The guest sits down, rolls up her sleeve, and there is a raised, hot, weeping patch of skin on her forearm. She says it is nothing and she would like the manicure anyway. She is the charter principal. She is paying a great deal of money. And you are still going to say no.
The Consultation
Every treatment starts with a consultation, however casual the setting. You are establishing:
- What the guest wants, and whether it is achievable in the time and space.
- Medical history relevant to the treatment: diabetes, circulatory problems, skin conditions, epilepsy, pregnancy, recent surgery, current medication.
- Allergies and previous reactions.
- Actives and prescription products in use.
- Whether a patch test is required — and whether it has been done.
Contraindications
| Type | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Absolute — do not treat | The treatment is unsafe. Refuse and refer | Active infection (bacterial, fungal, viral), open or broken skin, sunburn, undiagnosed lumps or changing moles, contagious skin disease, recent surgery in the area |
| Restrictive — treat with adaptation | Modify, avoid an area, reduce intensity | Diabetes, poor circulation, pregnancy, varicose veins, sensitive or sensitised skin, bruising, retinoid use (no wax, no acid), recent injectables |
If a guest has an active infection, you do not treat it, you do not polish over it, and you do not name it. You say: "I am not able to work over that safely, and I would recommend you have it looked at by a doctor."
Refusing a Treatment, Well
Refusing is a professional act, not a rudeness. The script is short and kind:
- Do not diagnose. "I cannot treat over that."
- Give the reason once, plainly: it is not safe, and it is not permitted.
- Offer the alternative: "I can do a full hand massage and treat the other hand."
- Escalate: tell the chief stew immediately, so that when the guest complains — and they may — the department already knows and backs you.
You will be pressured. Hold the line. A guest with an infected nail bed will not thank you when they are on antibiotics in Palma.
Consent
Explain the treatment, the products, the risks, and any aftercare before you start, and obtain the guest's agreement. For anything involving tints, lashes, chemicals or skin-breaking work, that consent should be recorded — and it is meaningless without the patch test that precedes it.
Record Cards
Keep a record card for every guest: date, treatment, products used (with batch where relevant), patch test date and result, contraindications noted, adaptations made, aftercare given, and anything unusual. It protects the guest, and it protects you. If there is ever a complaint or a reaction, the record card is your evidence.
Onboard Notes
- Consult before every treatment, even the casual ones.
- Absolute contraindication: refuse, refer to a doctor, do not diagnose.
- Refuse kindly, offer an alternative, and tell the chief stew straight away.
- No record card, no evidence. Write it down at the time, not later.
- Preparatory study only. Nothing here qualifies you to treat a guest. Beauty and nail work requires an accredited vocational qualification and professional insurance.