Nail Care
Manicuring and pedicuring require knowledge of nail anatomy, the ability to tell a serviceable disorder from a condition that must be referred out, and strict sanitation. This chapter covers all three.
Nail Anatomy
The nail plate is the visible, hardened part resting on the nail bed. The free edge extends past the fingertip. The matrix, at the base, is where new nail cells are produced; the whitish half-moon you can sometimes see there is the lunula, the visible part of the matrix. The eponychium is the living skin at the base that overlaps the plate (the cuticle is dead tissue attached to the plate), and the hyponychium is the skin under the free edge. Knowing these structures lets you work without injuring living tissue.
Disorders vs. Diseases
A nail disorder is a noninfectious condition — ridges, discoloration, brittleness, bruising — that generally can be worked on and improved cosmetically. A nail disease or infection is different: redness, swelling, pus, heat, or a suspected fungal infection (onychomycosis) or an inflamed, infected area around the nail (paronychia) must not be serviced. The rule is simple: if you see signs of infection or inflammation, do not perform the service and refer the client to a physician. When in doubt, refer out.
Sanitation in Nail Services
Nail services demand careful infection control. Porous single-use items — files, buffers, and wooden pushers — must be thrown away after one client because they cannot be disinfected. Reusable metal implements must be cleaned to remove debris and then immersed in an EPA-registered disinfectant for the required contact time. Pedicure foot basins and spas are a well-documented source of infection and must be cleaned and disinfected after every client following the manufacturer's procedures.