FAQ's
frequently asked questions
The stationery system is composed of 5 steps in total:
STEP 1 | record & grade
1a - Client Record Card: this item is to be filled out by the client to attain all the standard details any thorough consultation system does.
1b - Gel Exposure Profile: this innovative item is filled out by the client and asks a series of carefully considered questions needed to assess the clients gel history and is used to grade the level of risk the client has of developing an allergic reaction.
1c - Grading Risk Assessment: This card is for professional use only. You'll use the answers to the questions and the Grading Index to provide a risk level.
Grading Index: An innovative grading system to grade how at risk the client is of developing an allergic reaction.
Risk Cards: Green - Low Risk, Amber - Moderate Risk, Red - High Risk.
STEP 2 | assess
2a - Gel Nail Treatment Suitability Assessment: Evaluate the client’s suitability for gel nail treatments at every visit.
2b - Nail & Treatment Profile: Assess the client’s nail anatomy and any structural needs using the Nail Indexing System.
Nail Indexing System: This is one of the most useful parts of the Method Mani-Science® system, as it enables you to forecast how long the treatment will take and adjust your scheduling and pricing accordingly.
STEP 3 | prescribe
The Gel Nail Products Ingredients Information Sheet: This card provides clients with details about different gel nail products. This is especially beneficial if you offer multiple brands in your salon, or if you're working with both HEMA-containing and HEMA-free brands, allowing clients to choose based on their preferences or sensitivities.
3a - Nail Sensitivity Test: Before proceeding with the Nail Sensitivity Test (NST), provide the client with informed consent documents that clearly explain the purpose and potential risks of the test. This ensures that the client is fully aware of the process and any possible reactions.
3b - Nail Sensitivity Test Products: Here, you'll need to choose the appropriate products for the test and document them for reference and follow-up.
3c - Gel Treatment Plan: When the client either opts for a full treatment or receives a negative result from the NST (indicating no allergic reaction at this point), use this document to proceed with outlining the recommended treatment products and steps for the treatment.
STEP 4 | treat
4a - Client Etiquette & Terms of Treatment: In this step, you’ll establish the expectations and boundaries for the treatment process.
4b - Nail Sensitivity Test Record: This record is for documenting the results of any NST’s performed. You will fill this out immediately after performing the NST treatment, noting what products were used.
4c - Changes Declaration Record: This document is used to record any changes in the client’s medical or personal information at subsequent visits.
4d - Gel Nail Treatment Record: This record is essential for tracking the specifics of each treatment.
STEP 5 | care
Nail Sensitivity Aftercare Card: If your client has undergone a NST, provide them with the Nail Sensitivity Aftercare Card. This card contains essential information on how to care for their nails following the test, as well as guidance on what to do in the event of any reaction.
Gel Nail Treatment Aftercare Card: For clients who have received a full gel nail treatment, provide them with the Gel Nail Treatment Aftercare Card. This card includes aftercare instructions specific to maintaining their nails after gel application and guidance on how to prevent potential issues.
Nail Sensitivity Test (NST)
The Nail Sensitivity Test (NST) is designed to see how a client's body reacts to a specific gel nail brand and the products selected from that range. It allows a 7-day period between application and follow-up to observe any reactions.
It's important to note that this can only be conducted when using the Method Mani-Science® system. Conducting this without the system can be unsafe and lead to issues with insurance cover or other legalities.
Unfortunately not - due to being a micro business of just one person, this isn't feasible for us right now. Additionally, implications of data protection are a concern with this. Paper-based systems are much easier to protect and less risky when it comes to breaches of confidential information. Think of the NHS - they still use paper-based systems as well as digital ones!
Absolutely not - the system focuses only on the following treatment options for clients:
No Treatment (high risk clients)
Nail Sensitivity Test (NST) - only to be undertaken using the Method Mani-Science® System
Full Gel Nail Treatment
You as the nail professional can then use all the information taken from that client during the early steps, to prescribe the best products. The system works perfectly to provide prescriptive manicures with items enabling you to assess the clients nail type and shape, to truly provide a bespoke treatment and predict cost, time and frequency of appointments. This helps manage client expectations.
The system is designed to work with any brand of gel nail products - but it's important to remember that professional products only should be used within professional treatments on clients and it's imperative to ask the brands important safety questions relating to their products.
Absolutely not - and we do not claim the system does this. It offers protection to those nail professionals who are utilising products correctly and inline with proper practice e.g. not intermixing or laying products from different gel nail brand systems, using approved curing lamps etc.
If a nail professional is not undertaking safe practice, the system will not provide any protection and infact, the system may work against nail professionals. This highlights the importance of undertaking proper practice. We advise all nail technicians to undertake Mani-Science Course I: The Basics to learn about the science behind gel nail products. This in turn, will provide nail professionals with the ability to understand the products they use and know what is and is not safe.
If a nail professional is using their products in a safe way, explaining all aspects covered within the Method Mani-Science® online training, is taking only informed consent from the client and it utilising their knowledge to recommend treatments to their clients, the system will provide evidence of this plus a robust record keeping system.
This will be greatly beneficial to a nail professional if any legal action is taken against the nail professional. It is important to remember that ultimately, it is the nail professionals responsibility to ensure treatments are safe to conduct on any client, and it is important to check with individual insurance for compliance with this and what that insurance company expect a nail professional to behave.
Yes - in normal circumstances this would be the use of the word, however with respect to Method Mani-Science® this differs slightly.
Clarification of “Risk” in Method Mani-Science
The Method Mani-Science® system categorises clients based on their past exposure to gel nail products to assess the potential risk of allergic reactions:
Low Risk: Clients with minimal or no prior exposure to gel nail products.
Moderate Risk: Clients with occasional exposure to gel nail products, showing no historic signs of sensitisation.
High Risk: Clients with frequent exposure or signs of potential prior sensitisation to gel nail products. If a client has been formally diagnosed with an allergic reaction to a specific ingredient within gel nail products, it is imperative that the nail professional strictly avoids this ingredient.
Risk in this context refers to prior exposure and does not predict future reactions. It merely acts as a communicative tool.
High Risk: Indicates significant past exposure (frequent use or historic signs of potential sensitisation).
Moderate Risk: Indicates occasional exposure without signs of sensitisation.
Low Risk: Indicates minimal or no prior exposure.
A high-risk classification does not guarantee a reaction will occur; it merely indicates a history of significant contact with gel products.
This system is designed to inform clients and support nail professionals in making educated decisions. It does not imply that a nail technician is knowingly performing a treatment that will cause harm.
If a high-risk client chooses to proceed with a service, it is done with full disclosure of potential risks, and the nail technician has followed industry best practices to ensure proper application and offered the safest option of no treatment, with the client making an indepedent decision to to go ahead with the treatment regardless of their risk. It is client responsibility to make the decision in any case.
Correct Product Usage Notice
For the Method Mani-Science® system to be effective, the nail professional must use all products as intended by the manufacturer. This includes but is not limited to:
Using only products that are designed to be used together (not mixing brands within a service).
Curing gel products using a lamp recommended by the brand.
Following all manufacturer instructions for proper application.
Failure to adhere to these guidelines is considered malpractice, and the Method Mani-Science system and its components will not be valid in assessing or mitigating potential sensitisation risks.
