Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Nowadays, going to the nail salon is considered as treating yourself. It’s part of a self-
care routine for some people, and some even enjoy going to the nail salon with their
friends. But did you know that caring for your nails goes way back? It’s actually
challenging to determine exactly when nail treatments started in history. This is
because it seems like it originated from different parts of the world all at the same
time.
According to an article from a well-known lifestyle magazine, nail care can be traced
as far back as the time of the ancient Babylonian. Men from ancient Babylonia were
known to manicure and color their nails using kohl, which is a powder that has been
used since the ancient times for cosmetic purposes. Ancient Babylonian men would
wear different colors on their nails to symbolize the societal class where they belong.
Those who were in the upper part of society wore black while those at the bottom
wore green.
Fast forward to a few thousand years during the glory days of ancient Egypt, and we
have the most famous figures during this time, Cleopatra and Queen Nefertiti. They
are known as the pioneers of living lavishly and surrounded by all kinds of luxuries.
Cleopatra and Nefertiti are also known to have popularized nail by rubbing their hands
in lush oils and putting color on their nails using henna. Both ladies believed
that taking care of your nails is a reflection of your wealth and status in society. They
also believed that the bolder the color, the more power you had. In fact, Cleopatra’s
known favorite color is a blood-red hue while Nefertiti leans towards ruby.
How about nail care in China? During the Ming Dynasty, both the female and male
members had perfectly manicured nails. They stood out from everybody else by
having talon-like nails, which also has a tint to it. To do this, they used a mixture of
egg whites, wax, vegetable dyes, and other materials to create a wide range of colors.
Thanks to drastic social and technological advancements in history, new tools have
been developed specifically for nail care. Of course, these are still not close to what
you usually see at your favorite nail salon, but it’s almost similar. In Europe back in
1830, a podiatrist or a foot doctor named Dr. Sitts invented a wooden manicure tool.
This tool was actually an adaptation of a dental tool for nail care purposes.
After a few years, his legacy was continued on by his niece, who invented a nail care
line specifically for women of any social class. This new product eventually made its
way to the United States nail salons.
In 1907, the first liquid nail polish was invented, but it was colorless. This all changed
during the 1920s when the automobile industry was booming. Women started to color
their nails using high-gloss car paint. Due to its popularity together with advancements
in technology, Revlon finally launched the first-ever polish that used pigments instead
of dyes. This was in 1932, and it was also a big factor that such a product was
available in drug stores. The 1930s also saw the popularity of flappers and silver
screen actresses, which resulted in the popularity of the half-moon technique as well
as the French manicure.
When the colorful 1970s came in, people saw the rise of artificial nails. These looked
exactly like real nails and are usually long. Artificial nails are popularly worn by rich
people. With more and more tools and technologies being available, nail salons
started to offer a wider range of manicure services.
Did you know that pedicure or caring for your feet and toenails only became popular
during the beginning of the 21st century? This led to the blossoming of the nail care
industry and resulted in the doubling of nail salons in the U.S. in the year 2000.
Today, each salon offers an array of services. Whether its nail extensions, nail art, 3D
nails or putting different gems on your nails check if your favorite nail salon offers
these types of services.
Origin of the Manicure
The Origin of the Manicure is something a lot of us haven’t sat down to think
about. The practice of manicuring is itself extremely ancient. There is evidence that
as far back as 4,000 years ago, manicures took place in southern Babylonia, and
manicure instruments have been found in Egypt’s royal tombs.
The Romans painted their nails with a mixture of sheep fat and blood. Turkish
women created a pink tint for the nails from boiled rose petals. Women in biblical
times not only dyed their hair but also painted their fingernails and toenails as well as
hands and feet with henna juice (as mentioned in the Song of Solomon), a practice
that still forms part of Middle Eastern culture today. The custom of growing long nails
relates to status, since it can preclude certain forms of manual labour. Chinese
noblemen and women of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were well known for their
extraordinarily long fingernails, which were sometimes protected with gold and jewel-
encrusted nail guards. Servants were required to feed, dress, and perform other
personal chores for them so that they did not break a nail. The Chinese also used
nail polish made from egg whites, beeswax, vegetable dyes, and Arabic gum.
She sure did. Cleopatra's nails were painted red and Queen Nefertiti's nails flashed
violet. The word manicure derives from Latin: manus for hand, cura for care. Believe
it or not people have been manicuring their nails for more than 5000 years. Nobility in
Babylonia used solid gold tools to mani-pedi. According to a Ming Dynasty
manuscript, nail polish has a history dating back even further, to 3000 BC when nail
color indicated one's social status. Royalty painted their nails black and red; the
Egyptians used red to designate the highest social status; military commanders in
ancient Egypt and Rome were known to paint their nails to match their lips before
going off to battle. Before nail polish was around, people in India, used henna (a
brownish red substance) for their manicure.
