NV Nail Technician cheat sheet

Nevada uses a three-tier system: cleaning (soap and water, removes debris), sanitation (reduces pathogens on surfaces), and disinfection (kills or destroys most pathogens on implements). Sterilization destroys all microbial life, including spores, and is required only for items that penetrate skin or contact blood.

Disinfectants must be EPA-registered and labeled as hospital-grade or tuberculocidal; they must be mixed and used at the label dilution and contact time (commonly 10 minutes for quats). A product mixed stronger or soaked shorter is not compliant.

Implements that contact skin or blood (nippers, cuticle pushers, metal files, drill bits that cannot be disinfected) must be cleaned, then completely immersed in disinfectant after each client. Porous items that cannot be disinfected - buffers, cotton, wooden sticks, emery boards, orange-wood sticks - are single-use and must be discarded.

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

Freshly laundered towels and linens are used per client; soiled linens go into a closed receptacle and are washed with detergent and hot water, then dried on high heat.

Blood and body-fluid spills: wear gloves, absorb with disposable towels, clean the area, then disinfect with an EPA-registered product at label contact time; contaminated waste goes in a covered, labeled container.

Nevada requires a wet sanitizer or disinfected container at each work station with implements fully submerged, and disinfectant solution must be changed per manufacturer instructions or when visibly soiled.

A licensee with an infected cut, abrasion, or weeping lesion on the hands must not provide services that could expose a client until the condition resolves or is properly covered and protected per Board guidance.

Client protection decisions: refuse service on inflamed, swollen, or oozing skin; do not treat a client's infection; refer to a physician. Nail technicians cannot diagnose or prescribe.

Nail plate is keratinized, dead cells produced by the matrix; the visible portion is the nail body, and the free edge extends past the hyponychium. The nail grows from the matrix, not from the tip.

Nail matrix produces the plate; injury or infection of the matrix causes permanent distortion (ridges, splitting, or loss of plate). The lunula is the visible portion of the matrix and is whitish because of its thickness.

Cuticle (eponychium) is living tissue that seals the nail base against infection; it must never be cut. The cuticle is trimmed only when it is hangnail (dead, loose tissue) - and only the loose portion.

Nail bed lies beneath the plate and is rich in blood vessels and nerves, which is why thinning the plate with a drill can cause heat, pain, and permanent damage.

Growth rates: fingernails approximately 3 mm (about 0.1 inch) per month, toenails about 1 mm per month; complete replacement of a fingernail takes roughly 4–6 months, a toenail 9–12 months.

Nail disorders: paronychia (bacterial or fungal infection of the tissue around the nail, red, swollen, painful), onychomycosis (fungal infection of the plate, thick, yellow, crumbly), onycholysis (separation of the plate from the bed), onychorrhexis (longitudinal splitting), Beau's lines (transverse depressions from interrupted growth), pterygium (forward growth of cuticle).

Contraindications for service: undiagnosed discoloration, dark streak under the plate, sudden nail loss, swelling, pus, or pain - refer to a physician; do not apply product over infected or inflamed tissue.

Nail shapes and structure: square, squoval, oval, round, almond, stiletto; the sidewalls should be filed parallel to the natural sidewalls; filing back and forth on the natural nail thins the plate and causes peeling.

Basic manicure sequence: wash hands, remove old product, shape with a fine-grit file (180 grit or higher for natural nails), soak, push back cuticle with a wooden or plastic pusher, apply cuticle remover, clean under free edge, massage, base coat, two color coats, top coat.

File natural nails with a fine-grit file in one direction from corner to center, then center to the other corner; back-and-forth sawing creates heat and splitting. Coarse files (80–100 grit) are for artificial product, not the natural plate.

Soaking softens the plate and cuticle; do not push back cuticle on a dry nail - it tears the eponychium and opens a portal for infection.

