WI Nail Technician flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Square nail shape

Square nails have a straight free edge with sharp 90-degree corners. The shape is strong on wide nail beds but the corners catch and break more easily.

Squoval nail shape

Squoval combines a straight free edge with rounded corners. It softens the square look, suits most nail plates, and snags less than sharp corners.

Proper filing direction

File from the side toward the center under the free edge in one direction. Sawing back and forth thins the sidewalls and causes peeling and splitting.

Acrylic bead mix ratio

A properly mixed bead holds its shape without running. Beads that are too wet shrink and lift, while beads that are too dry are brittle and fail to adhere.

Massage movement effleurage

Effleurage is a light, continuous gliding stroke made with the palm or fingers. It opens and closes a massage, warms tissue, and promotes relaxation.

Nail tip application sequence

Size the tip to the sidewalls without covering skin, apply adhesive sparingly, press the tip at an angle, then blend the seam until it disappears into the plate.

Base coat function

Base coat bonds to the nail plate, smooths surface texture, and blocks pigment from staining the nail. Thin application prevents bubbles and uneven drying.

Disinfection

Disinfection uses an EPA-registered chemical to destroy most pathogenic organisms on nonporous surfaces and implements, but it does not destroy bacterial spores.

Sterilization

Sterilization destroys all microbial life, including spores, typically with an autoclave. It is required for implements that penetrate skin or contact blood.

Single-use implements

Porous items such as files, buffer blocks, wooden pushers, and cotton cannot be reliably disinfected, so they are used on one client and then discarded.

Hospital-grade disinfectant label claims

An EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant must carry kill claims for bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and implements must soak for the full contact time on the label.

Blood exposure procedure

Stop the service, wear gloves, cleanse the area, disinfect every contacted surface, seal contaminated waste in a bag, and refer the client for medical follow-up.

Handwashing duration

Wash with soap and warm running water for at least 20 seconds, cleaning between fingers and under nails, before and after every client service.

Contagious nail conditions

Active herpes simplex, untreated fungal infection, lice, and impetigo are contagious. Service is contraindicated and the client should be referred to a physician.

Safety Data Sheet

An SDS summarizes a product's hazards, safe handling, first aid, and disposal. Salons keep one for every chemical and make it accessible to workers.

Monomer storage

Monomer is flammable and evaporates quickly. It is kept in a closed opaque container away from heat and flame and used only in a well-ventilated area.

Hand-washing sink requirement

Salon rules require a sink with hot and cold running water, soap, and single-use towels, accessible to the work area and not used for other purposes.

Electrical safety in salon

Keep cords and appliances away from water, use GFCI outlets, unplug by gripping the plug rather than the cord, and remove damaged equipment from service.

Ergonomic workstation setup

Adjust chair and table height so the wrist stays neutral, support the client's hand, and reposition the body rather than bending over for long periods.

Chemical waste disposal

Let solvents evaporate in a ventilated area or cure liquid-and-powder waste before placing it in a covered trash can. Never pour monomer down a drain.

Nail matrix

The matrix is tissue at the base of the nail that produces new plate cells. Injury there causes ridges, thinning, or permanent distortion of the nail.

Eponychium versus cuticle

The eponychium is the living skin fold at the nail base. The cuticle is dead tissue it sheds onto the plate, and only the cuticle is safely removed.

Fingernail growth rate

Fingernails grow about 3 millimeters, or one-eighth inch, per month. Toenails grow roughly half that rate, and growth slows with age, illness, and cold.

Onychocryptosis

Onychocryptosis is an ingrown nail in which the plate edge presses into and inflames the lateral fold. A nail technician should not cut the edge out.

Onycholysis

Onycholysis is painless separation of the nail plate from the nail bed, leaving a whitish area. Causes include trauma, psoriasis, and fungal infection.

Leukonychia

Leukonychia describes white spots or streaks in the nail plate, usually from minor matrix trauma. It is not a sign of calcium deficiency.

Melanonychia referral

A dark longitudinal band on the nail plate may indicate melanoma or another serious disease. The technician must not cover it and should refer promptly.

Wisconsin Statutes chapter 454

Chapter 454 of the Wisconsin Statutes governs barbering and cosmetology, covering licensure of nail technicians and salons and the examining board's authority.

DSPS role

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services issues credentials, processes applications and renewals, and enforces board orders against nail technicians.

Barbering and Cosmetology Examining Board

This Wisconsin board adopts administrative rules, sets training and examination standards, and recommends discipline for licensees who violate statutes or rules.

Practicing without a license

Performing nail services for compensation without a Wisconsin credential, or allowing an unlicensed person to practice, is prohibited and subject to penalties.

Scope of nail technician

A Wisconsin nail technician may perform manicures, pedicures, and nail enhancements. The license does not authorize haircutting, chemical skin care, or other cosmetology services.