Nail Glossary

(

(Meth)acrylates

The building blocks of gel and acrylic nail products, which can cause allergic reactions when uncured product touches the skin. From: How to choose a nail salon you can trust

3

3-free

A label for nail polish made without toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate. From: Nail myths, set straight

3D nail art

Designs with raised elements such as sculpted flowers, charms or textures, rather than flat colour alone. From: Small canvas, big statement: nail art as self-expression

A

Accent nail

A single nail, often the ring finger, painted differently to give a manicure a focal point. From: Colour harmony for nail art: a designer’s guide

Acetone

A strong solvent that softens soak off gel polish; it is highly flammable and dries the skin. From: Taking off gel polish without damaging your nails

Apex

The slightly raised, strongest area of a structured manicure, built to help the nail resist breaking. From: Gel, BIAB or regular polish: which manicure suits you

Autoclave

A device that sterilises metal instruments with pressurised steam, used by careful salons for reusable tools. From: How to choose a nail salon you can trust

B

Baby boomer

Another name for the ombré French, a soft gradient from pink to white. From: The French manicure, classic, micro and reverse

Base coat

A clear first layer that helps polish adhere and protects the nail plate from staining. From: Red nails: the story of a classic

Beau’s lines

Horizontal grooves across the nail that can appear after an illness or an injury. From: Nail myths, set straight

Blooming gel

A clear gel on which colour spreads outwards, used for soft marble and watercolour effects. From: Nail art techniques, from dotting to foils

Blue-based red

A red with a cool cast that tends to flatter cool undertones. From: How to choose a nail colour for your skin undertone

Builder base gel

A thicker base gel that adds structure and, when tinted, creates a smooth translucent finish. From: Milky, sheer and jelly: the quiet luxury of translucent nails

Builder gel

A thicker gel used to add strength or length; most types are filed off rather than soaked. From: Taking off gel polish without damaging your nails

C

Callus

An area of thickened, hard skin formed by pressure and friction, which protects the skin beneath it. From: The pedicure, done properly

Cancellation policy

A salon’s rules on how much notice you must give to cancel, often at least 24 hours. From: Your nail appointment: etiquette, timing and aftercare

Capping

Running the brush along the tip of the nail so colour and top coat wrap and seal the free edge. From: How to give yourself a salon-worthy manicure at home

Chrome

A highly reflective, mirror-like finish, often created by buffing a fine powder onto gel. From: A nail colour calendar: shades for every season

Chrome powder

An ultra fine metallic or pearlescent pigment rubbed onto cured gel to create a reflective finish. From: Chrome nails explained, from mirror to pearl

Clean-up brush

A small, flat brush dipped in remover to correct polish edges around the cuticle and side walls. From: Red nails: the story of a classic

Consultation

The conversation before a service in which the technician asks about allergies, nail health and your wishes. From: How to choose a nail salon you can trust

Contrast

The difference in depth between hair, skin and eyes; strong contrast carries bold shades well. From: How to choose a nail colour for your skin undertone

Contrast of extension

Johannes Itten’s term for balancing colours through the amount of surface each one covers. From: Colour harmony for nail art: a designer’s guide

Curing

The hardening of gel products under a UV or LED lamp, triggered by light-sensitive photoinitiators in the formula. From: Gel, BIAB or regular polish: which manicure suits you

Cuticle

A thin layer of dead tissue from the skin fold at the base of the nail that sticks to the nail plate. From: Cuticle care: what to push back and what to leave alone

Cuticle oil

A nourishing oil massaged into the skin around the nail to keep it supple and the manicure looking fresh. From: Your nail appointment: etiquette, timing and aftercare

D

Dotting tool

A handle with a small metal ball at one or both ends, used to place round dots of polish. From: Nail art techniques, from dotting to foils

E

Electric file

A rotary tool used in salons to shape nails and remove hard products such as hard gel. From: Taking off gel polish without damaging your nails

EMA

Ethyl methacrylate, the liquid used in reputable acrylic systems, as opposed to liquid MMA. From: Nail extensions explained: acrylic, gel and press-on

Eponychium

The living skin at the base of the nail, which is best left intact. From: Cuticle care: what to push back and what to leave alone

