Nail Care and Manicuring
Nail care questions cover anatomy, tool sanitation, manicure and pedicure sequence, product safety, and recognition of disorders that require referral. The exam often asks what you should not do.
Core rules
- The nail plate is produced by the matrix; the lunula is the visible portion of the matrix. The eponychium is living skin at the base, while the cuticle is nonliving tissue on the plate. Do not cut living tissue.
- Clean and disinfect reusable implements between clients. Porous files and buffers should be discarded or given to the client. Sharp implements require careful handling and disposal.
- Shape with a file in one direction to reduce splitting; use nippers only for tags the client approves. Pedicure basins must be cleaned and disinfected between clients.
- Refer redness, swelling, pus, dark streaks, or green-black discoloration. Fungal and bacterial conditions are outside the manicurist’s scope.
Worked example
A client wearing an enhancement has green-black discoloration on the nail plate. The correct reasoning is that this may be a bacterial infection, so remove the product without filing over the spot, refer to a physician, and disinfect all implements. Applying new product would trap moisture and delay care.
Traps
Cutting the cuticle; sharing files; filing deep into the sidewalls; massaging a red, swollen toe; and using an electric file without training or the proper bit.