LA Nail Technician flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Chain of infection

The six links are pathogen, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host; breaking any one link prevents transmission.

Standard precautions

Infection control approach treating all blood, body fluids, secretions, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes as potentially infectious regardless of the client's known health status.

Bacterial shapes

Cocci are round, bacilli are rod-shaped, and spirilla are spiral or corkscrew-shaped; shape is a key step in identifying bacteria.

Sanitation

Cleaning with soap, water, and scrubbing to remove dirt and reduce microorganisms on surfaces and tools to a safer level; it does not destroy all pathogens.

Disinfection

Using an EPA-registered chemical to destroy most microorganisms on nonporous surfaces and implements, but generally not bacterial spores.

Porous implements

Items such as wooden sticks, emery boards, buffer blocks, and cotton that absorb liquids and cannot be reliably disinfected, so they must be used once and discarded.

Safety Data Sheet

A 16-section document listing a chemical's hazards, ingredients, first-aid measures, handling, storage, and disposal; it must be available in the workplace.

Tuberculocidal claim

A label statement that a disinfectant kills Mycobacterium tuberculosis; many boards require it for disinfectants used on implements that may contact blood.

Blood exposure procedure

Stop the service, put on gloves, clean the wound with antiseptic, bandage it, disinfect all implements and surfaces, and document the incident.

Cuticle versus eponychium

The cuticle is dead tissue on the nail plate and may be pushed back or trimmed; the eponychium is living skin at the nail base and must not be cut.

Effleurage

A light, gliding massage stroke applied with the palms and fingers in the direction of blood flow; used to begin and end a hand or foot massage.

Foot spa disinfection

Drain, clean, and disinfect the basin with an EPA-registered product per label after every client; biofilm in tubing requires mechanical scrubbing and regular deep cleaning.

Monomer and polymer

In acrylic systems the monomer is the liquid, usually ethyl methacrylate, and the polymer is the powder; mixed they form a bead that hardens into the enhancement.

EMA versus MMA

Ethyl methacrylate is the standard acrylic monomer; methyl methacrylate is restricted or banned in many states because it is hard, brittle, and can damage the natural nail.

Gel nail curing

Gel enhancements polymerize only under UV or LED light; hard gels are filed off, while soft gels soak off in acetone.

Apex

The thickest, stress-bearing zone near the center of an artificial nail over the natural stress area; too little apex causes breakage and too much looks bulky.

Nail matrix

Tissue at the base of the nail that produces new nail cells; it determines nail thickness, shape, and growth, and damage causes permanent deformity.

Lunula

The whitish half-moon at the nail base; it is the visible portion of the matrix and is most prominent on the thumb and great toe.

Hyponychium

Living tissue that seals the space between the free edge of the nail plate and the fingertip, forming a barrier against infection.

Nail growth rate

Fingernails grow about 1/8 inch, or 3 mm, per month and toenails slower; a fingernail replaces in 4 to 6 months and a toenail in 9 to 12 months.

Onychomycosis

A contagious fungal infection of the nail causing thickening, yellow-brown discoloration, and crumbling; it is a contraindication and requires medical referral.

Paronychia

Inflammation or bacterial infection of the nail folds with redness, swelling, pain, and possible pus; do not perform the service and refer to a physician.

Onycholysis

Painless separation of the nail plate from the nail bed, often from trauma, aggressive filing, or product lifting; the gap can harbor moisture and infection.

Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology

The state agency that licenses and regulates cosmetologists, manicurists, estheticians, and instructors, and enforces salon sanitation rules under Louisiana law.

License display rule

A current license must be visibly posted at the workstation or in the salon and shown to a board inspector on request.

Unlicensed practice

Performing manicuring or pedicuring for pay without a valid license, or allowing an unlicensed person to work in a salon; subject to fines and other penalties.

EPA-registered hospital disinfectant

A disinfectant with an EPA registration number and label claims for hospital use; boards require it for implements and surfaces in salons.

Single-use items

Products such as files, buffers, wooden sticks, cotton, and sponges that cannot be disinfected and must be discarded after serving one client.

Salon inspection

Board inspectors may enter a licensed salon during business hours to check licenses, sanitation practices, equipment, and compliance with rules.

Client consultation

A pre-service interview covering health history, medications, allergies, occupation, nail habits, and expectations to identify contraindications and plan the service.

Contraindication

A condition such as infection, open wound, or poor circulation that makes a service unsafe; the technician withholds service and refers the client to a physician.

Booth rental

A self-employment arrangement in which a licensed technician pays the salon a set rent, keeps client income, and handles their own taxes and supplies.