Over time, fashionable nails never lost popularity. In the 20th Century different styles
of manicures came into existence. Artificial glue-on nails became a craze for people
who did not want to or could not grow their natural nails long. Eventually, more
permanent liquid, monomer and polymer, was applied to the nail bed to form acrylics.
Soaking the nails in acetone is necessary to remove acrylics.
Today, nail materials have evolved to state of the art products. Polish comes in every
color of the rainbow. The French manicure was popular in the 1920's and 1930's, and
still today is considered as the most popular for fingers and even toes. The tips of the
nail are painted white while the rest of the nail is polished in pink or nude shade.
Aside from the confidence of having a well manicured look, caring for the nails is an
important part of health and hygiene.
Probably the biggest outlay of every woman, next to her car and home, is clothing,
health and beauty products and treatments. It's not because there is such a gender
difference that most men don't have mani-pedis, shop until they drop, or don't have a
secret desire to get rid of all that hair on their backs, it's a masculinity thing that gets
in the way. Secretly, I think men appreciate looking at a healthy well-groomed woman
who does her best to bring out her natural beauty. That doesn't come cheap. Many
women will spend a week's wages on her hair-dresser and manicurist. Why so
much? Let's take a look at what a manicurist does.
Besides owning two good ears and listening skills, manicurists are licensed Nail Care
Specialists (or Nail Technicians) who treat the hands and feet. A standard manicure
of the hands must always begin by ensuring that the work area and nail tools are
freshly sanitized for each client, conveniently located and there is proper lighting. A
manicurist should own basic manicure tools and supplies such as:
Many manicurists use a melted paraffin wax treatment on the hands for softening and
moisturizing. There is no telling how many people have dipped their hands into the
paraffin before you. A tube of Gold Bond cream may work just as well without the risk
of catching someone else's something.
Cuticle remover - This is caustic and must be rinsed off the skin after use.
Oil – Necessary for a hot oil manicure. This softens and cleans the cuticles. It
works well for brittle nails and leaves them soft and more pliable. Oils can be
mineral oil, olive oil or almond oil and is usually prepared in an electric heater.
Massage lotion – Used to massage the hands and removed from the nail beds
before applying polish. This is a good treatment to relax the hands and the client
before the polishing treatment.
Nail polish – The layers include base coat (possibly ridge filler polish), colored
polish and top coat or sealant. Women are known to be finicky about their choice
of nail color. One manufacturer, sorry, cannot divulge, is considered to be a
favorite of many. Although the manufacturer does not have the benefit of a
designer cosmetic line, it is considered to be top of the line for several reasons:
New colors are released every season to keep their line trendy and fashionable.
They invent colors and styles no other nail polish manufacturer comes close to.
Mini collections are released with each new line so the user doesn't waste old, left-
over polish. A manicurist can expect certain clients to bring their own polish for
touch-ups between manicures.
Nail stick-on jewels for decorating the nails (optional) ? Many professionals
use air-brushing nail equipment to give the finished manicure a more artistic look
(photo)
Nail polish remover – recommended usage is no more than twice per month
Sanitizing spray and Purell or the equivalent hand sanitizer. Manicurists must
clean, and sanitize hands between clients
Clean towels for every client
Cotton balls
A manicurist's license should be current and visibly displayed.
Before starting the manicure, a nail specialist should examine and analyze the
client's nail care needs and discuss the recommended treatments and products with
the client. Certain people have allergies and this is a good time to ask. Most
professionals have cards completed for all their clients listing their phone numbers,
allergies, etc.
Manicurists should keep abreast of new skills and products by continuing education
and manicure product representatives.
Your hands speak for you. Meeting a tastefully dressed and otherwise well-groomed
person who has dirty fingernails makes you wonder ? why all the time and expense
on appearance and not have clean nails? Something as minor as that can make or
break a job interview. There's that old excuse: "I don't manicure my nails because the
right hand never turns out as good as the left, or vise-versa." If you really dislike
doing a home manicure, see a manicurist before your big appointment or event.
If someone puts out a nasty hand to be shaken, there's always that moment of
hesitation. But if you gesture toward the other person with a clean, manicured hand,
the response is instantaneous. Nowadays there are many different opinions about
how hands should be groomed when going on job interviews, but here are some
sure-fire tips that may land you that dream job:
Nails should be slightly rounded or squared and medium to short in length (about
1"2 inch in length, no dragon lady nails).
