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Nail Technician: Manicures, Gel, Acrylic, Builder Gel and Nail Art, Done Safely

The full nail service menu from classic manicure to acrylic, builder gel, press-ons and nail art, built on the hygiene, nail health and product safety that protect your clients and your name.

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About this course

Nails are one of the busiest beauty services in Nigeria and one of the easiest to start from a table at home, but most techs learn from videos and never learn the part that matters most: keeping nails healthy and tools clean. This course teaches the whole job properly. You will learn what the nail business looks like and how to set up a starter kit, how nails grow and when to refuse a service and refer a client, how to clean, disinfect and sterilise so nobody leaves with an infection, how to do a classic manicure and pedicure, how to apply gel polish that lasts and remove it without damage, how acrylic, builder gel, polygel and press-ons work and how to avoid the harmful products sold cheaply, how to do the nail art clients ask for and photograph it, and how to price, book, do home service, source products and list your service on Skill Market. Every lesson ends with a practice task on a practice hand or a willing friend. It teaches safe practice by the manufacturer's instructions, never diagnosis or treatment. Free, like every Skillnaija course.

At 7 a.m. on a Saturday, Precious Okon, 22, is packing a small wheeled case in the corner of her mother's shop in Surulere: files still in their wrappers, a lamp, a sealed pouch of clean tools for each of her four Lekki clients, disinfectant, gloves and a first-aid kit. Two years ago she worked the way videos taught her: one set of tools for everybody, a blade for hard skin, and a cheap acrylic liquid so strong it made her eyes water. Then a client came back with a swollen, painful finger, told her friends, and Precious lost three regulars in a month. She rebuilt on one idea: healthy nails, clean tools, honest work.

What you'll learn

Course syllabus — 10 lessons

  1. The nail business in Nigeria15 min
  2. Nail anatomy, health and when to say no16 min
  3. Hygiene and infection control16 min
  4. Manicure and pedicure, step by step16 min
  5. Gel polish that lasts16 min
  6. Acrylic nails, done safely17 min
  7. Builder gel, polygel and press-ons15 min
  8. Nail art and trends15 min
  9. The business: pricing, bookings, home service and Skill Market17 min
  10. Your portfolio and the project16 min

Your project

Your Nail Portfolio and Hygiene Protocol

One document (Google Doc with view access, or an uploaded Word or PDF file, or a shared photo folder plus a document) with a headed section for each of the five parts. Photos must be your own work, taken with permission.

Certificates on Skillnaija are earned, not issued for attendance: you submit this project, it is graded against a rubric, and passing issues a certificate anyone can verify. See the full project brief, rubric and free workbook →

Frequently asked questions

Is Nail Technician: Manicures, Gel, Acrylic, Builder Gel and Nail Art, Done Safely free?

Yes. Nail Technician: Manicures, Gel, Acrylic, Builder Gel and Nail Art, Done Safely is completely free on Skillnaija. You need a free account to open the lessons, and there is no charge for the course, the project, or the certificate.

How long does Nail Technician: Manicures, Gel, Acrylic, Builder Gel and Nail Art, Done Safely take to complete?

5 weeks · ~4 hrs/week. There are 10 lessons, about 3 hours of material in total. You learn at your own pace and your progress is saved.

Do I need any experience to start Nail Technician: Manicures, Gel, Acrylic, Builder Gel and Nail Art, Done Safely?

Beginner. You can start from scratch — no prior experience is assumed.

What will I learn in Nail Technician: Manicures, Gel, Acrylic, Builder Gel and Nail Art, Done Safely?

You will build practical skills in Nail anatomy and contraindications, Hygiene, disinfection and sterilisation, Classic manicure and pedicure, Gel polish application and removal, Acrylic nails and safe products, Builder gel, polygel and press-ons, Nail art and trends, E-file and lamp safety, Consultation and client records, Pricing, deposits and home service, Product sourcing and NAFDAC awareness, Skill Market in-person listings. Every lesson is written for a Nigerian context, with examples drawn from how the work is actually done and paid for here.

Do I get a certificate for Nail Technician: Manicures, Gel, Acrylic, Builder Gel and Nail Art, Done Safely?

Yes, but it has to be earned. You complete the course project — Your Nail Portfolio and Hygiene Protocol and submit it for grading. Passing the project issues a verifiable certificate; finishing the lessons alone does not.

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