Nail Care
Anatomy and scope
Know the nail plate, nail bed, matrix, cuticle, eponychium, hyponychium, and lunula. The matrix produces the plate; injury can cause permanent distortion. The cuticle is living tissue at the proximal nail fold, so do not cut it. Distinguish cosmetic conditions from signs of disease such as redness, swelling, pus, discoloration, or separation. Manicurists do not diagnose; refer suspicious findings.
Service safety
Sanitize hands, inspect nails and skin, and use single-use files and buffers or disinfected nonporous implements. Clean implements before disinfection. File natural nails in one direction to reduce splitting, and use an appropriate grit. Avoid over-drilling with e-files: keep the bit moving, control heat, and stop if the client feels pain. Acrylic and gel products need ventilation; monomer is flammable, and skin contact should be avoided.
Traps
Common errors include cutting living cuticle, filing aggressively back and forth, using the same porous file on multiple clients, diagnosing fungus, ignoring red swollen nail folds, or applying product over infection.
Worked example
A client has slight separation at the free edge but no redness or pus. Do not diagnose. Provide a gentle service only if there are no signs of infection, avoid packing product into the separation, and refer if it worsens. If pus or swelling is present, stop and refer.
Rule of thumb: no cutting living tissue, no diagnosis, and no shared porous implements.