Nail technician
An 8-step nail path: tool hygiene and disinfection, nail anatomy and conditions to refuse, cuticle care and shaping, proper gel polish, acrylic, hard gel and tips, nail art and gems, and pedicures. Graduates can work in nail salons or run a home nail table; suits patient, skilful people with good people skills.
Start here
Step 1: Tool hygiene, disinfection & chemical safety
One short lesson per step, 10–15 minutes on a phone. No sign-up needed.
Hands-on roadmap
Roadmap
- Step 1Lesson
Tool hygiene, disinfection & chemical safety
Wash, soak and sterilise nippers, use disposable files; ventilate when using acrylic, wear masks and gloves; refuse clients with fungal or infected nails and refer them to a doctor.
- Step 2Lesson
Nail anatomy, shapes & consultations
Nail plate, cuticle and smile line; square, oval, almond and coffin shapes; ask about allergies and choose shapes and colours suited to the client hands and job.
Requires: Tool hygiene, disinfection & chemical safety
No English content for this step yet.
- Step 3Skill
Cuticle work, shaping & manicure
Push and trim cuticles without bleeding, file symmetrical shapes and buff; common faults are cutting too deep and over-thinning the nail plate.
Requires: Nail anatomy, shapes & consultations
No English content for this step yet.
- Step 4Skill
Clean, long-lasting gel polish
Prep the plate, apply base, colour and top coats, cure under UV/LED for the right time, paint close to the cuticle without flooding; remove gel without damaging nails.
Requires: Cuticle work, shaping & manicure
- Step 5Skill
Acrylic, hard gel & tips
Apply tips, build acrylic and hard gel with a proper apex, use an e-file safely; avoid lifting, heat spikes under the lamp and breaks at the stress zone.
Requires: Clean, long-lasting gel polish
No English content for this step yet.
- Step 6Skill
Nail art, ombre, chrome & gems
Paint florals and fine lines, ombre, cat-eye and chrome finishes, secure gems and charms; photograph designs with a phone for social media.
Requires: Acrylic, hard gel & tips
No English content for this step yet.
- Step 7Project
Project: 20 full sets on model clients
Complete manicures, pedicures, gel, extensions and art on models; record time per set, wear after 2 to 3 weeks and client feedback to build a portfolio.
Requires: Nail art, ombre, chrome & gems
No English content for this step yet.
- Step 8Assessment
Skills test, price list & getting clients
Timed practical on gel and extensions plus a hygiene check; build a service price list, a lifting warranty policy and a booking channel.
Requires: Project: 20 full sets on model clients
Articles
ArticleHow long to learn nails? Tuition, nail tech pay in Vietnam 2026Learning nails in Vietnam takes about 1–2 months to handle basic manicures and gel polish, 3–6 months to offer all the popular services such as tips, hard gel and simple nail art,…
ArticleDisinfecting nail tools: a 4-step routine, starter kit and safetyDisinfecting nail tools properly means four consecutive steps: cleaning with soap, soaking in disinfectant for the correct time, heat-sterilising metal implements, and storing them…
ArticleGel polish lifting: 9 causes and a routine that lasts 2–3 weeksWhen gel polish lifts after a few days, the cause is almost always surface preparation, layer thickness or curing time — rarely the "cheap gel" that many new technicians blame. A c…