Term | Definition |
dimethyl urea hardeners | Hardeners that use dimethyl urea (DMU) and add crosslinks to the natural nail plate but do not cause adverse skin reactions. |
disposable implements | Also known as single-use implements; implements that cannont be reused and must be thrown away after a single use. |
essential oils | Oils used in aromatherapy that are extracted via diverse forms of distillation from seeds, bark, roots, leaves, woods, and resin. |
fine-grit abrasives | 240-grit and higer abrasives designed for buffing, polishing, and removing very fine scratches. |
implements | tools used to perform nail services. implements can be reusable or disposable. |
lower-grit abrasives | Boards and buffers less than 180 grit that quickly reduce the thickness of any surface. |
medium-grit abrasives | 180-240 grit abrasives that are used to smooth and refine surfaces and shorten natural nails |
metal pusher | A reusable implement, made of stainless steel; used to push back the eponychium but can also used to gently scrape cuticle tissue from the natural nail. |
microtrauma | The act of causing tiny unseen openings in the skin that can allow entry by pathogenic microbes. |
nail clippers | A reusable implement used to shorten the nail plate quickly and efficiently. |
nail creams | Barrier products that contain ingredients designed to seal the surface and hold subdurmal poisture in the skin. |
nail oils | products designed to absorb into the nail plate to increase flexibility and into the surrounding skin to soften |
nipper | A stainless-steel implement used to carefullly trim away dead skin around the nails. |
oval nail | Nail shape that is similar to squoval with even more rounded corners. This shape is attractive for most women's hands. |
paraffin | petroleum by-product that has excelling sealing properties to hold in moisture |
pointed nail | Nail shape suited to thin hands with narrow nail beds. The shape is tapered and somewhat langer than usual. |
protein hardeners | nail hardeners that are a combination of clear polish and a protein such as collagen |
reusable implements | Also known as multiuse implements; implements that are generally stainless steel because they must be properly cleaned and disinfected between clients. |
round nail | Nail shape that is slightly tapered and extends just a bit past the tip of the finger. This natural looking shape is common for male clients. |
scope of practice | the list of services that you are legally allowed to perform in your specialty in your state. |
service sets | Sets of all the tools that will be used in a service. |
square nail | Nail shape that is completely straight across with no rounding at the edges. The length of the nail can vary. |
squoval nail | nail shape with a square free edge that is rounded off and extends just slightly past the tip of the finger |
wooden pusher | A wooden stick used to remove cuticle tissue from the nail plate (by gently pushing), to clean under the free edge of the nail, or to apply products. |