Client Consultation, Communication, and Professional Conduct
The consultation
A consultation is a short, structured conversation plus a written record. Cover the service requested, the client's usual nail care, occupation and hobbies, and a health history: diabetes, circulatory or nerve problems, skin conditions, fungal or bacterial infections, recent surgery, pregnancy, allergies (especially to methacrylates, nickel, adhesives, and fragrances), and medications that thin skin or slow healing.
Use open questions, then confirm what you heard. Explain the realistic outcome, the maintenance schedule, cost, and home care before you begin. If you see something outside your scope - a dark streak in the nail, a swollen red fold, a new growth, a separating plate - describe what you observe, do not name a disease, and refer to a physician.
Scope and conduct
Nail technicians do not diagnose, prescribe, or treat. Promising to "cure" a fungus or "fix" an ingrown nail is out of scope and a legal problem. Keep client information confidential; do not discuss one client's health with another or on social media. Confirm consent before touching a client, drape properly, keep conversation professional, and never pressure a client into an add-on service.
Handling problems
If a client is unhappy, listen, restate the concern, and offer a correction within your policy. If a client arrives with a suspected infection or an open wound, politely decline the service and refer.
Traps
Questions pose a friendly client who "just wants to know what this spot is" - the correct answer is describe and refer. Another trap is a client asking you to work over a red, swollen fold because "it doesn't hurt." Decline.
Rule of thumb: observe, do not diagnose; document, then refer.