Nail techs, here’s how you can prevent hand & wrist pain

Scratch sources advice for those that suffer with hand and wrist pain, so you can stop feeling the strain…

Samantha Sweet, co-founder of Sweet Squared, shares that repetitive strain injury and carpal tunnel syndrome will always be a likelihood for pros, due to the nature of the job. “Filing is the biggest culprit to cause CTS, as well as regular shaking of product bottles,” she says, while advising the best thing to do is to work smarter, not harder. “E-files can help if used correctly, and I’d consider using an imix, which take the strain out of shaking so many bottles.”

The imix alleviates the stress and strain on the hands and wrists, as it mixes your gel polish and lacquer formulas for perfect application. In addition, it cleverly uses magnetic technology to mix the entire formula until the last drop, so no product is wasted.

Pure Nails educator, Nicole Dowling, understands all about repetitive strain injury, after being a nail tech for almost 16 years. “After a long week of back-to-back clients, my hands cramp up, especially my thumb, which is extremely painful. This causes me a lot of stress and strain, not only for me, but also for my business,” she says.

Thankfully for Nicole there was help on the horizon. “After visiting my GP, I was advised to stop for five minutes and give my hands a rest and a small massage, which helps to reduce the pain and stop my hands from cramping,” she reveals.

She has some wise words of advice for other nail techs: “We all worry about running behind if we stop and take a break, but we should put our health first! My clients are so understanding, especially when they can see my hands cramping up.”

Charlie Russell, lead therapist at The Massage Company, shares how massage is an effective tool for easing pain caused from repetitive strain injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome.

“Massage help to relax the muscle tissue which can lead to decreased nerve compression, increased joint space and increased range of motion, which in can reduce pain and improve muscular function,” says Charlie. Recent insight from The Massage Company has also shown a 30% increase in nail and beauty professionals using massage to maintain a balanced and pain-free body.

TOP TIP: “Don’t grip your tools! Hold them firmly, but don’t grip tightly or for too long, as this will put unnecessary strain on your muscles.”

Antony Buckley, European director of education for Gelish

Katie Barnes, award-winning tech & product distributor, notes that nail techs should always take a break from repetitive activity, although she acknowledges that techs don’t always have the time for a break. “However, they must at least change position frequently and not hold any position for long periods of time,” she comments.

Katie adds that while you’re doing small activities like making a client a drink, or washing your hands, you can quickly carry out some stretches, such as flexing, bending and rotating your hands and fingers.

Nail industry veteran, Marian Newman BEM, wants you to think about your health later down the line. “When you start out as a nail professional, the last thing on your mind is your physical health – it wasn’t on my mind over 30 years ago,” she says. “However, we do need to realise this job has a big impact on how the body will behave in years to come.”