Extension

Added length built or attached onto the natural nail, giving structure to long or pointed shapes. From: Square, almond, coffin: a guide to nail shapes

Extraction

A system that draws dust and vapours away from the workstation to keep the salon air clean. From: How to choose a nail salon you can trust

F

Free edge

The part of the nail that extends beyond the fingertip. From: Nail art techniques, from dotting to foils

G

Glazed nails

The name under which pearl chrome over a milky base became a viral favourite in 2022. From: Chrome nails explained, from mirror to pearl

Grit

A measure of a file’s coarseness. Higher numbers are finer and gentler on natural nails. From: How to give yourself a salon-worthy manicure at home

H

Hangnail

A small torn piece of skin at the side of the nail, which can be clipped carefully close to the skin. From: How to give yourself a salon-worthy manicure at home

Henna

A plant dye that stains skin and nails a reddish orange, used in ancient Egypt and in body art today. From: A short history of nail polish

Holographic powder

A powder that shifts colour with the angle of light, showing a spectrum as the hand moves. From: Chrome nails explained, from mirror to pearl

Hue

The colour family itself, such as red, blue or green, independent of how light or intense it is. From: Colour harmony for nail art: a designer’s guide

I

Infill

A maintenance appointment where regrowth near the cuticle is filled and the existing product rebalanced, instead of a full removal. From: Gel, BIAB or regular polish: which manicure suits you

Ingrown toenail

A nail whose edge grows into the surrounding skin, a risk reduced by cutting straight across and not too short. From: The pedicure, done properly

Inhibition layer

A slightly tacky film left on some gels after curing, wiped away with a cleanser to reveal the shine. From: Gel, BIAB or regular polish: which manicure suits you

J

Jelly finish

A translucent, glossy polish that lets some light through and gives colour a glass-like look. From: A nail colour calendar: shades for every season

Jelly polish

A polish with a glassy, see-through finish and more colour than a sheer shade. From: Milky, sheer and jelly: the quiet luxury of translucent nails

K

Keratin

A hard, fibrous protein that forms the nail plate and is also the main building block of hair. From: What makes nails strong: a practical guide to nail health

L

Lifting

Separation of extension product from the natural nail, which can trap moisture and should be seen to by a professional. From: Nail extensions explained: acrylic, gel and press-on

Lunula

The whitish half moon at the base of the nail, the visible part of the nail matrix. From: Negative space and the art of leaving nails bare

M

Micro French

A French manicure with a very thin tip line, well suited to short nails. From: The French manicure, classic, micro and reverse

Milky nails

A manicure in a translucent milky white that softens the nail without fully covering it. From: Milky, sheer and jelly: the quiet luxury of translucent nails

Monomer

The liquid in an acrylic system, mixed with polymer powder to form the paste that hardens in the air. From: Nail extensions explained: acrylic, gel and press-on

N

Nail bed

The skin beneath the nail plate, to which the plate is attached. From: What makes nails strong: a practical guide to nail health

Nail guard

An ornate sheath worn over long nails, made of gold or silver by aristocratic women in Qing dynasty China. From: A short history of nail polish

Nail matrix

The tissue beneath the skin at the base of the nail that produces the nail plate. From: Negative space and the art of leaving nails bare

Nail technician

A trained professional who shapes, cares for and decorates natural or artificial nails. From: Small canvas, big statement: nail art as self-expression

Nailist

A term used in Japan for a nail technician or nail artist. From: Small canvas, big statement: nail art as self-expression

Negative space

The unpainted or clear areas of a design, which become part of the composition rather than background. From: Negative space and the art of leaving nails bare

Nitrocellulose

A film-forming material used in lacquers. It dries to a hard, glossy layer and is the basis of conventional nail polish. From: A short history of nail polish

No-wipe top coat

A gel top coat that leaves no sticky layer after curing, the surface chrome powder needs. From: Chrome nails explained, from mirror to pearl

O

Orangewood stick

A slim wooden tool with a slanted end, used to push back softened cuticles and tidy edges. From: How to give yourself a salon-worthy manicure at home

Oxblood

A deep, dark red with a brownish cast, often worn in autumn and winter. From: Red nails: the story of a classic

