TN Nail Technician key terms

The first step of infection control: using soap or detergent and water to scrub away dirt, oil, leftover product, and many germs from hands, tools, and surfaces before disinfection.

Treating cleaned, nonporous tools and surfaces with an EPA-registered hospital-grade product that kills most harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses, but not bacterial spores.

A process that destroys all microbial life, including spores, usually by high-pressure steam in an autoclave; it is reserved for implements that may contact broken skin or blood.

A device that sterilizes heat-tolerant metal implements using high-pressure steam; tools must be cleaned and dried first, then stored in sealed packets until use.

An infection-control policy of treating every client's blood and body fluids as potentially infectious, so gloves and other barriers are used whenever contact is possible.

Microorganisms carried in blood or body fluids, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV, that can enter the body through cuts, needlesticks, or mucous membranes.

A manufacturer document, required by OSHA, that lists a product's hazards, ingredients, safe handling, first aid, and storage; keep one for every chemical in the salon.

A tool with a smooth, sealed surface, such as stainless steel, glass, or hard plastic, that absorbs no liquid and can therefore be cleaned and disinfected for reuse.

The visible hard covering of keratin on the back of the fingertip or toe; it protects the nail bed and looks pink where the tissue beneath shows through.

The layer of skin directly beneath the nail plate, supplied with blood vessels and nerves, to which the plate attaches; damage here can permanently alter nail growth.

The living tissue at the base of the nail where new cells form and harden into the plate; it controls the nail's thickness, shape, and rate of growth.

The living skin at the base of the nail that overlaps the matrix and seals the area; it should be treated gently and never cut, because injury invites infection.

The thin, dead band of skin cells shed by the eponychium that clings to the nail plate; it is softened and gently pushed back rather than cut.

The skin seal beneath the free edge of the nail plate where the nail lifts off the fingertip; it blocks dirt and germs from reaching the nail bed.

The pale half-moon at the base of the nail plate, created by thicker, less transparent cells from the matrix; it is usually most visible on the thumbs.

A contagious fungal infection of the nail that causes thickening, yellow-brown discoloration, and crumbling; nail technicians cannot diagnose or treat it and must refer the client.

An infection of the tissue around the nail, usually bacterial, entering through a hangnail, torn skin, or cut cuticle, marked by redness, swelling, and sometimes pus.

Lifting or separation of the nail plate from the nail bed, leaving a whitish gap; causes include trauma, harsh filing, aggressive cuticle work, and skin conditions.

Deep horizontal grooves running across the nail plate, caused by a short interruption in matrix growth from illness, high fever, or injury.

The tough fibrous protein that forms the nail plate and the outer layer of skin; nail cells produce it as they mature, then flatten and harden.

The body system consisting of skin, hair, nails, and glands; it shields the body, controls temperature, and senses touch, and the nails are its appendages.

The bones of the fingers and toes, three in each finger and two in each thumb or big toe; the distal phalanx supports the nail bed.

A microscopic blood vessel linking arteries to veins that delivers oxygen and nutrients to the skin and nail bed; its color gives healthy nails their pink tone.

A thin first layer of polish that bonds to the nail plate, prevents dark pigments from staining it, and helps the color coat go on smoothly.

The final layer of polish that seals in color, adds gloss, and resists chipping; capping the free edge helps the manicure last longer.

A light, gliding massage stroke using the palms and fingers, moving toward the heart; it relaxes the hand and arm and boosts circulation during a manicure.

A pre-shaped plastic extension glued to the free edge to add length; it is blended into the plate and covered with overlay product for strength.

A sheer fabric, silk, or fiberglass overlay bonded with resin over the nail plate to strengthen, repair, or lengthen it; the fabric is trimmed and sealed with resin.

An artificial nail built on the natural plate with a form and liquid-and-powder or gel product, letting the technician control length, shape, and arch.

The liquid component of acrylic systems, typically ethyl methacrylate, that dissolves the polymer powder and reacts with the initiator to harden.

The powder component of acrylic systems, made of finely milled plastic beads; mixed with monomer it forms a workable bead that cures into a hard nail.

The chemical reaction in which monomer molecules join into long chains and the soft bead hardens; heat, catalyst, and the correct mix ratio affect its speed.

A liquid applied to the natural nail plate before acrylic to improve adhesion and manage moisture; it must be used sparingly with good ventilation.

The conversation before a service in which the technician asks about health, medications, allergies, and preferences, then explains the plan, products, and price.

A client condition or circumstance that makes a service unsafe or inadvisable, such as broken skin, infection, or product allergy, requiring the technician to decline or refer.

The services and tasks a licensed nail technician may legally perform under Tennessee law, such as manicures, pedicures, and enhancements, but not diagnosis or medical treatment.

The state board that licenses cosmetologists, barbers, and nail technicians, writes sanitation rules, approves schools, and handles complaints and discipline in Tennessee.

Official state permission to practice nail technology, granted after required training and examinations; a license must be posted and renewed before its expiration date.