Its fine to wear polish, but the shade should be clear or a non-threatening color. A
French manicure is acceptable, but red or black polish, air-brushing or stick-on
jewels tend to distract the interviewer. The focus should be on you not the hot-pink
and purple you are waving around.
Around the age of forty, age spots may show up on the back of the hands and arms.
Nothing gives your age away faster than discolored skin tissue. Age spots are also
the skin's way of telling you there is deeper damage below the skin. That means if
you had taken better care of your skin, you probably wouldn't be dealing with age
spots. But all is not lost, there are some fine fixes out there.
Alpha Hydroxy Acid or Glycolic Acid has been shown, with regular use, to produce
visible changes in the appearance of aging skin. This treatment can be purchased in
the form of a cream or gel and can be applied at home.
A stronger mixture of Glycolic Acid can be applied by a dermatologist to fade the age
spots. Laser is also being used with good results. Neither of these treatments can be
accomplished in one visit and they can be costly.
The simplest and cheapest way to stay beautiful and avoid skin spots is to limit
exposure to the sun and use SPF 30 sun-screen.
HOME MANICURE TECHNIQUES
There is another plus to doing your own manicure ? when your polish is chipped, you
can do a polish change at home and if you break a nail, well, you can file it down and
make do until it grows out. Back when I wore artificial nails, I broke one of my Tammy
Taylor artificial nails and I was miserable until I could get in to see my much-in-
demand manicurist. Today I don't have time for salon nails, but I do treat myself to a
professional manicure when necessary because my nails have never been the same
since the Tammy's were removed.
A good idea is to keep your home manicure kit well stocked and your tools sanitized.
That way if you decide to have a professional manicure, you can bring along your
own sanitary tools, polishes and you can upgrade the kit to whatever you prefer. You
can find most of what you need in a beauty supply store. Your kit should also contain
the basic tools of the trade:
Cotton balls or cotton rounds – The rounds are better for removing polish
Different textured emery boards – Some are harsher than others. If you do your
own pedicures, the gritty ones are better for toenails.
Orange stick – These are gentler for pushing cuticles than the metal tools. They're
also helpful to remove polish goofs from your skin.
Cuticle Nipper – In the beginning, use only if necessary to remove a hangnail until
you gain more skill using nippers without cutting your cuticles. It's hard to know
how much dead skin to remove and the lefty-righty problem makes using them
riskier by cutting too deep. Paying extra for a high-quality pair is well worth it. If you
know of a shop that sharpens knives, they can also sharpen your nippers when
they turn dull.
Cuticle remover – Again, this is caustic. Try a warm water soak first. If you must
use the remover, soak your hands in warm water with a little mild soap and a drop
of your favorite essential oil as soon as possible afterwards.
Cuticle oil – Can be used on polished or naked nails. A good quality oil by Melvco,
Inc. is Haken. It lasts forever and has almond and apricot oils, vitamins A, D and E.
Moisturizer cream or lotion – Massage into your hands liberally, but remove from
the nails before applying polish. Alpha Hydroxy cream at night helps skin renew.
Pumice stone/foot file or synthetic pumice – It helps to keep pumice in the
shower or bath and use it regularly, even if you do get frequent pedicures.
Polish – A good base coat, two coats of nail color and top coat are all that's
needed. If you do not use polish, buffing your nails brings out the shine. When
doing a polish change on your acrylics, a less expensive polish will do nicely. A
higher quality polish is best for natural nails.
Exercise
You may already have some of your manicure tools on hand. If not, purchase what
you need for your home manicure. You don't have to spend a lot of money (save it
for a good nipper). Dollar stores may offer emery boards, cotton, polish remover and
orange sticks. Check out the beauty supply store. They have trained people to help
answer your questions about product. Many drugstores have two for one and
periodic specials on manicuring products. A small plastic container with three
drawers (Wal Mart) is great for holding your manicure tools because you can
organize.
The photo depicts a dry, brittle nail with ridges. Ridges on the nail are unfortunately
mostly genetic. While mind-blowing breakthroughs are being accomplished in genetic
research, nail ridges are not yet a priority. But there are some steps you can do to
help this condition. You can use a buffer and buffing cream to smooth the nail ridges.
If this is a recent condition, nail ridges could be an indication of anemia and you
should see your doctor. When manicuring your nails, be gentle on them. Too much
pushing or pressure can cause ridges or white spots. Generally, the white spots will
grow out.
