1. Nail Structure & Growth
Module 09 – 16’

2. Introduction ** write on page 198** Reflect general health of body
Educate yourself
Natural nail’s structure & growth

3. Why Study Nail Structure and Growth?
You can expertly groom, strengthen & Beautify nails
Knowing the difference between cuticle & eponychium
Prepare you for advanced nail services

4. The natural Nail Technical name Onyx Natural nail Healthy nail
Hard protective plate
Protein – Keratin
Appendage of the skin (integumentary system) Composed of keratin
Same as found in hair & skin
Healthy nail
Whitish
Translucent
Pinkish color of nail bed showing through
Firm flexible

5. Oil-based nail conditioner/nail polish
Did You Know - page 199
Porous to water
Water content
Relative to humidity of surrounding environment
15% - 25%
Directly effects flexibility
Oil-based nail conditioner/nail polish
Improve flexibility
Reduce water loss

6. Nail Anatomy

8. Nail Plate Most visible and functional part
Hardened keratin plate sits on and slides across nail bed
100 layers of nail cells
Free Edge
Extends over tip of finger/toe

9. Nail Bed Bed epithelium Living skin on which the nail plate sits
Richly supplied with blood vessels
Pinkish area
Supplied with nerves
Bed epithelium
Thin layer of tissue attaching the nail plate to the nail bed
Helps guide nail plate along bed as it grows

10. Matrix Natural nail is formed Contains
Nerves
Lymph
Blood vessels to nourish cells
Create new cells as long as healthy
Extends under the nail fold at base of nail to nail plate

11. Lunula Growth can be effected
Lighter color shows the true color of matrix
Growth can be effected
Poor health
Nail disorder or disease is present
Injury to matrix

13. Cuticle Dead colorless tissue attached to plate
Seal the space between natural plate and living skin above
Prevents injury and infection

14. Eponychium Living skin at base of nail plate covering matrix area
Cuticle is dead tissue
Eponychium is living tissue – legally we cannot cut
Checklist page 201

15. hyponychium Slightly thickened layer of skin underneath free edge
Creates seal under nail plate to prevent microorganisms from invading and infecting nail bed

16. Specialized ligaments
Tough band of fibrous tissue that connects bones or holds an organ in place
Specialized ligaments
Attach nail bed and matrix to the underlying bone

17. Nail Folds Nail folds Nail grooves Sidewall – lateral nail fold
Folds of normal skin that surround nail plate
Form nail groves
Nail grooves
Slits or furrows on sides of nail on which it moves as it grows
Sidewall – lateral nail fold
Fold of skin overlapping the side of the nail

18. Nail Growth Growth of nail plate affected:
Nutrition
Exercise
Person’s general health
Length, width and curvature of matrix determine the thickness, width and curvature of the natural nail plate
Longer matrix produces
Thicker nail plate
Highly curved matrix creates
Highly curved free edge

19. Growth Average growth – normal adult is 1/10” to 1/8” per month Faster
Summer
Children
Middle finger
Slower
Winter
Elderly
Thumb

20. Rate increases dramatically in last trimester of pregnancy
Hormonal changes in body
Rate decreases dramatically after delivery
Returns to normal as hormones levels return to normal
prenatal care vitamins
Myth – makes grow faster
Grow faster whether taken or not (hormone changes)
Toenails grow thicker, harder and slower
Did you Know? Page 203

21. Nail Malformation Disease, injury, or infection occurs in matrix
Shape or thickness of nail plate can change
Natural nail will grow as long as matrix is healthy and undamaged
Replacement natural fingernail –
4 – 6 months
Replacement natural toenails –
months
Nails are not shed automatically or periodically as does hair

23. Know your nails
Creativity must be rounded in a full awareness of the structure and physiology of nails and the surrounding tissue