Shear and File Education

Doug Schoon is an industry scientist widely respected globally.

Here's a great diagram of nail structure. This is extremely important knowledge as a nail technician. (Not in English)

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9Hxyc5BhYW/?igsh=MXUwN3hib200azNvNA==

The nail is composed of several parts: the nail plate, a hard keratin structure covering the nail bed; the nail bed, a pinkish tissue underneath supplying nutrients; the nail matrix, producing new cells for growth; the lunula, a whitish crescent at the base indicating new growth; the cuticle, a thin layer of skin protecting the matrix; and the nail folds, surrounding skin supporting the nail. Blood vessels and nerves extend to the nail bed, aiding in sensation and growth. Nails grow about 1 mm per week, influenced by factors like health and age, reflecting overall well-being and potential ailments #nails #nail #structure #nailsclass #naileducation #educator #anatomy #students

The importance of insurance and inspections is huge! I always tell this to every student. Why? Here's a post from another Canadian nail tech that had this issue.

Let’s talk insurance ….. especially all those working from home. Please make sure you have it because you never know when you will need it.

Story time … 3 years ago I had an elderly lady fall in my home after finishing up her nails. This was the 5th time coming to see me. She had to p*e and neglected to watch her footing as she hastily stood up. Down she went, she did in fact hurt herself (broke her knee actually)

Over and over she said “don’t worry honey that was my fault “ she must have said it 20x:

At the time we both thought she tripped over the baby gate I had around my enclosure to keep my 2 year old out , but when I went to grab her purse it appeared she fell on her own purse strap. The location of her fall was consistent with the purse strap and not the 1/2”gate lip at the opening of the gate.

Fast forward 6 months , I receive a text saying she isn’t getting better and she is seeing a lawyer . When I received the paperwork it said she tripped due to unlevel flooring and door jams . (This is was not the case)
I had an inspector come and take my statement and he agreed that it was not my flooring or door jams that caused her fall. He said the fact she had been there 4 other times and was well aware the gate was there (had it been the gate she tripped on) is on her, it was her own negligence that caused her fall whether it was the gate or not.

Fast forward 3 years… I never got to speak to anyone after this about this, I never got to look her in the eye and call her a liar and she was just awarded 120,000$ of insurance money.
I am grateful I had insurance but disappointed because I know I was not at fault for this. I worked in insurance for 15 years for personal and commercial liability and how ironic it is that I ended up being sued.

So now my insurance rates will increase (by how much? Most likely 15%) I now know to get an incident report or statement should that ever happen again , which I sure as heck hope not.

SO moral of the story , go get insurance if you don’t have it because it can happen to you.

My reply to everyone: I keep an incident book for anything like this - customer complaints, nicks, anything. Date, time, detailed information, who else was present. You have to protect yourself. Insurance is a must to protect you financially, but memory isn't always concrete.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/JYGtav4XebBM8w2A/?mibextid=oFDknk

Who’s excited for Back to Beauty?!? We are!!! The lovely Brenda is teaching 2 workshops, check them out! 🥳

https://www.facebook.com/100063891890809/posts/817631153709940/?mibextid=Nif5oz

Staleks the right tool for the job.

You know, and I know that having the right tools makes our job so much easier. It's not fun and definitely not efficient to be working with dull bits, wobbly files and linty wipes. Why should our metal tools be any different?

Wanna know which tool got me hooked on Staleks?

The Magnolia Scissors. *chef's kiss*

I used them once and fell in LOVE! Never before had I used a blade that was so thin, precise and HOLY were they sharp.

Did you know that when choosing your cutting tools like nippers, scissors and even toe nail nippers that it's more than the blade size and angle that matter? I always thought they were all pretty much the same, the only difference was the length of the cutting surface.

The right tool should fit snuggly in your hand, movements made with the tool should be fluid. If a tool is too big or too small for your hand, you will experience fatigue, it won't be easy to pick up, and acontrolling it may be awkward.

Make sure your nippers fit nicely in your palm and allow you easily place your thumb. Your scissors should allow you to easily use your pointer finger to control the blade and toe nail nippers should allow you to grip firmly to apply proper cutting pressure without having to use She-woman strength to make the cut.

When placing your cutting tools into your disinfecting tray or ultrasonic cleaner, make sure the cutting edge is facing up, never down. Scissors and nippers are open. You can even use a little dab of oil on the hinge to make sure they continue to move smoothly. Try to keep them out of corrosive disinfectants, always keep the protective sleeve on them when they aren't in use.

Take care of your tools and they will last a long time!