![]() “Giving a deadline helps, but I’ve found getting someone to do something for three weeks usually ingrains it into their lifestyle," Hodges adds. If a client is ingrown prone, get them to commit to eight weeks without trimming their nails at home and a total of three pedicure treatments that focus on growing out and reshaping the toenails, says Hodges. DO get clients on a program for trimming their nails. Poorly fitting footwear or extremely pointed styles can push the toenails into the nail groove area, says Malo.Īlso, remind clients to wear protective footwear, such as steel-toe boots, if working in an area where there’s a risk of injury. DON’T forget client education.ĭiscuss with your clients the importance of proper footwear. Use an exfoliating scrub to keep calluses at bay and encourage clients to moisturize at home. Keeping the area in the vicinity of the nail healthy, supple and properly moisturized can help prevent ingrowing, says Hodges. ![]() That being said, sharp corners can cut into the skin, says Malo, so use a fine file to gently take the sharpness off the corners without rounding the nail. Leave the corners alone so they grow out and away from the hyponychium, says Hodges. The nail should be cut and filed straight across. “Use small ‘nibbles’ as you work your way across the nail, rather than trying to take the length down in a single ‘bite,’" says Hodges.Īvoid flattening the nail, which can cause pain and splitting on the sides of the free edge, especially when nails are thick or tough. Before you can trim the nail properly, the nail should be long enough that trimming is possible, she says. ![]() Hodges corrects this cycle by allowing the nail to grow long enough that it no longer digs into the distal portion of the toe. However, now the outlying flesh of the toe can come up over the leading edge, forcing the nail downward into the sidewalls-causing an ingrown. DON’T cut the nail too short.Ī client’s common reaction to an ingrown nail is to reach for the clippers and cut the nail short. For instance, using a too-large curette under the toenail can generate too much pressure, lifting the nail plate and creating an area ripe for fungus, says Malo. Vicki Malo, president of the North American School of Podology in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, prefers flat-edge nippers (nothing with an angle) and slightly curved toenail clippers.Īn ingrown nail file is another valuable tool its thin tip with very fine grit can be used to smooth the nail’s curved edges. Refer them to a medical professional instead. If you witness any redness, swelling or weeping around the nail plate, don’t proceed with the pedicure. Inspect the feet carefully before ever starting a service, says Hodges. DON’T service a client with inflammation, injury or infection. However, after a client has been released from her physician’s care, techs can cosmetically address any foot- and nail-care issues. “We are in the ‘beautification’ business only.” "If a client presents an already ingrown nail, it’s not for the nail technician to touch," says Karen Hodges, co-owner of NailCare Academy in Fort Myers, Florida. Here, expert advice for averting this toenail bummer this summer. While techs are not permitted to treat this condition, nail professionals can help prevent ingrown nails. Unfortunately, ingrown toenails are a common issue, causing clients pain and swelling, and sometimes leading to infection. Pedicure season is here, and clients will be coming in droves for foot services.
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