There can be many causes for brittle nails. Women suffer more from dry, brittle nails
than men. Reasons can be:
Surprisingly, with all the dry, brittle nail treatments lining the shelves, this condition
can be difficult to treat. It's also tricky to decide which treatment is best for you. The
longer one has dry nails, the harder they are to treat. Keeping polish on the nails
often helps the nails from dehydrating and catching on things. After soaking nails in
warm water, use a moisturizer containing Alpha Hydroxy acid. A hot oil brittle nail
treatment can help enhance nail health: Heat ¼ cup of olive oil and one capsule of
Vitamin E. Allow the mixture to cool down until warm to the touch. Massage
into hands and nails.
Regular usage of nail polish can sometimes cause a yellowing of the nail. There are
several remedies to whiten them:
1. Soak nails in lemon juice for a few minutes followed by rinsing with warm water
and moisturizer.
2. Soak nails in a 50-50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water, rinse and
moisturize.
3. Scrub with whitening toothpaste and an old toothbrush, rinse and moisturize.
If you're frustrated by over-the-counter and home remedies that don't work, you may
want to see a dermatologist for your problem nails to determine if the cause is due to
a health condition.
Perhaps you do, but I don't know of anyone who hasn't had a hangnail or dry cuticles
from time to time. Hangnails are a nuisance. But do you know what causes
hangnails? When your nail cuticles become dry or rough, painful hangnails or tiny
pieces of skin still attached to the base side of the nail can form.
If you moisturize your cracked cuticles, you shouldn't get hangnails. One of the worst
things about cold, dry air is the moisture it saps from your cuticles. Here are some
steps toward prevention:
Avoid picking at your cuticles. This can be as habit-forming as nail biting and
tearing off a hangnail or cuticle can cause infection.
Give yourself regular manicures or have a professional manicure your nails. Pay
attention to the cuticles by gently pushing them back with a cuticle stick or orange
stick. Excess skin on or around your nails is the cause of hangnails.
Use a cuticle moisturizer morning, noon and night. Applying a heavy application of
moisturizer and donning cotton gloves helps the moisturizer work as you sleep.
Wear rubber gloves when washing dishes or using harsh cleaning products.
Don't forget your gardening gloves for the weed pulling and other nail breaking
tasks.
Choose a cuticle cream or oil that will do the job. Oils penetrate the skin while
creams alone only hydrate the surface of the skin. Look for a cuticle conditioner that
has both a moisturizing cream and oil such as vitamin E or jojoba.
There are many different types of careers available in the beauty industry.
Professionals in this field help clients by providing a variety of cosmetic procedures.
Discovering the different careers within this field may help you decide which
profession is right for your interests, goals and experiences. In this article, we explore
15 career opportunities in the beauty industry and their average salary.
Below, are some of the career opportunities in the beauty industry along with their
average national salaries:
1. Hairstylist
2. Nail technician
Primary duties: Nail technicians help maintain and decorate clients' fingernails and
toenails by cleaning, cutting, and shaping nails. A nail professional can also perform
hand and feet massages. They often advise about different nail treatments and sell
other nail-related products and services. Nail technicians may also perform pedicures
and manicures on clients and apply acrylic and gel nail extensions and
enhancements. Nail technicians can expect to frequently apply finishes such as nail
varnishes, decals and polishes. These specialists also ensure standards of hygiene
meet set industry standards and best practices.
3. Aesthetician
4. Massage therapist
Primary duties: Massage therapists mainly work in sport therapy clinics and spas.
Their main responsibilities include massaging muscle tissue to help facilitate fast
recovery and aid relaxation. Massage therapists usually offer a wide range of
treatments, such as Shiatsu, moist compresses, infrared lamp treatments, ice baths,
herbal and mineral therapies and essential oil therapies. They also administer
treatment to promote improved blood circulation in the body.
5. Barber
6. Makeup artist
7. Salon manager
8. Beauty consultants
Primary duties: Beauty consultants often help guide their customers in choosing the
best beauty products that match their face shape, skin type and skin tone. They may
perform free makeup applications for customers as a way of advertising new
products. Beauty consultants often work on building lasting relationships with their
customers.
9. Eyelash technician
10. Fashion designer
Primary duties: A fashion designer mainly designs clothing and shoes. They identify
trends and choose styles, colours, materials, prints and decorations for an outfit.
Fashion designers also conduct market research to determine the new and preferred
trends of their customers. They may supervise design projects and have
responsibilities such as marketing, pricing and designing.
