Shapes
Stiletto
Tapered to a sharp point.
The most dramatic and the most fragile. Usually built in acrylic with a strong apex, and not a shape for anyone typing all day.
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Nail glossary
The words on a salon menu, on a product label, and in the chair — explained the way a tech would explain them. 77 terms across 8 groups.
77 terms
- AcetoneThe solvent that dissolves most nail products.
- Acrylic applicationBuilding a nail from a liquid and a powder that harden together in the air.
- ActivatorThe liquid that sets dip powder and some resins.
- Add-onAn extra bought alongside a service rather than instead of it.
- AirbrushColour sprayed on as a fine mist instead of brushed.
- AlmondTapered sides and a rounded point.
- ApexThe highest point of an enhancement, and the reason it does not snap.
- AutoclaveA machine that sterilises metal tools with pressurised steam.
- Baby boomerA French manicure with the tip blended into the base instead of drawn as a line.
- Base coatThe first layer, which makes everything above it stick.
- Booth rentA tech pays the salon a fixed rent for their station and keeps what they earn.
- BufferA soft block or file that smooths and shines rather than shapes.
- Builder gelA thick gel used to add length, strength and an arch.
- Cat eyeA moving band of light in the polish, pulled into place with a magnet.
- Chair rentalAnother name for booth rent.
- ChromeA mirror finish rubbed onto cured gel as a fine powder.
- CoffinTapered sides cut flat across the tip.
- CommissionThe salon takes the payment and the tech is paid a share of it.
- CuringHardening gel with light rather than letting it dry.
- CuticleThe thin dead tissue stuck to the plate at the base of the nail.
- Cuticle oilOil worked into the skin around the nail to keep it from splitting.
- Cuticle pusherA metal or wooden tool that eases back the skin at the base of the nail.
- DehydratorA wipe that removes oil and moisture from the nail just before product goes on.
- DepositMoney taken at booking and put towards the service.
- Dip powderColour built up by dipping the nail into powder between coats of resin.
- Dual formA reusable mould that shapes a gel nail from above while it cures.
- E-fileAn electric file with changeable bits, used to shape and remove product.
- EmployeeA tech on payroll, with hours, taxes withheld and the salon in charge of the work.
- EponychiumThe living fold of skin at the base of the nail — not the cuticle.
- FillRebuilding the grown-out gap at the base of an enhancement, leaving the rest in place.
- Free edgeThe part of the nail that has grown past the fingertip.
- French manicureA natural or pink nail with a pale tip across the free edge.
- Full setA complete new set of enhancements on all ten nails.
- Gel extensionLength added with gel that is cured under a lamp rather than set in the air.
- Gel polishColour that stays liquid until a lamp cures it, then wears for two to three weeks.
- GreeniesA green stain under the nail from bacteria growing in a lifted pocket.
- GritHow coarse a file is — the lower the number, the more it takes off.
- HangnailA torn strip of skin beside the nail.
- Heat spikeA sudden burning feeling as gel cures under the lamp.
- ImplementsThe reusable metal tools — nippers, pushers, clippers.
- Independent contractorA tech working for themselves inside somebody else's salon.
- Inhibition layerThe sticky film left on gel after curing.
- LicenseThe state permit that makes nail work legal to do for money.
- LiftingProduct separating from the nail, usually at the cuticle.
- LipstickThe tip cut on a slant, like a new lipstick.
- LunulaThe pale half-moon at the base of the nail.
- MatrixThe tissue under the base of the nail where new nail is made.
- MonomerThe liquid half of acrylic, which hardens the powder it is mixed with.
- Nail artAnything decorative done on top of the colour.
- Nail bedThe skin under the plate — the pink part.
- Nail formA disposable sticker the nail is built out onto, instead of a plastic tip.
- Nail fungusA fungal infection in the nail — thickened, crumbling and discoloured.
- Nail plateThe hard part you see and paint.
- Nail prepEverything done to the natural nail before any product goes on.
- No-showA booked client who neither arrives nor cancels.
- OmbréOne colour fading into another along the nail.
- OnycholysisThe nail plate lifting away from the bed underneath.
- OvalCurved from the sidewalls to a soft point, like an egg.
- OverlayProduct over the natural nail with no length added.
- PedicureThe same work on toes, plus the foot.
- Pedicure chairThe reclining chair with a foot basin that a pedicure is done in.
- PolymerThe powder half of acrylic.
- PrimerA liquid that makes product bond to the natural nail.
- RebalanceMoving the thickest point of a grown-out nail back where it belongs.
- Ring of fireA burn-like ring at the cuticle left by an e-file held too long in one place.
- RoundSides straight, edge curved to follow the fingertip.
- Service menuThe list of services a salon offers, with prices and times.
- SidewallThe skin along each side of the nail.
- Smile lineThe curve where the free edge meets the nail bed — and where a French tip is drawn.
- Soak-offTaking product off by softening it with acetone rather than filing it away.
- SquareStraight sides and a straight edge across the top.
- SquovalA square with the corners softened.
- StilettoTapered to a sharp point.
- TipA pre-made plastic nail glued to the free edge to add length.
- Top coatThe last layer, which seals the colour and decides the finish.
- UV / LED lampThe lamp that cures gel.
- Walk-inA client who arrives without an appointment.
Find salons that do this
Nail glossary
Shapes
Stiletto
Tapered to a sharp point.
The most dramatic and the most fragile. Usually built in acrylic with a strong apex, and not a shape for anyone typing all day.
Read next