Nail Treatment Glossary

Everything done to the natural nail before product goes on: shaping, tidying the cuticle and removing shine and oils. Careful prep is the biggest reason enhancements last.

Gently pushing back the cuticle and lifting the dead skin from the nail plate. The living skin at the base of the nail should stay intact, as it protects the nail from infection.

A liquid that removes moisture and oils from the nail surface just before product is applied, helping it grip.

A liquid that helps gel or acrylic stick to the natural nail. Acid free primers are gentler and are used with most gel systems.

An electric file with small, interchangeable bits, used to shape, prep and remove product. In trained hands it is quick and precise. Read our Russian Manicure guide.

A coloured polish that is cured under a lamp. It gives a glossy, chip resistant finish that usually lasts two to three weeks.

The first layer applied to the nail. It helps colour grip and protects the natural nail.

A thicker, flexible base gel that adds a little strength and smooths the nail surface, often used on natural nails.

A thicker gel used to strengthen natural nails or add length and structure. It is what many salons use for a structured gel manicure.

Soft gels can usually be soaked off with remover. Hard gels are tougher and are filed off rather than soaked.

A liquid and powder mixed into a bead and shaped on the nail, where it hardens in the air. It is strong and long lasting and is often used for length.

A product that combines features of acrylic and gel. It is shaped like a putty and then cured under a lamp.

Coloured powder applied over a bonding liquid, layer by layer, then sealed. It creates a strong, long lasting finish without a lamp.

The final layer that seals in colour and adds shine. No wipe top coats leave no sticky layer behind.

The slightly sticky layer left on some gels after curing. It helps the next layer bond and is wiped away at the end.

Ready made or custom made nails attached with adhesive or sticky tabs, which can often be reused. Read our Custom Press On Nails guide.

Hardening gel under a UV or LED lamp. Each layer needs the time and lamp recommended by the product brand to cure fully.

A brief feeling of heat as gel cures. If it feels too hot, take your hand out of the lamp for a moment. A good professional will use thinner layers or a lamp setting that reduces it.

The highest, strongest point of an enhancement, built over the stress area of the nail. A well placed apex helps nails resist breaking.

The shape and balance of the product on your nail, from the side view and front view. Good structure makes nails strong, comfortable and natural looking.

A maintenance appointment where the regrowth gap at the base of the nail is filled and the nail is rebalanced, usually every two to four weeks.

Reshaping an enhancement during an infill, so the apex moves back to the right place as the nail grows.

When product starts to separate from the natural nail, usually at the edges or base. Book a repair rather than picking, as picking pulls away layers of natural nail.

Removing soft gel or acrylic by soaking in remover until it softens and lifts away gently.

Filing too much of the natural nail, leaving it thin, bendy or sensitive. A skilled professional files the product, not your nail.

An allergy to ingredients called acrylates found in gels and acrylics. It usually develops over time from repeated skin contact, which is why product should never touch the skin. It can cause itching, redness or splitting around the nails.

When the nail plate separates from the nail bed, often showing as a white area under the nail. It can be caused by injury, harsh removal or reactions to products. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if it does not improve.