Pedicure: use a separate pedicure station and implements from manicure; foot files, pumice stones, and callus rasps are porous and must be discarded or used with a disposable cover; never share a credo blade or callus shaver between clients without disinfection.

Do not perform a pedicure on a client with diabetes, poor circulation, or neuropathy without written physician clearance; do not cut corns, calluses, or ingrown toenails - that is outside the nail technician scope.

Massage strokes: effleurage (gliding), petrissage (kneading), friction (circular), tapotement (percussion); massage toward the heart, avoid red, swollen, or varicose areas.

Nail polish application: thin coats, cap the free edge, allow each coat to dry; thick coats wrinkle and lift. Base coat protects the plate and improves adhesion; top coat seals and adds shine.

Implements used on a client must be cleaned and disinfected before reuse; single-use items are discarded immediately after the service.

Service documentation: record products used, any reactions, and services performed; keep records for the period required by the Board and state law.

Tip application: select a tip that fits the free edge without overlapping sidewalls, pre-tailor it, apply tip adhesive to the well, hold at a 45-degree angle, and press for 10–15 seconds; blend the seam with a medium-grit file.

Tip sizing rule: the tip's well must match the free edge curvature; a tip that is too wide causes pressure and lifting, one too narrow leaves a gap that traps moisture.

Nail wraps: silk, fiberglass, and linen wraps are applied with wrap resin over a base coat; the wrap reinforces a natural nail or a stress area, and resin must be thin to avoid bulk.

Wrap removal: soak in wrap remover or acetone-based solvent, then gently lift; do not pry or file the wrap off, which damages the plate.

Nail forms are used for sculpting acrylic or gel extensions; the form must fit snugly against the free edge and be aligned with the finger's centerline, or the extension will be crooked.

Extension length: keep the free edge extension to roughly one-third of the nail bed length for strength; longer extensions increase the risk of trauma and lifting.

Adhesive and resin products must be used in a ventilated area; cyanoacrylate adhesives bond skin instantly, so keep solvent (acetone) on hand and never point the tip at skin.

Stress area is the point of maximum stress at the free edge junction; place additional product there for strength, and keep the apex at the stress area for a proper C-curve.

Acrylic is a two-part system: monomer (liquid) plus polymer (powder); the correct ratio is a workable bead that holds its shape without running - too wet causes shrinkage and lifting, too dry causes brittle, cloudy product.

Polymerization is an exothermic chemical reaction; a bead that is too wet produces more heat and can burn the client. Use smaller beads and thin layers to control heat.

Application zones: zone 1 free edge, zone 2 stress area/apex, zone 3 cuticle area; keep product thin at zone 3 and build the apex at zone 2.

Never apply acrylic over the cuticle, sidewalls, or skin; product on skin causes lifting and can trap bacteria. Leave a hairline margin.

Primer is applied to the natural plate only, never to skin, and must dry completely; excessive primer causes burning and plate damage.

Odorless acrylic uses a different monomer and requires a catalyst; cure is slower and the bead ratio differs from conventional systems. Do not mix brands or products - the chemistry may not be compatible.

Filing acrylic: use a medium-grit file or an electric file with a bit appropriate to the task; keep the bit moving and never hold it in one spot, which creates heat and can burn the nail bed.

Removal: soak in acetone with a covered bowl or cotton and foil; never pry, bite, or force product off. Aggressive removal thins the plate and causes onycholysis.

Store monomer in a closed, labeled container away from heat and flame; monomer is flammable and a respiratory irritant, so use in a ventilated area with gloves.

Gel polish is a photopolymer cured by UV or LED light; it does not dry by evaporation, so it must be cured to set. Uncured gel on skin can cause allergic sensitization.

Cure times depend on the lamp and product: follow the manufacturer's stated cure time for the specific gel and lamp type; LED cures faster than UV for products formulated for LED.

Apply gel in thin coats; thick coats cure unevenly, shrink, and wrinkle. Cap the free edge and keep gel off the cuticle and sidewalls.

