NAIL TERM GLOSSARY

Our nail term glossary is a resource provided to our customers which offers simple definitions for various terms used in reference to nail care.

Please feel free to peruse our glossary for any terms you wish to define.

M

TERM	DEFINITION
Mainstream	Nail paint/polish made by large companies and considered conventional.
Malignant	Condition of a disease that is deteriorating and potentially fatal.
Manicure	Cosmetic treatment to make hands look beautiful.
Manicure Table	Table used by nail technicians to perform their work.
Manicurist	Someone who is licensed to perform nail services.
Mannequin Hands	When nail paint and the skin around the nails match so much that they resemble the hands of a mannequin.
Mantle	Skin before the cuticle and at the base of the nail.
Manufacturer's Educator	A manicurist who directly works for a product manufacturer or a company that makes nail care products.
Marbler Brush	Brush used to mix nail paints.
Mask	A cosmetic product that is used to retain moisture or lighten the skin, typically used on face or hands.
Massage	Massage refers to rubbing or pressing parts of the body in order to provide therapeutic benefits.
Matrix	Area from where the nails start to grow.
Matte	A nail finish that is not shiny or glossy.
Matte Top Coat	A Top Coat that gives matte (non-glossy) finish.
Medical Pedicure	Pedicure that is focused on calluses and remedying fungus and other germs that might negatively impact foot health.
Medispa	Medispa or medical spa is a healthy facility that offers therapeutic spa treatments.
Melanonychia	Melanonychia is brownish black discoloration of nail plate caused by melanin pigmentation of the plate.
Men's Services	Beauty services that are meant for men.
Menthol	A cooling substance found in mint plants such as peppermint.
Mesh Size	Mesh Size is defined as the number of openings in a square inch and helps to determine the size of granular material such as acrylic powders in nail art. Smaller mesh means bigger particles and bigger mesh means smaller particles.
Metacarpals	Bones in the palm which join finger bones with the carpal bones.
Metatarsals	Bones in the human foot which join the ankle bone with toes.
Methacrylate	Salt of methacrylic acid used in making nail primers as nail enhancement products.
Methacrylic Acid	Acidic substance used in nail primers.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)	A colorless sweet odor liquid used as a solvent in many industries. In nail care it is used in acetone free nail polish remover.
Methyl Methacrylate (MMA)	A substance banned by the FDA for use in nail products.
Methyl Methacrylate Polymer (PMMA)	Methyl Methacrylate Polymer is not the same as MMA that is banned by the FDA since 1978. PMMA is much safer than MMA and used in many nail products.
Methylene Chloride	Methylene Chloride is banned by FDA and cannot be used as solvent in nail products.
Mica	Mica is used in nail paints to add shimmer.
Micro Buffer	Nail file with very high grit.
Micro-Organism	Refers to microscopic organisms: bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, algae and viruses.
Microdermabrasion	Microdermabrasion is a procedure which is used to renew skin tone and texture by removing the top layer of skin.
Mildew	A white colored fungus.
Mineral Oil	Refined petroleum oil.
Mist	Tiny water droplets suspended in air made by spraying liquid through air.
Mix Ratio	Refers to liquid to powder ratio of products to achieve perfect hardening of nail products.
Mobile Salon	Refers to nail technician who travels to their customers to provide the services.
Moisturizer	Lotion, cream or oil that adds water/moisture to the skin.
Mold	A fungus that grows on damp or decaying organic matter.
Monomer (and Polymer)	Monomer liquid reacts with polymer powder to form sculpted nails.
Moon	The pink/white semi circled shape at the base of the nail (whitish crescent at the base of the nail).
Moon Manicure	Nail art in which the moon is painted in such a way that it enhances lunula (whitish crescent at the base of the nail).
MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets)	List of hazardous chemicals and the precautions regarding them, in a product. Used to determine safe shipping, storage and use requirements.
Muehrcke's Lines	A disorder characterized by white, transverse lines on the nail bed
Multi-Media Nail Art	Nail art that uses more than one media to prepare nails such as brushes, paints, rhinestones, gels, et cetera, at the same time.
Multichrome	A nail polish which shows different colors when seen from different angles.
Myxoid Cyst	Harmless small lump that occurs near a nail.

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