides and can press into the skin; refer for correction and avoid aggressive sidewall filing.

Client conditions requiring referral: diabetes with neuropathy, circulatory disorders, psoriasis flare, active infection, and any undiagnosed nail change.

The Kentucky Board of Cosmetology regulates licensing of cosmetologists, nail technicians, estheticians, and salons under KRS Chapter 329.

Nail technician licensure requires completion of an approved program and passage of the state board examination; licenses renew on the board's cycle.

Salon licensure: a salon must hold a current license and display it; the salon must have a designated licensee responsible for compliance.

Sanitation rules require disinfection of implements, single-use items for porous materials, and a covered waste container for blood-contaminated items.

Continuing education: licensees must complete the board-required hours per renewal cycle; keep certificates for audit.

Advertising rules: licensees may not use false or misleading claims and must not practice beyond the scope of their license.

Scope of practice: nail technicians perform manicures, pedicures, and nail enhancements; they do not perform skin care or hair services outside their license.

Inspections: board inspectors may enter a licensed salon during business hours; violations can result in fines, suspension, or revocation.

Client records and informed consent: keep service records and disclose product risks, especially for acrylic and gel systems.

Pricing: set service prices to cover product cost, labor, overhead, and profit; review prices when supply costs change.

Booking: use a written policy for cancellations and no-shows and disclose it at booking to reduce disputes.

Client consultation: ask about allergies, medications, medical conditions, and prior nail services before starting.

Informed consent: explain product risks, removal process, and maintenance expectations, and document the client's agreement.

Confidentiality: client health information is private and must not be shared with other clients or on social media.

Professional boundaries: avoid discussing other clients, and refer medical questions to a physician rather than diagnosing.

Record keeping: maintain service records, patch test results, and product lot information for at least the period required by salon policy.

Ethics: do not perform services you are not trained for, do not use expired products, and do not pressure clients into unnecessary upgrades.

Communication: use plain language, confirm understanding, and give written aftercare instructions for enhancement services.