UT Nail Technician cheat sheet

Disinfection destroys most microorganisms on surfaces; sterilization destroys all microbial life including spores and requires an autoclave, not a UV cabinet or a quat solution.

Reusable implements follow four steps: clean with soap and warm water, rinse, dry completely, then fully immerse in an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant for the label's contact time (commonly 10 minutes).

Porous items - nail files, buffers, wooden pushers, cotton, and sponges - cannot be disinfected and are single-use; discard them after each client.

Quaternary ammonium solutions must be checked with test strips and replaced when they fall below the label's minimum concentration; the solution is also changed at the labeled interval, often daily.

Standard precautions apply to every client: assume blood and body fluids are infectious, wear gloves for any blood contact, and never assume a client is infection-free.

Blood exposure sequence: stop the service, put on gloves, cleanse the wound with an antiseptic, bandage it, then clean and disinfect every contaminated implement and surface before resuming.

Conditions requiring refusal or referral include fungal infections (tinea pedis, onychomycosis), bacterial infections (paronychia, Pseudomonas), and viral conditions (warts, herpes).

Keep a Safety Data Sheet on file for every product, store chemicals in labeled containers, and keep the work area ventilated and clear of open flames and heat sources.

Nail structures to identify: nail plate, nail bed, matrix, lunula, eponychium, hyponychium, sidewalls, nail grooves, and free edge.

The matrix produces nail plate cells; injury or disease at the matrix permanently changes the shape of the nail that grows out.

Growth rates: fingernails grow about 3 mm (1/8 inch) per month and fully replace in 4-6 months; toenails replace in 9-12 months.

The eponychium (cuticle) is living tissue and is never cut; nippers are used only on non-living tissue and loose hangnails.

Classic manicure order: shape with a file, soak, push back the cuticle, trim non-living tissue, massage, then base coat, polish, and top coat.

Massage manipulations are effleurage (gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (tapping), friction, and vibration.

Square nails have a straight free edge with 90-degree corners; squoval softens those corners, reducing breakage while keeping strength.

Pedicure sequence: soak the feet, reduce callus with a paddle or file after soaking, and avoid credo blades on clients with diabetes or circulatory problems.

Acetone dissolves most polish and artificial product; non-acetone removers are gentler on dry nails but act more slowly.

Choose a tip that fits sidewall to sidewall without pressure; the tip well covers roughly one-third to one-half of the natural nail plate.

Apply adhesive to the well, position the tip straight, hold 5-10 seconds, and confirm no glue or air pocket is visible through the tip.

Blend the seam where tip meets natural nail with a medium-grit file or block until flush, then remove dust and refine with a buffer.

The apex (stress zone) sits at the junction of the free edge and nail plate and is built slightly thicker so the extension does not snap.

Wrap fabrics: silk gives the most natural look, linen adds durability, and fiberglass provides the greatest strength.

Wrap application: resin, fabric strip, resin again, overlapping 2-3 layers, then activator; file and buff once cured.

Sculptured nails are built on a form fitted under the free edge with sides aligned to the sidewalls; the form is removed after the product sets.

Prep for any tip, wrap, or sculpt: lightly remove shine, remove dust, dehydrate the plate, and never over-file the natural nail.

Acrylic cures by chemical reaction between liquid monomer and powder polymer; no UV or LED lamp is involved in that reaction.

A correct bead holds its shape on the brush without dripping; a wet bead causes bubbles, shrinkage, and lifting, while a dry bead sets brittle.

Gel products cure only under a UV/LED lamp matched to the product; gel left on skin or cuticle causes allergic contact dermatitis.

Prep order: shape, remove shine, dehydrate, then primer or bonder; primer improves adhesion of acrylic and gel to the natural plate.

Removal: file down the bulk, then soak in acetone 15-20 minutes depending on the product; never pry or force product off the nail plate.

Hard gel cannot be soaked off and must be filed thin; soft gel and acrylic are removable with acetone.

Rebalance (fill) appointments are typically every 2-3 weeks to rebuild the apex and prevent lifting.

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer is banned or restricted in many states because of nail and nerve damage; ethyl methacrylate (EMA) is the standard monomer.

Do not apply product over infected, inflamed, or damaged nails, open cuts, or onycholysis; refer the client to a physician instead.

DOPL (Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing) issues nail technician and salon licenses and enforces the Barber, Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Electrologist, and Nail Technician Act.

Utah requires 300 hours of approved nail technology education before a candidate may sit for the written and practical licensing examinations.

Scope of practice is limited to nails and the hands and feet; haircutting, chemical hair services, and skin care beyond the hands and feet fall outside the license.

A licensee must decline service when a client shows signs of infection, infestation, or a contagious condition and must refer that client to a physician.

Each establishment offering nail services must hold a salon license and have a licensed individual responsible for compliance.

The license must be current and available for inspection while working; performing services without a valid license is prohibited.

Sanitation in Utah salons must meet Utah Administrative Code R156-11a, including use of EPA-registered hospital disinfectants at label contact times.

Client record cards should document each service and the products used so that services and any reactions can be traced.