OR Nail Technician cheat sheet

Pathogen classes are bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites; only pathogens cause disease, while nonpathogens are harmless or beneficial.

Bacterial shapes: cocci (round), bacilli (rod), spirilla (spiral); flagella and cilia provide movement; some bacilli form spores that resist ordinary disinfectants.

Viruses cannot reproduce without a host cell; hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV are bloodborne, while herpes simplex and HPV spread mainly by direct skin contact.

Fungal infections such as tinea pedis and onychomycosis thrive in warm, moist environments; parasites seen in salons include pediculosis and scabies.

Universal (standard) precautions decision rule: treat every client's blood and body fluids as infectious, so barriers are used for every service regardless of known health status.

Handwashing protocol: soap plus running water plus friction for at least 20 seconds; required before and after each client, after restroom use, and before eating; sanitizer does not replace washing when hands are visibly soiled.

Decontamination level rule: cleaning removes debris, sanitation reduces microorganisms, disinfection kills most microorganisms on nonporous surfaces, sterilization destroys all microorganisms including spores.

Implements that contact skin or the nail plate must be cleaned, rinsed, dried, then fully immersed in an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant for the label's stated contact time (typically 10-20 minutes).

Disinfectant must be mixed to label dilution, kept covered, changed at the manufacturer's interval or when cloudy or visibly soiled, and tested with strips if the label requires it.

A disinfectant is acceptable for bloodborne pathogen control only if its label carries an EPA registration number and a hospital-grade or tuberculocidal claim.

Porous materials (wood, foam, cotton, towels, emery boards, most files and buffers) absorb liquids and cannot be disinfected, so they are single-use and discarded after one client.

Blood spill sequence: stop the service, don gloves, absorb with a disposable towel, clean with soap and water, disinfect with an EPA-registered product or a 1:10 bleach-to-water solution, double-bag waste, then wash hands.

Chemical storage rule: keep products in original labeled containers, capped, away from heat and light, never in food or beverage containers, with the Safety Data Sheet on file and accessible.

Ventilation rule: monomer, primer, and solvent vapors are respiratory irritants, so services are performed with local exhaust or in a well-ventilated area and containers are kept closed when not in use.

Electrical safety rule: ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets are required near sinks and water, cords are never run across walkways, and equipment is unplugged by the plug rather than the cord.

Ergonomic rule: set table and chair height so wrists stay neutral, feet are flat, and work is brought close to the body; alternate tasks to break up static postures.

Waste rule: single-use items and contaminated materials go into a closed, lined container; any sharp item goes into a rigid, puncture-resistant sharps container.

Slip-and-fall rule: spills are wiped immediately, floors kept dry, and a wet-floor sign posted while any area is being cleaned.

Grit numbers run inverse to coarseness: about 100 grit shortens length, 180 shapes, and 240 or higher finishes and smooths the natural nail plate.

Filing rule for natural nails: use light pressure and file from sidewall toward the center of the free edge to reduce splitting and peeling at the corners.

Plate preparation rule: remove surface oils with cleanser or dehydrator and avoid over-thinning the plate, since a thinned plate causes sensitivity, lifting, and product breakdown.

Polish sequence is base coat, then two thin color coats, then top coat; thin layers reduce bubbling, drying time, and shrinkage.

Acrylic mixing rule: a properly formed medium bead uses roughly one part liquid monomer to one and a half parts powder polymer; too wet produces shrinkage and weakness, too dry produces brittleness.

Removal rule: file through the top surface, soak in acetone 10-15 minutes for acrylic and soft gel, then gently push off softened product; product is never forced or pried from the plate.

Curing rule: gel enhancements are applied in thin layers and cured under a UV or LED lamp matched to the product; thick layers cause heat spikes and under-curing.

Pedicure rule: soak 5-10 minutes, use single-use or disinfected bowl liners, exfoliate, and massage from the toes toward the ankle and heart, avoiding varicose veins and inflamed tissue.

Service decision rule: a consultation precedes every service, and any open cut, inflammation, or suspected infection stops the service and is referred to a physician.

Nail structures and functions: matrix forms the plate, nail bed supports it, lunula is the visible matrix, cuticle and eponychium seal the base, hyponychium seals under the free edge, sidewalls and nail grooves frame the plate.

Growth formula: fingernails grow about 3 mm (1/8 inch) per month, toenails roughly one-third to one-half that rate; a fingernail is fully replaced in 4-6 months, a toenail in 9-12 months.

The nail plate has three layers (dorsal, intermediate, ventral), is composed mainly of keratin, and contains no nerves or blood vessels, which is why trimming and filing are painless.

Cuticle function is a seal: it blocks microorganisms from entering the space between plate and skin, so cutting living tissue breaks the seal and invites infection.

Disease versus disorder rule: nail diseases are infectious or systemic and must be referred (bacterial, fungal, viral); nail disorders are non-contagious structural changes that may be serviced with care.

Onychomycosis presents as thickened, yellow-brown, crumbly nail plate and is contagious; paronychia is red, swollen, painful tissue around the nail; both require referral.

Onychocryptosis is an ingrown nail, onycholysis is lifting of the plate from the bed, onychomadesis is complete separation, onychauxis is thickening, and onychophagy is nail biting.

Green-black discoloration under the plate suggests a Pseudomonas bacterial infection; leuconychia (white spots), koilonychia (spooning), and Beau's lines (horizontal depressions) are non-contagious disorders.

Oregon cosmetology and nail technology are governed by ORS Chapter 690 and the administrative rules in OAR Chapter 817, administered by the Oregon Health Licensing Office with Board of Cosmetology oversight.

Dual licensing rule: the salon facility and every individual practitioner must each hold a current license, and the salon must have a licensed person designated as responsible in charge.

License posting rule: a current license must be posted or available for inspection at the work location, and practicing on an expired or lapsed license is a violation.

Sanitation rule in Oregon salons: a dedicated hand-washing sink with hot and cold running water, soap, and single-use towels is required, and reusable implements must be cleaned and disinfected between clients.

Independent contractor rule: a booth renter must hold their own license, is not an employee, keeps their own income records, and pays self-employment tax on earnings.

Business math rule: net income equals service and retail revenue minus product costs, rent or commission, insurance, and taxes; commission splits and booth rent are the two common compensation models.

Oregon has no state or local general sales tax, so nail services and retail products are not subject to sales tax at the point of sale.

Chemical safety rule: a Safety Data Sheet must be available for every product in the salon, and workers must be trained on hazards under OSHA Hazard Communication requirements.