11. Tattoo specialist
12. Image consultant
Primary duties: Image consultants work with each customer to design and develop
a distinct image that can assist them in achieving their objectives. An image
consultant helps customers achieve a specific style by advising them on wardrobe
choices, body language, grooming and communication skills. They may work with
customers who want to expand their commercial or professional possibilities, improve
their media interactions or grow personally. Image consultants mostly study the
client's present image and establish a strategy for improving it.
13. Plastic surgeon
14. Laser technician
15. Salon receptionist
The following are some of the helpful skills in the beauty industry:
Attention to detail: Identifying the required makeup and choosing which tool
to use in the cosmetic application can be important and may require a lot of
attention to detail. This skill may enable you to easily match makeup to
different skin tones.
Creativity: In the beauty industry, you may work with diverse clients with
different needs and looks. Selecting the best skincare for each one of them or
the most suitable look may require you to have a creative mind.
Salary figures reflect data listed on the quoted websites at time of writing. Salaries
may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience,
academic background and location.
5 C a r e e r s Yo u C a n H a v e A s a N a i l Te c h n i c i a n
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If you love nails and are thinking about enrolling in a nail technician program,
researching possible careers could be an important part in making your decisions
going forward. From trims and polishes, to miniature nail art, nail technicians have
the chance to work in an exciting field doing a variety of tasks. We’ve compiled a list
of potential careers you could pursue in manicuring once you finish school. Check
them out and see what might be the best fit for you.
1: Salon/Spas
Thinking about nails, your mind probably jumps to a salon. Salons and spas are the
most conventional types of careers for nail technicians, and for good reason. Working
at a salon is a great starting point for any type of technician. Here you can build on
the skills your learned in school and get experience with all the different types of
services you can offer. At certain salons you might even have the option to choose
a flexible work schedule.
The salon environment offers some other great benefits. It provides the opportunity to
build rapport with clients and get referrals. You can also learn a lot about different
products and brands you use, learn new trends and techniques, and become more
knowledgeable about the services performed.
If a traditional salon or spa isn’t for you, there are many other places you might be
able to work as a nail tech, including:
Vacation resorts
Cruise ships
Airport spas
Country clubs
2: Retail and Consulting
As a nail technician, you can become an expert in all things nails. Your clients will
look to you to educate them and recommend the right products for their nails. Salons
also rely on their technicians to upsell products and special services to clients and
customers. Some spas give technicians a commission for selling their products or
services, which means you could earn even more than your base wage.
If you’re more interested in the editorial side of the beauty industry, you could be a
consultant for magazines or celebrities to help choose the right products to be on-
camera. Our Advanced Manicurist program could provide you with the education and
skills to help you become the voice of experience and knowledge when it comes to
nail art and design. Remember to build up a beautiful portfolio and get referrals if you
decide to go this route.
3: Mobile Manicurist
Perhaps the salon environment isn’t right for you. If you prefer a workspace with a
little less structure, you might consider working out of your own home or traveling to
your clients. This option means that you provide equipment and supplies, but also
provides a lot of freedom and other job opportunities.
4. Salon Owner
If you already have some natural management and leadership skills, building up a
salon of your own may be a natural next step. Ask yourself if you prefer managing
other people or managing your nail station. If you are prepared to put in some hard
work, and find your own space, owning a nail salon could be the perfect outlet for
your unique vision!
Salon owners may need some additional business training. At Raphaels, our
cosmetology program covers beauty industry business practices and we strive to
help our students become business-ready graduates.
5: Nail Tech Educator
If you love learning about all things nails and feel like you never want to leave, maybe
pursuing a career as an educator could be a good choice. Carry on the tradition of
nail technology by teaching it to others. This is often a great option for those with
patience and a lot of experience.
To become qualified to teach nails, you may need some postsecondary education or
training in manicure instruction. It may also be necessary to have a license in nail
technology and some previous working experience. Many beauty schools offer a
training program for future educators and you can find a lot of resources in your own
education to help get you started on this path.
Are you ready to make the move from beauty-lover to beauty professional? Let your
passion lead the way as you consider future careers in nail technology. Whether you
love working with people or prefer to be your own boss as a licensed professional,
the nail tech industry may be in your future.
At Raphael’s, we strive to help our students become the professionals they want to
be. Take a look at our advanced manicuring program or see if you can add an
esthetics or cosmetology program to an existing nail course. Raphaels offers a
variety of beauty education courses including esthetics, massage, and barbering. We
hope to help our students develop professional-level skills and hone their own natural
talents. Become well-rounded in your education with classes that work with your busy
schedule and adapt to new trends and modern techniques!
PECs and its Three Clusters
PEC stands for Personal, Entrepreneurial, and Competencies. PECs is the character
traits that entrepreneurs should have or possess to become successful.