Pedicurist

Pedicurists offer cosmetic treatment and care for their clients’ feet and toenails. They cut and shape toenails, give footbaths and exfoliation treatments and apply nail polish.

Pedicurists typically do the following:

• Discuss nail treatments and services available
• Remove clients’ nail polish, if any
• Clean, trim, and file nails
• Soften calluses and remove rough skin
• Massage and moisturize feet for a pedicure
• Polish or buff nails
• Apply or remove artificial nails and nail art
• Advise clients about nail and skin care for feet
• Clean and disinfect their work area and tools

The following job titles also refer to pedicurist:

beauty salon assistant
salon assistant

Pedicurists usually work in a nail salon, spa, or hair salon. The job involves a lot of sitting. A small number of pedicurists make house calls, traveling to their clients’ locations to provide mobile services. However, mobile services may not be widely available.

Pedicurists use chemicals when working on toenails, so they often wear protective clothing such as gloves and masks.

Most pedicurists work full time, although part-time work is common. Schedules may vary and often include evenings and weekends. Some pedicurists work more than 40 hours per week. Self-employed workers often set their own schedules.

Most pedicurists receive a high school diploma or equivalent before pursuing an education in cosmetology. Cosmetology programs are typically offered at community colleges and technical schools. These programs typically take six to nine months to complete and include both classroom and practical instruction. Students learn about nail anatomy, nail care, nail shaping, nail art, nail polish application, pedicure care, manicure care, manicure techniques, nail disorders, nail repair and nail removal.

Pedicurists receive most of their training while completing their education. Students will learn the basics of the job while working with other students and practicing on fake nails. They will also learn how to clean and sterilize tools and how to properly file and buff nails.

Pedicurists can also receive on-the-job training from their employers. They will learn how to use the salon’s products and how to perform different services. They will also learn how to interact with clients and how to handle any issues that may arise.

In some locations, pedicurists are required to obtain a cosmetology license. The length of the pedicurist license depends on the state, but most require completion of a basic pedicure course.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Pedicurist is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to pedicurist.

manicurist
aesthetician
hair removal technician
hairdresser assistant
tanning consultant

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of pedicurist. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of pedicurist with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

body artist
life coach
massage therapist
wedding planner
cosmetics and perfume shop manager

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of pedicurist.

• Cosmetic pedicure: Treatment of the feet and toenails for cosmetic and embellishment purposes. It includes the cleaning of dead skin and the appliance of nail polish and other cosmetic techniques.
• Cosmetic skin treatment: The aesthetic care of the skin, such as facials, including exfoliation, facial masks, peels, steam, and extraction.
• Foot problems: Conditions and disorders affecting the health and well being of feet such as fungal infections, ingrown nails, verrucas, smelly feet, flat feet and bunions.
• Cosmetics: The various types of substances used to enhance the appearance of the human body.
• Cosmetics industry: Suppliers, products and brands in the cosmetic industry.
• Skin types: The different skin types, such as dry, normal, oily, and sensitive.

These skills are necessary for the role of pedicurist.

• Sterilise working environment: Make sure all working equipment, jewellery and skin is made sterile, before performing skin treatment or body modifications such as tattooing or piercing, to prevent infections or the transfer of diseases.
• Work ergonomically: Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
• Provide footwear advice to patients: Inform patients on the types of footwear available and suitable for their feet conditions or disorders to increase foot well being.
• Decorate nails: Use artificial nails, piercings, ornaments, or customised designs to decorate customers’ nails.
• Maintain equipment: Regularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.
• Treat nails: Wrap nails to repair them or make them stronger and more resilient. Soften, trim or push back nail cuticles and provide treatment to people who bite their nails.
• Identify customer’s needs: Use appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.
• Maintain customer service: Keep the highest possible customer service and make sure that the customer service is at all times performed in a professional way. Help customers or participants feel at ease and support special requirements.
• Advise customers on usage of cosmetics: Provide advice to customers on how to apply various cosmetic products such as lotions, powders, nail polish or creams.
• Conform to cosmetics regulatory requirements: Ensure conformance to regulatory requirements applied in personal care products such as cosmetics, fragrances and toiletry.
• Shape nails: Shape nails by cutting and smoothening the ends of the nails, with the use of files, scissors or emery boards.
• Apply nail polish: Remove previously applied nail polish, using liquid remover or swabs, clean customers’ nails and apply undercoat and clear or colored polish onto nails with brushes.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of pedicurist. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Order supplies: Command products from relevant suppliers to get convenient and profitable products to purchase.
• Give massages: Provide clients with head, hand, neck, facial or full body massages.
• Test make-up: Perform routine tests to determine if make-up products are adequate.
• Sell tickets: Exchange tickets for money in order to finalise the selling process by issuing the tickets as a proof of payment.
• Manage a small-to-medium business: Manage the organisational, financial and day-to-day operation of a small-to-medium enterprise.
• Maintain relationship with suppliers: Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with suppliers and service providers in order to establish a positive, profitable and enduring collaboration, co-operation and contract negotiation.
• Offer cosmetic beauty advice: Provide customers with advice and beauty tips for creating a new look.
• Monitor stock level: Evaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.
• Manufacture cosmetics: Prepare cosmetic products, possibly customised for customers with specific needs, such as lotions, soaps, face masks or salves.
• Promote foot health: Provide information and guidance on means to keep ones feet healthy by wearing appropriate footwear or avoiding unhealthy practices such as fungal infections.
• Maintain professional administration: File and organise professional administration documents comprehensively, keep customer records, fill in forms or log books and prepare documents about company-related matter.
• Administer appointments: Accept, schedule and cancel appointments.
• Recommend cosmetics to customers: Recommend and provide advice on cosmetic products based on the customer’s personal preferences and needs and on the different product types and brands available.
• Keep personal administration: File and organise personal administration documents comprehensively.
• Comply with legislation related to health care: Comply with the regional and national legislation that is relevant to one`s work and apply it in practice.
• Perform body piercings: Puncture or cut parts of people’s bodies, to create an opening for jewellery or rings.
• Show social competences: Ability to interact effectively with other people.
• Process payments: Accept payments such as cash, credit cards and debit cards. Handle reimbursement in case of returns or administer vouchers and marketing instruments such as bonus cards or membership cards. Pay attention to safety and the protection of personal data.
• Use hair removal techniques: Use techniques and handle tools to remove hair from body parts, such as electrolysis, IPL, waxing, lasering, threading or plucking.
• Issue sales invoices: Prepare the invoice of goods sold or services provided, containing individual prices, the total charge, and the terms. Complete order processing for orders received via telephone, fax and internet and calculate the customer’s final bill.

5142 – Beauticians and related workers

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References

1. Pedicurist – ESCO
2. Manicurists and Pedicurists : Occupational Outlook Handbook – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. Manicurist Job Description: Salary, Duties, & More – Climb the Ladder
4. Featured image: Photo by RODNAE Productions