Lesson Plan #: AELP-VTI0200

Basic Nail Services: Shaping, Buffing, and Polishing Nails

An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

Submitted by: Kathleen Sharman
Email: kathleen_sharman@gecdsb.on.ca
School/University/Affiliation: Greater Essex County District School Board: Century Secondary School

Date: July 23, 2003

Grade Level: 10, Vocational Education

Subject(s):

Duration: 1 hour

Description: This lesson will introduce students to the current tools needed to shape, buff, and polish nails. In addition to understanding the function and purpose of different grades of files, students will also understand the current industry's health concerns regarding a nail technician's ability to sanitize and disinfect reusable personal service tools.

Goals: Technological Education, The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 and 10 :

Objectives: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the uses of tools and equipment for shaping, buffing, and polishing fingernails.

Materials:

Vocabulary:
  1. Nail File - Tool to shape alter nail surfaces.
  2. Sani-File - Sanitizable file with a nonporous surface, so it can be disinfected (unlike regular retail nail files).
  3. Buffer - A tool to smooth out fine imperfections on the nail and leave a smooth finish.
  4. Polisher - A tool that adds shine to the surface of a nail.
  5. Sanitize - Decreases the amount of bacteria on a surface.
  6. Disinfect - Kills most harmful bacteria on nonporous surfaces.
Procedure:
One of the most basic tools of a nail technician is a nail file. There are many different kinds of files, and each has a different function. To determine if a nail file is right for the job you want to do, it is first necessary to understand how nail files are graded. The coarseness of a file is graded according to the number of grains on the surface of the file. The higher the number--the finer the file. Low grade or coarse files are used to remove nail or surfaces in order to shorten or shape a nail. Finer grade files are used to finish the surface of length and shape. Remember, the part of basic manicure service is to even out the length and shape of all 10 nails. Remember the four desired nail shapes; square, oval, round, pointed. [ Author's Note: Regarding the creation of an overhead to demonstrate four desired nail shapes--this would have to be created by the teacher; the Milady Standard Textbook for Cosmetology (2000), p. 421 is a possible source for ideas when creating this overhead.]

Directions :
Today you will shape, buff, and polish four nails into the four desired nail shapes:

  1. Polish the four synthetic tips with a bright colour (one thin coat only) to determine if the entire surface has been shaped and buffed (no nail colour should be left on the nail in the finished product.
  2. Shape each nail into one of the four desired shapes using a coarse file.
  3. Using a finer file, remove the coat of polish on the nail and smooth out any rough edges on the free edge.
  4. Buff the entire nail surface and polish to a shine using only finishing tools (no base or top coats).
  5. Check your work; Did you use all 4 nail shapes? Is your shape symmetrical and even? Does the entire surface shine? Is the surface free of any scratches, gouges, or grooves? Is the surface free of nail varnish? Can you feel any catches on the surface and free edge?
Assessment: Based on the six questions asked to check students' work, the finished work will be assessed according to a rubric. Each question will get an answer rating of 1-4 based on results of each shape or nail result. For example, Are all four shapes present? The student is graded 1-4 marks based on each of the four nail shapes (1 mark/level for each shape present). The overall mark will be determined according to average level/mark achieved on all six questions: Level 1 (50-59%), Level 2 (60-69%), Level 3 (70 -79%), Level 4 (80-100%). This grade scheme can be posted on an overhead and marked by peers anonymously. Fold the four nails into the paper and mark with a student number or other code. Students can grade the nails using all six questions and the teacher can later review marks and record an overall mark and return work to student with a complete detail of marking scheme and overall mark.

Useful Internet Resources:
* Milady
Milady, an imprint of Delmar Learning, is recognized as the world's number one publisher of beauty training materials and beauty education for students and professional reference!
http://www.Milady.com

* Star Nail - Accessories
http://www.starnail.com/access.htm

* Technological Education: The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 and 10
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/curricul/secondary/techno/techful.html

Other Reference: Milady Standard Textbook of Cosmetology . (2000) Thompson Learning. Albany, NY.

Special Comments: All sanitizable files should be sprayed with alcohol before services and placed in disinfectant between each service.