Manicure terms, plainly explained
The names for the parts of a nail and the things that happen to them — the vocabulary a technician uses every day.
Nail fold
The rims of skin framing the nail on three sides. They hold the plate in place and, along the sides, are where most manicure injuries happen.
Nail plate
The nail itself: layered keratin, formed in the matrix, sliding forward over the bed. Everything else in a manicure is either under it or around it.