What Do Manicurists and Pedicurists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Manicurists and Pedicurists clean and shape customers’ fingernails and toenails. May polish or decorate nails. They also clean and sanitize tools and work environment.

Other tasks include:

• Apply undercoat and clear or colored polish onto nails with brush.
• Maintain supply inventories and records of client services.
• Shape and smooth ends of nails, using scissors, files, or emery boards.
• Prepare nail cuticles with water and oil, using cuticle knives to push back cuticles and scissors or nippers to trim cuticles.
• Prepare customers’ nails in soapy water, using swabs, files, and orange sticks.
• Remove previously applied nail polish, using liquid remover and swabs.

We asked Manicurists and Pedicurists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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69% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 60% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Manicurists and Pedicurists clean and sanitize tools and work environment. They shape and smooth ends of nails, using scissors, files, or emery boards.

A typical day for a Manicurist and Pedicurist will also include:

• Apply undercoat and clear or colored polish onto nails with brush.
• Remove previously applied nail polish, using liquid remover and swabs.
• Use rotary abrasive wheels to shape and smooth nails or artificial extensions.
• Maintain supply inventories and records of client services.
• Assess the condition of clients’ hands, remove dead skin, and massage hands.

We asked some Manicurists and Pedicurists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	45% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	40% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	57% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	7% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	1% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	18% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Manicurists and Pedicurists also whiten underside of nails with white paste or pencils. They may also promote and sell nail care products.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Manicurists and Pedicurists Treat nails to repair or improve strength and resilience by wrapping. They might also Decorate clients’ nails by piercing or attaching ornaments or designs.

In addition, they Maintain supply inventories and records of client services.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Roughen surfaces of fingernails, using abrasive wheel.

To some Manicurists and Pedicurists, it is also their responsibility to Schedule client appointments and accept payments.

Working life

Less than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Manicurist and Pedicurist, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/personal-care-and-service/manicurists-and-pedicurists.htm

http://www.beautyschools.org/

http://www.pedicureassociation.org/

http://www.nictesting.org/