Chemistry, Product Knowledge, and Implements/Equipment
Chemistry, products, and equipment
Chemistry questions reward careful vocabulary. pH runs from 0 to 14; below 7 is acidic, 7 is neutral, above 7 is alkaline (base). The scale is logarithmic, so pH 5 is ten times more acidic than pH 6. Nail products, cleansers, and soaks all sit on this scale, and a product far from skin's natural mildly acidic surface can irritate.
Know the families. Solvents dissolve other substances (acetone, alcohol). Adhesives bond (cyanoacrylate in nail glue, resin in wraps). Monomer plus polymer makes acrylic; photoinitiators make gel harden under light. Corrosive products damage tissue; flammable products ignite.
Safety and storage are tested constantly: keep every product in its original labeled container, never transfer to a drink bottle, keep the Safety Data Sheet for each product, store away from heat and flame, cap solvents, and work with ventilation. Disinfectants should be EPA-registered, mixed to label strength, and labeled with the date mixed. Electrical equipment must be grounded and kept away from water; frayed cords are removed from service.
Equipment: an implement is reusable and nonporous and must be disinfected between clients; a supply is porous or single-use. Know typical abrasive grits, brush types, and lamp care.
Rule of thumb: read the label before the client sits down - if you cannot say what the product does, how it sets or cures, and how it should be stored, you are not ready to use it.