Delaware Cosmetology and Barbering Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Delaware Cosmetology and Barbering exam with extensive practice tests. Master the skills needed with practice questions, complete with hints and detailed explanations. Ace your exam with confidence!

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During a manicure, when do you soften the cuticles?

After shaping the nail
Before applying nail polish
After applying nail polish
Before shaping the nail

The correct answer is: Before shaping the nail

The best practice during a manicure is to soften the cuticles before shaping the nails. This process typically involves soaking the hands in warm water or applying a cuticle softener. Softening the cuticles beforehand allows for easier and more effective removal of excess skin without the risk of damaging the nail plate or surrounding tissue. By preparing the cuticles first, it ensures that the nail shaping can be done more cleanly and precisely, leading to a neater overall appearance. In the incorrect choice of applying cuticle softener after shaping the nails, this would not facilitate proper cuticle care and could lead to uneven or jagged nail shapes. Applying nail polish before handling the cuticles would also potentially damage the manicure, as the polish is applied to the nails at a point when the nail bed is expected to be clean and dry. Finally, softening the cuticles after applying nail polish would create a situation where any product could potentially come into contact with the polish, causing smudging or lifting.