Natural nail care is different from nail art, which is primarily concerned with issues related to artificial nail care. The traditional nailists from old beauty schools mainly gave natural nail care services like pedicures and manicures to their clients. Their role has now extended to nail designing and nail art techniques. The various nail treatments offered by leading nail salons involve grooming and caring for an individual's original nails by cleaning and filing them, decorating and beautifying the nails with color varnish, glitter and other embellishments and applying nail extensions or artificial nails. Creating nail art with airbrushes or freehand painting techniques in various designs is cosmetic nail care. The maintainance, repair and removal of artificial nails are also a part of a nailist's job now.

Nail technicians use several nail care products to ensure the nail health of their clients. They are also required to counsel their clients about nail care products and nail aftercare. Nail art technicians also have to ensure that they make careful and efficient use of nail care products by adhering to stringent rules of hygiene while doing their work. They could exhibit utmost care while storing varnishes and chemical products meant for professional use. Nail technicians require nail care products like epidermal scissors; nail clippers and nail files for nail and pedicure care services. Human nails tend to dehydrate just like human skin. Therefore those who are conscious about their health are very particular about maintaining and cleaning their nails. Nail neglect can lead to bad infections and allergies in other parts of the body. For optimum nail health it is important to keep clean, eat right, wear clean socks and hand gear when possible and required and walk in properly fitting footwear. Women should wear hand gloves while doing housework and washing dishes.

Pedicures and manicures are cosmetic health processes to clean, groom, shape and decorate nails for the overall well being of the individual. It is imperative that nail technicians keep their nail care products clean and dry, and sterilize them properly before use. This is very important because they are variously applied to different people at the same time. Nail technicians should also give nail care tips to their clients during their appointments. Nail care salons are notorious for spreading nail fungi, staph bacteria and other skin viruses through unclean instruments and wrong applications.

Diabetic nail care is a specialized field of nail care. Diabetic individuals posses less sensitivity towards common stimulus like pain, heat and cold. This leads them to neglect their injuries, like cracked nails which are already difficult, and sometimes impossible to heal. Diabetics should check their feet and hands regularly for injuries and keep them clean and dry at all times. It is also imperative that they keep their toenails neatly trimmed and cut them in accordance with the shape of their toes. Skin cutting should be strictly avoided by soaking nails in warm water before cutting them. Any signs of in growth, redness, swelling or drainage around nails should be reported to a doctor immediately. Diabetics suffering from blurred vision should get someone else to trim and cut their nails to avoid injury. Recommended site for nail care tips