NAIL SALON LINGO 101

Are you new to the nail scene? Here is a breakdown of some key nail terminology to help you communicate to your nail technician so you don’t feel so lost in the salon.

  1. Manicure - This service is a clean up of your nails. Trimming, filing cuticle care and moisturizing,.

  2. Pedicure - This service is a clean up of your toenails and feet. Trimming, Filing, cuticle care, exfoliation of heels and feet.

  3. Regular polish versus gel polish or shellac. - Regular polish lacquer is the OG and air dries - there is not as much prep required and no guarantee of how long it will go without chipping, Gel polish or some places might say shellac is a gel polish lacquer which uses UV and LED lamps to cure. This one should be chip free and last minimum of 14 days, if done correctly you can often go even longer.

  4. Nail extensions, Nail enhancements or artificial nails - This is when you would like to enhance your nails by adding some length to your nails and custom the shape of your nails. We can do this with acrylic, bio gel, gel x, and dip powder.

  5. Full set - a complete application of extensions, enhancements or artificial nails. starting from a natural base.

  6. Fill - This service is to refill the growth of your artificial, extensions or enhancement nails.

  7. Cuticle - This is the small area of skin at the base of your nails

  8. Nail bed - This is the skin underneath your nails

  9. Free edge - This is the part of your nail that extends beyond the skin of the nail

  10. Apex - This is where your enhancements will be the thickest part to provide strength,

  11. Buffing - This is to smooth the nails to have a nice even surface, and to remove oils for durability .

    NAIL SHAPES

    1. Square: Nails with a straight, flat edge.

    2. Round: Nails with a curved, semi-circular edge.

    3. Oval: Nails with a rounded tip, wider at the base.

    4. Stiletto/Pointed: Long, sharply pointed nails.

    5. Coffin/Ballerina: Long nails with a squared-off tip.

    6. Squoval: A square shape with rounded corners. 

and that concludes your nail salon survivor dictionary!

Let me know if I missed anything

love always,

Kim

Kim Le