Will “Nail Technician (Nail Tech)” be Automated?

Core Skills & Abilities

• Prepare customers' nails in soapy water, using swabs, files, and orange sticks.

• Whiten underside of nails with white paste or pencils.

• Promote and sell nail care products.

• Apply undercoat and clear or colored polish onto nails with brush.

• Clean and sanitize tools and work environment.

• Schedule client appointments and accept payments.

• Assess the condition of clients' hands, remove dead skin, and massage hands.

• Decorate clients' nails by piercing or attaching ornaments or designs.

• Use rotary abrasive wheels to shape and smooth nails or artificial extensions.

• Remove previously applied nail polish, using liquid remover and swabs.

• Treat nails to repair or improve strength and resilience by wrapping.

• Maintain supply inventories and records of client services.

• Extend nails using powder, solvent, and paper forms attached to tips of customers' fingers to support and shape artificial nails.

• Polish nails, using powdered polish and buffer.

• Prepare nail cuticles with water and oil, using cuticle knives to push back cuticles and scissors or nippers to trim cuticles.

• Roughen surfaces of fingernails, using abrasive wheel.

• Shape and smooth ends of nails, using scissors, files, or emery boards.

• Advise clients on nail care and use of products and colors.