Manicure and pedicure is the beautification or enhancement
of the hands, fingernails, feet and toenails. It involves the
shaping and polishing of nails, nail extensions such as gel,
shellac and artificial acrylic nails, and exfoliation of skin or
tissue from the feet.
Your business premises
Premises should be clean and hygienic and instruments should be single-use and disposable or able to be
readily sterilised. Operators must keep surfaces sanitary, and wear gloves and protective equipment.
There are minimum standards you must comply with if you have a shop (premises) or are a mobile
operation and you must obtain a Health Protection Licence to operate. Information on premises, the
conduct required of all operators and standards of practice for any services that risk breaking the skin,
are included in this pack.
Working with your customer
When providing a health service, it is a good idea to have a conversation with the customer before commencing
any treatment so they are aware of what the process will be and you, the operator, are aware of any potential
risk to their health. Appropriate aftercare instructions should be given to the customer, and check they
understand these instructions.
How to provide a safe service
Sterilisation
All instruments must be cleaned and sterilised in accordance with the Sterilisation information
contained in the Risk of Breaking the Skin section in this pack; or
Single-use disposable instruments that are immediately disposed of after
use.
Training
All operators / nail technicians/ nail table/ manicure table must have the knowledge and skills necessary
to provide manicure / pedicure services. This can be achieved through the following:
National Certificate (or international equivalent) in Beautician or Nail
Technology; or
Commercial industry experience of five consecutive years or more, and
evidence of professional development in the commercial service; or
Evidence of training with a nail services training provider.
Broken skin: do not treat
No operator may undertake a manicure or pedicure on any customer if there are any exposed cuts or
abrasions on the customers hands and feet.
Do not expose any skin that is broken during a manicure or pedicure to any further service.
Skin preparation
All operators must evaluate the skin site prior to each service and any skin condition that may lead to
skin irritation must be discussed.
Prior to commencing a manicure or pedicure, all operators must cleanse the customers skin by
swabbing with an antiseptic using a clean, single-use swab and maintain
product-specific recommendedcontact time.
Use of instruments and chemicals
All operators must be constantly aware of the heat created when
using an electricnail file on a natural nail plate, as opposed to acrylic or
shellac nails.
Ensure pedicure chair basins and pipes are disinfected in between customers.
Chemicals and products must be stored in containers with air tight lids.
Disposal of waste
All operators must ensure that waste with absorbed products is disposed of in a sealed container
(for example, tissues and paper towels).
Ventilation
In addition to all parts of the premises being adequately ventilated to the requirements of the New
Zealand Building Code, all operators must ensure there is adequate ventilation for the products used.
Best practice: some additional recommendations
First aid
All operators should hold a current St Johns or Red Cross First
Aid Workplace Certificate or an approved equivalent.
Ventilation
It is advisable that a ventilation system is installed near worktables when performing shellac, gel or
acrylic nails, in addition to a ventilation system for the premises if applicable.
Natural ventilation may be used with open doors and windows. If
there is insufficient natural ventilation, artificial ventilation should be
placed low down to be effective.
Operators/Nail technicians
All operators are advised to cover their hands with clean well-fitting
single-use disposable surgical gloves: o before carrying out a pedicure on any
customer and before starting with the next customer; o before touching any object including surfaces
and instruments which may have become contaminated with blood or serum of any customer, or
touching any object which has not been subject to a process of cleansing and sterilisation.
All operators should take practical steps to prevent cuts and abrasions
from filing and buffing.
All operators are advised to wear dust masks when using an electric
nail file or hand file as the dust from filing should not be
inhaled. However, dust masks will not prevent against vapour
inhalation.
If recommendedby the manufacturer, operators should apply an oil or
solution to the artificial nail before filing, which will make the
dust heavier, improving the atmosphere and aiding salon cleanliness.
Find out more: This information is from the Health & Hygiene Code of Practice
2013 and is relevant to your business. For a full copy of the Code of Practice
please see www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. A listing of all relevant NZ Health
Standards is contained in this pack for your reference.
