Client Consultation, Communication, and Professional Ethics
Consultation questions test whether you gather information, stay in scope, and communicate honestly.
Before the service
Use an intake form: medications, allergies, diabetes, circulation problems, pregnancy, skin conditions, previous reactions to acrylic or gel, and occupation. Ask about lifestyle and expectations. Explain what the product can and cannot do.
Contraindications and referral
Open lesions, fungal or bacterial infection, undiagnosed swelling, severe circulatory disease, and a recent allergic reaction to a nail product are referrals, not challenges. You may decline service and must document why.
Communication
Use plain language, confirm understanding, offer options, and let the client choose. Stay neutral about other techs and salons. Keep client information confidential and never discuss one client with another.
Ethics and scope
Charge what you quoted, disclose add-on costs before starting, do not diagnose, do not promise a cure, and do not perform services outside your license. Sanitation is an ethical duty, not a marketing perk.
Handling complaints
Listen, acknowledge, inspect, offer a reasonable fix, and document. If a reaction occurred, stop, refer to a physician, and record the product and batch.
Worked example
A client with diabetes asks for a pedicure with callus shaving. Correct response: explain that reduced sensation and slower healing make cuts risky, offer a gentle service with a rasp, or refer to a podiatrist. A doctor's note does not change your scope.
Traps
Diagnosing an infection; promising "no damage"; skipping the intake because the client is a regular; discussing a client's medical history; upselling mid-service without consent.