Nail tips
Are plastic, premolded nails shaped from a tough polymer
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
Plastic adhered to the natural nail to add length
Overlay
A layer of any kind of nail enhancement product that is applied over the natural nail and top application for added strength
Tip cutter
An implement similar to a nail clipper and designed for use on nail tips
Nail dehydrator
A substance used to remove surface moisture and tiny amounts of oil left on the natural nail plate.
Well
Shallow depression that serves as the point of contact with the nail plate
Position stop
The point where the free edge of the natural nail meets the tip, is where the tip is adhered to the nail
Nail tip adhesive
The bonding agent used to secure the nail
tip to the natural nail
Stop, rock, and hold method
To avoid getting air bubbles and promote proper adhesion
Nail wrap
Any method of securing a layer of fabric or paper on and around the nail tip to ensure its strength and durability
Nail wrap resin
Used to coat and secure fabric wraps to the natural nail and nail tip
Cyanoacrylate
A specialized acrylic monomer that has excellent adhesion to the natural nail plate and polymerizes in seconds
Fabric wrap
A nail wrap made of silk, linen, or fiberglass. Are the most popular type of nail wrap because of their durability
Silk wraps
Are made from a thin natural material with a tight weave that becomes transparent when wrap resin is applied
Linen wraps
Are made from a closely woven, heavy material. It is much thicker and bulkier than other types of wrap fabrics
Fiberglass wraps
Are made from a very thin synthetic mesh with a loose weave
Paper wraps
Are temporary nail wraps made of very thin paper.
Wrap resin accelerator
Also known as activator, acts as the dryer that speeds up the hardening process of the wrap resin or adhesive overlay
maintenance
The term used for when a nail enhancement needs to be serviced after two or more weeks from the initial application of the nail enhancement product
Stress strip
Is a strip of fabric cut to 1/8 inch in length and applied to strengthen a weak point in the nail
Repair patch
is a piece of fabric cut to completely cover a crack or break in the nail
Monomer liquid and polymer powder nail enhancements
also known as sculptured nails, are created by combining a chemical known as Monomer liquid mixed, with polymer powder, to form a nail enhancement
Monomer
means one and stands for units, is one unit called a molecule
polymer
means a substance formed by combining many small molecules into very long, chain-like structures
MMA
Do not adhere to the nail plate, creates the hardest and most rigid nail enhancements, which makes them very difficult to break, extremely difficult to remove
polymerization
also known as curing or hardening, a chemical reaction that creates polymers
initiators
found in polymer powder, when activated by a catalyst, will spring into action and cause a monomer molecules to permanently link together into long polymer chains
catalysts
additives designed to speed up chemical reactions
chain reaction
a process that joins together monomers to create very long polymer chains
mix ratio
the amount of monomer liquid and polymer powder used to create a bead
too much powder
brittleness and discoloration
too little powder
enhancement can become weak
nail primer
is used on the natural nail prior to product application to assist in adhesion
shiner
a buffer used to create high shine on a natural nail or a nail enhancement when no polish will be worn
nail forms
are placed under the free edge of the natural nail and used as a guide to extend the nail enhancements beyond the fingertips for additional length
dappen dish
the monomer liquid and polymer powder are each poured into a special dish
dust mask
designed to be worn over the nose and mouth to prevent inhalation of excessive amounts of dust
apex
also known as arch, is the area of the nail with the most strength
stress area
is where the natural nail grows beyond the finger and becomes the free edge
smile line
is the curved line where the pink and white meet each other on a french manicured nail
sidewall
runs straight from the cuticle down the side or wall of the nail to the end of the extension
nail extension underside
is the actual underside of the nail extension.
odorless monomer liquid and polymer powder products
are nail enhancement products that have little odor
3-D nail art
describes any art that protrudes from the nail
inlaid designs
designs inside a nail enhancement, are created when nail art is sandwiched between two layers of product while the nail enhancement is being formed.