PSI Texas State Board Nail Tech practice exam

Which tool may damage the nail plate and break the seal when removing a tip?

1. Nail buffer

2. Scissors

3. Nippers

4. Cuticle pusher

The correct answer is: Nippers

Using nippers to remove a nail tip can indeed damage the nail plate and break the seal. Nippers are designed with sharp, precision edges that can easily compromise the surface of the natural nail if not used carefully. Their purpose is generally for trimming excess nail or cuticle, but when applied to the delicate area around a tip or the tip itself, they can cause unintentional gouging or splitting of the nail plate. In contrast, while a nail buffer, scissors, and cuticle pusher serve their own specific functions within nail care, they are typically not used in a manner that puts the integrity of the nail plate at as much risk as nippers. Nail buffers are meant for smoothing and shine, scissors are primarily for trimming, and cuticle pushers are used to gently push back the cuticles without cutting into the nail or causing damage.