P

Paronychia

An infection of the skin around the nail, with redness, swelling and pain. From: Cuticle care: what to push back and what to leave alone

Pearl chrome

A soft iridescent powder finish, often worn over a sheer milky base for a glazed effect. From: Chrome nails explained, from mirror to pearl

Photoinitiator

An ingredient that reacts to light and starts the hardening process in gel polish and builder gel. From: Gel, BIAB or regular polish: which manicure suits you

Pipe-free basin

A pedicure tub without hidden whirlpool pipes, which makes cleaning and disinfecting easier. From: The pedicure, done properly

Podiatrist

A health professional who specialises in the feet, including nail and skin care for people with diabetes or circulation problems. From: The pedicure, done properly

Proximal nail fold

The fold of skin at the base of the nail that lies above the nail matrix. From: Cuticle care: what to push back and what to leave alone

Pumice

A light, porous volcanic stone used to smooth hard skin on the feet gently. From: The pedicure, done properly

Punctate leukonychia

Small white spots on the nail, usually caused by minor knocks to the nail matrix. From: Nail myths, set straight

R

Rubber base

A flexible gel base, often tinted, used in salons to smooth the nail and give translucent colour. From: Milky, sheer and jelly: the quiet luxury of translucent nails

S

Saturation

The intensity of a colour, from vivid and pure to soft and muted. From: Colour harmony for nail art: a designer’s guide

Sculpted nail

An extension built on a form placed under the free edge, rather than on a glued tip. From: Nail extensions explained: acrylic, gel and press-on

Seasonal colour analysis

A method that assigns a person to spring, summer, autumn or winter according to the colours that flatter them. From: A nail colour calendar: shades for every season

Sidewalls

The edges along each side of the nail, which define how straight or tapered a shape looks. From: Square, almond, coffin: a guide to nail shapes

Single use

Describes tools such as files and buffers that serve one client only and are then discarded or given to the client. From: How to choose a nail salon you can trust

Skin tone

How light or deep the skin is, independent of the hue beneath the surface. From: How to choose a nail colour for your skin undertone

Slip solution

A liquid used to keep the brush from sticking while polygel is pressed and shaped. From: Nail extensions explained: acrylic, gel and press-on

Smile line

The curve where the white tip of a French manicure meets the pink of the nail bed. From: The French manicure, classic, micro and reverse

Soak off gel

Gel polish designed to soften in acetone so that it can be removed without filing it all away. From: Taking off gel polish without damaging your nails

Soak-off gel

A gel polish applied like regular polish, cured under a UV or LED lamp and removed by soaking. From: A short history of nail polish

Squoval

A square shape with softened corners, combining strength with a gentler outline. From: Square, almond, coffin: a guide to nail shapes

Stamping plate

A metal plate with etched designs that hold polish until a silicone stamper lifts them onto the nail. From: Nail art techniques, from dotting to foils

Stress area

The point where the nail leaves the nail bed, where it is most likely to bend or break. From: Square, almond, coffin: a guide to nail shapes

Striping brush

A long, very thin brush that holds polish along its length for straight lines and long curves. From: Nail art techniques, from dotting to foils

Striping tape

Very thin adhesive tape used to mask straight lines and geometric sections on the nail. From: Negative space and the art of leaving nails bare

Swatch

A sample of a colour painted on a nail tip or card, used to judge how a shade looks. From: Your nail appointment: etiquette, timing and aftercare

T

Tip guide

An adhesive strip placed just below the free edge to give the tip a clean line. From: The French manicure, classic, micro and reverse

Top coat

The final, shiny layer of a gel manicure, which seals the colour beneath it. From: Taking off gel polish without damaging your nails

Transitional shade

A colour that works across the seasons, such as mauve, taupe or nude, bridging two seasonal palettes. From: A nail colour calendar: shades for every season

U

Undertone

The hue beneath the skin’s surface, described as cool, warm or neutral. From: How to choose a nail colour for your skin undertone

V

Value

How light or dark a colour is. Strong value contrast reads clearly, even from a distance. From: Colour harmony for nail art: a designer’s guide

Vinyl stencil

A thin adhesive cut-out shape that keeps part of the nail bare while colour is applied. From: Negative space and the art of leaving nails bare

No term matches your search.