VA Nail Technician flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Keratin
- The structural protein that makes up the nail plate; nail cells harden through keratinization, giving the plate its strength and resistance to water loss.
- Nail matrix
- Living tissue at the base of the nail that produces new plate cells. Injury or infection here changes the shape and growth of every nail produced afterward.
- Lunula
- The whitish half-moon visible at the base of the nail plate where the matrix begins; it is the visible portion of the matrix, not a separate structure.
- Hyponychium
- The living seal of skin beneath the free edge of the nail plate that keeps debris and microbes from entering the nail bed.
- Fingernail growth rate
- Fingernails grow about 3 mm (1/8 inch) per month and are fully replaced in four to six months; toenails grow about 1 mm per month.
- Nail plate pH
- The nail plate is slightly acidic, near pH 5. On the pH scale, acids measure 0-6, neutral is 7, bases 8-14, and each unit is a tenfold change.
- Monomer and polymer
- Liquid monomer mixed with polymer powder; benzoyl peroxide in the powder starts polymerization, an exothermic reaction that hardens the acrylic enhancement.
- Onychomycosis
- A fungal infection of the nail plate and bed causing thickening, discoloration, and crumbling. A technician does not treat it and refers the client to a physician.
- Paronychia
- Redness, swelling, and pus along the nail fold caused by bacteria entering a break in the skin; the service is not performed and the client is referred.
- Disinfection
- A process that destroys most pathogenic microorganisms on nonporous surfaces but not bacterial spores; it requires an EPA-registered product used for the full label contact time.
- Sterilization
- The destruction of all microbial life, including spores, typically by autoclave; it is not achieved by the immersion disinfectants used for salon implements.
- Sanitation
- The lowest level of infection control: cleaning with soap, water, or detergent to remove visible soil and reduce the number of microbes on a surface.
- EPA-registered disinfectant
- A product carrying an EPA registration number and hospital-grade label claims; the label states the dilution, contact time, and organisms the product destroys.
- Blood spill procedure
- Stop the service, glove, wash the area with soap and water, apply antiseptic, bandage it, and disinfect contaminated implements with a tuberculocidal product or fresh bleach dilution.
- Contact time
- The time an implement or surface must remain wet with disinfectant to kill the labeled organisms; commonly ten minutes, and a shorter soak is not effective.
- Single-use items
- Porous items such as files, buffers, wooden sticks, cotton, and porous brushes that cannot be disinfected and must be discarded after one client.
- UV light unit
- A cabinet that exposes implements to ultraviolet light; it does not reliably kill bacteria, fungi, or viruses and cannot replace an EPA-registered immersion disinfectant.
- Safety Data Sheet
- A sixteen-section document supplied with each salon chemical that lists hazards, first aid, handling, storage, and spill procedures; it must be kept on file.
- One-direction filing
- Filing the natural free edge in a single direction with a fine-grit file, which reduces splitting and peeling compared with back-and-forth sawing motions.
- Acrylic mix ratio
- A medium ball that keeps its shape indicates the correct liquid-to-powder ratio; too wet gives a weak, shrinking bead, too dry gives a brittle, lifting one.
- Enhancement nail prep
- Removing surface shine, clearing cuticle debris from the plate, and dehydrating the nail; lotion, oil, or soaking water left on the plate prevents adhesion.
- Base coat
- The first polish layer, applied thin to bond color to the plate and prevent staining; it is followed by two thin color coats and a top coat.
- Cap the free edge
- Running base, color, and top coat lightly along the free edge to seal it, which reduces chipping and lifting of polish or gel.
- Gel curing
- Gel products harden only under a UV or LED lamp; thin coats cured fully one layer at a time prevent undercure, shrinkage, and early service breakdown.
- Cuticle nipper use
- Nippers trim only a hangnail or clearly dead tissue; cutting living eponychium can cause bleeding, infection, and a ridge in the newly forming nail.
- Pedicure basin disinfection
- The foot basin, jets, and screens are cleaned and disinfected with an EPA-registered product after every client because biofilm collects in tubing and screens.
- Virginia DPOR
- The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, the state agency that oversees the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology, which licenses nail technicians and salons.
- Nail technician license
- Virginia requires this credential before a person may perform manicures, pedicures, or nail enhancements for pay; approved training and a board examination come first.
- Virginia salon license
- Every Virginia salon offering nail services must hold a current salon license, pass a Board inspection, and keep the license posted on the premises.
- Board inspection authority
- Board representatives may enter a salon during business hours to check licensure, sanitation, and compliance, and licensees must produce their license on request.
- License renewal cycle
- Virginia nail technician licenses are renewed every two years; a licensee may not perform services while the license is expired or lapsed.
- Unlicensed practice
- Performing nail services without a valid license exposes the individual and the salon to Board fines, denial or revocation of licensure, and possible criminal charges.