A manicurist is preparing the natural nail before applying gel polish. Which step preserves the most natural nail integrity while still promoting adhesion?
Explanation
Adhesion comes from a clean, dry, slightly textured surface, not from removing nail thickness. The correct prep is to gently buff away surface shine, push back cuticle proximally, dehydrate with a salon-grade nail dehydrator, and apply a thin coat of bonder. Drilling into the plate (option A) thins the nail, causes thermal damage, and is a leading cause of brittleness and onycholysis. Long acetone soaks (option C) desiccate the surrounding skin without improving adhesion. Methyl methacrylate (option D) is prohibited in California for use on natural nails because of its allergy and damage profile, and it is not a primer. California manicurists work under the general nail-services rules at CCR Title 16 §979.4.
Law Reference: CCR Title 16 §979.4Practice all 484 questions free — no signup required.
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