5 Basic Things Every Manicurist Should Know

Manicurists, professional or otherwise, have lots of tricks to make our nails truly beautiful. Whether you are an enthusiast who wants to learn how to make a pro manicure at home or an actual professional who wants to reviews some basics to sharpen their skills, this post will give you some valuable pointers. I will remind you of basic things every manicurist know.

Pro Manicure Basics #1: Keep Everything Sterile

This is a very important rule for everyone who uses manicure tools, especially those who work in salons. If you are the one going to a salon, always check how they treat their tools beforehand. The reliable places will have specialized sterilization machines and use single-use tools when possible.

Cleanliness and sterility are a must for the tools you use at home as well, even if you never allow anyone else touch them. Bacteria that accumulate on them can cause an infection if you cut yourself accidentally. ‘Public’ tools might have dangerous diseases on them, so beware!

It’s usually advised to avoid any manicuring procedures that may cause skin breaks. Cuticle pushing and clipping is the biggest point of contention between manicurists and doctors. The beauty industry has taught us that cuticle removal is the norm. Medics, on the other hand, remind everyone that this part of skin actually protects the nail and reduces the risk of infection. Regardless, make sure you are getting proper vitamins and minerals for nail health.

A good manicurist should limit the amount of cuticle manipulation to a minimum. It’s always best to discuss with the client what they want exactly and what the procedure entails.

If you decide to clip and/or push cuticles, use only specialized and sterile equipment. Be very careful to prevent skin breaks. If the problem does occur, have a disinfectant on hand to treat the wound immediately.

Remember that it’s not only tools that must be sterile when you do a manicure, the manicure station itself must be clean and neat. Whether you do a manicure at home or work in a salon, sterilize your work surfaces before starting (before a new client). Clean up after the procedure is complete and put all unnecessary items in their appropriate storage places. Store your nail polish on racks.

The manicurist should always wash their hands with an antibacterial soap before starting to work on a client. Professionals should consider wearing disposable gloves. This will not only increase the level of clients’ safety but protect you as well. If you choose to wear gloves, be sure to avoid latex as quite a few people are allergic to it.

Pro Manicure Basics #2: Understand Many Types of Manicure

For a professional manicurist, the versatility of skill equals to more butter on their bread. The more you can offer clients, the more clients you’ll have. For a girl who wants to tend to her nails like a pro, learning many manicure styles saves money on a salon and allows her to have a fantastic manicure for every occasion.

There are dozens of manicure types, so you’ll have no shortage of ideas when it comes to building your arsenal of techniques and tools. From the classics, such as French and reverse-French, to airbrushing, you can learn various techniques that will create beautiful designs on your nails.

The basic manicure is a must-know type for everyone. It includes shaping your nails, tending to your cuticles, and applying nail polish.

This is where you can get really creative and choose between French, American, reverse-French, gel, 3D, and a variety of other manicure types. As there are so many techniques with new ones invented regularly, you’ll have to do a bit of research to learn them all and choose which work best for you and/or your clients. Finding your best nail art brushes takes a while too.

Pro Manicure Basics #3: Learn How to Do a Bit of Pampering

A manicure is one of those activities that combine stress-relief with necessary grooming. A good manicurist should know how to make the procedure more pleasant and relaxing. A hot stone manicure and massage are the first things that come to mind.

These techniques enhance the experience as well as improve the condition of the client’s skin. Using them on yourself can be tricky, but you’ll get it with practice. Adding these tricks to your repertoire as a manicurist is a sure way to draw more clients and win their loyalty because they’ll come to you seeking both beauty and pleasure.

Pro Manicure Basics #4: Filing and Buffing Right

One should always file their nails in one direction, using short, firm strokes. This is necessary to prevent undue damage to the nail itself. Place the file directly under the fingernail so that it rests between the skin and the underside of the nail. Alternatively, you can use an electric nail file.

Be careful not to get over enthused when buffing as rubbing too hard will damage the nail. Rub the buff over it with gentle, short strokes. Move the buff from the cuticle up. Like with the nail file, make sure to buff in only one direction.

Pro Manicure Basics #5: Applying Nail Polish Professionally

A good manicurist should be able to create a smooth and glossy manicure easily. The trick lies in the correct application of the polish. You should always use a base coat, the color, and a top coat. The top and base must fit the client’s nail type.

This is how you apply nail polish professionally:

1. Put the brush carefully right before the eponychium and move it until it almost reaches the cuticle.

2. Move the brush to the left in one smooth stroke and cover the left side of the nail carefully.

3. Move to the right and repeat.

4. Swipe the brush over the center to complete the coverage.

Secrets of Professional Manicurists

There are many things that a manicurist should know, but these five basics are enough to get you started. Remember to ensure your own and your clients’ safety by keeping everything sterile, and offer a wide array of services from the basic manicure to pampering spa-sessions with massages, scrubs, and hot stones. If you're a customer, I recommend reading nail salon tips.

Learn to apply the polish perfectly, and work with different kinds of polish to expand your service range. Follow the industry news to learn about new techniques and don’t limit your imagination when creating beautiful manicures.

Whether you are a pro or an avid DIY manicure enthusiast, you’ll definitely have some bumps when learning a new technique. Don’t worry about this and don’t get discouraged with a few failures. Just focus on getting more practice and you’ll hone your skills in no time.

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