Lamp maintenance: replace bulbs or LED arrays per manufacturer interval, keep the inside clean, and ensure the client's hand is positioned fully inside the lamp.

Gel removal: break the seal with a file, then soak in acetone with cotton and foil or a soak-off cap for the manufacturer's time; gently push off softened product. Never scrape or force.

Hard gel is not soak-off; it must be filed off or left to grow out. Soft gel is soak-off. Do not confuse the two, or removal will damage the plate.

Allergic reaction signs: itching, redness, swelling, or lifting around the nail and sidewalls. Remove the product, refer to a physician, and do not reapply the same product.

Gel over natural nail should be thin and flexible; a hard, thick gel on a flexible natural plate causes lifting and stress on the plate.

Consultation before service: ask about allergies, medications, diabetes, circulatory problems, pregnancy, prior reactions to acrylic or gel, and any skin or nail conditions; document answers.

Informed consent: explain the service, products, risks, and aftercare, and obtain the client's agreement before beginning; note it in the record.

Contraindication rule: if a client presents with an undiagnosed condition, infection, or open lesion, decline the service and refer to a physician. Do not diagnose.

Confidentiality: client records and personal information are not shared without consent; discuss services only with the client, not in front of other clients.

Scope of practice: nail technicians perform manicures, pedicures, nail enhancements, and related services; they do not diagnose, treat, or prescribe, and do not perform medical pedicures.

Professional boundaries: do not discuss other clients, do not make disparaging remarks about prior work, and do not pressure a client into upgrades.

Aftercare instructions: keep nails dry for the manufacturer's time, use cuticle oil, avoid using nails as tools, and return for maintenance at the recommended interval.

Documentation of adverse reactions: record the product, batch if available, symptoms, and date; report per manufacturer and Board requirements.

Nevada nail technician licensure is issued by the State Board of Cosmetology; a licensee may perform manicuring, pedicuring, and nail extensions under the scope defined in statute and Board regulations.

License display: the license must be available for inspection at the work location; practicing on an expired or lapsed license is a violation.

Continuing education: Nevada requires licensees to complete continuing education units for renewal; the specific hour requirement and approved subjects are set by the Board and should be verified in the current regulations.

Sanitation and disinfection standards for implements, towels, and workstations are set by Board regulation; failure to follow them is grounds for discipline.

A licensee must not perform services outside the licensed scope, must not allow an unlicensed person to perform services, and must not aid unlicensed practice.

Client records and informed consent requirements are established by Board rule; records must be maintained and made available on request.

Advertising must not be false or misleading; a licensee may not claim certification or credentials not held, and must not imply Board endorsement.

Disciplinary grounds include unsanitary practices, intoxication on the job, fraud, and practicing beyond scope; penalties range from reprimand to license revocation.

Verify current requirements: statutes and Board rules change, so confirm the specific section, fee, and hour requirement with the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology before relying on them.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS) must be available for every hazardous product in the salon; employees have a right to access them under OSHA Hazard Communication.

Label all secondary containers with the product name and hazard; never store chemicals in unmarked bottles or food containers.

Ventilation: use local exhaust or open windows when working with monomer, acetone, and other volatile products; keep products capped when not in use.

Flammables: acetone, monomer, and alcohol are flammable; store away from heat, flame, and sparks, and never smoke in the service area.

Personal protective equipment: gloves, safety glasses, and a mask when mixing or filing; nitrile gloves resist acetone better than latex.

Electrical safety: do not use damaged cords, keep water away from outlets, and use ground-fault protection near sinks and pedicure basins.

Ergonomics: adjust chair and table height, keep wrists neutral, and take breaks; repetitive motion injuries are common in nail services.

Pedicure basin cleaning: follow the manufacturer and Board procedure, including a disinfectant with the correct contact time, and document the cleaning log.

Waste disposal: used implements, cotton, and product waste go into covered containers; sharps and blood-contaminated waste follow the applicable disposal rules.