Purpose of These Standards
TheNailWiki publishes specialist educational, reference, industry, contributor, directory, and commercial content for the nail profession. This page describes the principles and processes used across the platform.
The level and type of review applied to any piece of content will vary depending on its purpose, subject matter, level of risk, sources available, and whether the content is editorial, submitted, or commercial. Not every piece of content receives the same degree of review.
These standards support accuracy, safety, transparency, responsible authorship, clear commercial disclosure, correction of errors, fair treatment of contributors and businesses, respect for copyright and privacy, and a clear distinction between education, opinion, news, and advertising. The standards may be revised as the platform, industry, technology, evidence, and applicable law develop. These standards are an editorial policy. They are not a contract, legal opinion, medical opinion, or guarantee of any particular outcome.
Our Editorial Mission
TheNailWiki aims to make professional nail knowledge easier to find, easier to understand, more organised, more transparent, and more useful in professional practice.
Our long-term vision is to build The World's Largest Nail Knowledge Resource through careful organisation, transparent authorship, responsible research, and continuous improvement. This is a long-term vision rather than a statement of current size or status.
Core Editorial Principles
Accuracy Before Speed
TheNailWiki does not aim to publish first at the expense of reasonable accuracy. Content may be delayed, limited, corrected, or not published where sufficient information is unavailable.
Clarity About Evidence
The platform aims to distinguish between established information, regulatory requirements, manufacturer instructions, research findings, professional experience, editorial interpretation, contributor opinion, and emerging or disputed information. These categories are not treated as equivalent.
Safety and Professional Scope
Content must not encourage medical diagnosis by nail technicians, unsafe product use, work outside appropriate training or competence, disregard of manufacturer instructions, or disregard of symptoms that require medical assessment.
Editorial Judgement
Advertisers, paying clients, directory members, brands, and contributors do not purchase control over independent editorial conclusions. Paid and submitted content may include information supplied by third parties and is labelled accordingly.
Transparency
TheNailWiki aims to disclose, where relevant: authorship, content type, payment or sponsorship, affiliate relationships, gifted products, material conflicts of interest, important source limitations, and corrections.
Continuous Review
Content may be revised where terminology changes, stronger evidence emerges, regulations change, an error is identified, a product is reformulated, a source becomes outdated, or professional understanding develops. No fixed review schedule is guaranteed for every page.
Who Is Responsible for TheNailWiki Content?
Radina Ignatova is the founder of TheNailWiki, primary author of The Nail Wiki Library, and editorial lead. She is a Professional Nail Expert and International Nail Educator who has worked actively in professional nail practice since 2014.
Her responsibilities may include selecting subjects, researching and writing core content, assessing sources, reviewing contributor submissions, deciding whether material is accepted, revised, labelled, postponed, or rejected, overseeing corrections, maintaining editorial consistency, and developing illustrations and learning resources.
Where the term "TheNailWiki" is used in this document, it refers to the editorial lead and any editorial or operational staff involved at the time.
Expertise and Its Limits
The editorial lead's areas of professional experience include nail anatomy, nail science, Russian Manicure, e-file manicure, dual forms, product application, nail structure, retention, troubleshooting, salon safety, client consultation, and professional education.
Professional nail experience does not replace specialist medical, scientific, chemical, legal, regulatory, or data-protection expertise.
Where a subject extends beyond the editorial lead's competence, TheNailWiki may rely on authoritative primary sources, seek specialist comment, commission or request external review, narrow the scope of the article, attribute claims to the relevant source, state that evidence is uncertain, or decline to publish.
A specialist reviewer is only identified where that review has genuinely occurred and permission has been given. No claim is made that every page involving nail health, chemistry, products, or regulation has been reviewed by a specialist.
Content Categories
Nail Wiki Library Content
Educational and reference material written or substantively edited by TheNailWiki. It aims to organise professional knowledge, explain terminology, provide practical context, identify safety considerations, distinguish evidence from interpretation, and remain useful over time. No educational page can account for every product, client, jurisdiction, or professional circumstance.
Practical Technique Content
Technique guidance may draw on professional experience, recognised training principles, manufacturer instructions, documented safety guidance, and relevant research where available. Several safe professional methods may exist for any given technique. No method is described as universally correct unless sufficient evidence supports that conclusion. A clear distinction is maintained between safety requirements, manufacturer requirements, structural principles, educator preferences, and individual working methods.
Nail Health and Medical-Adjacent Content
This content is educational only. It does not diagnose, prescribe, recommend medical treatment, or replace examination by an appropriate healthcare professional. Nail professionals may observe changes, document relevant information, pause or refuse a service, and advise a client to seek an appropriate professional assessment. Observation is not diagnosis. Terms such as "may", "can be associated with", and "requires professional assessment" are used where certainty is not possible.
Product and Ingredient Content
Product information may rely on current manufacturer instructions, ingredient lists, safety documentation, regulator guidance, technical literature, and professional observation. Manufacturer claims are attributed. Product availability does not by itself prove safety or legal compliance. Social-media claims do not establish illegality or danger. Compatibility must not be assumed from lamp wattage alone. Users must follow the current instructions for the complete product system. Regional rules may differ, and formulations and instructions can change. Disclosure is required of gifted products, sponsorship, affiliate links, commercial partnerships, brand ownership, and other material financial interests.
Nail Industry News
Industry news aims to distinguish between independently confirmed facts, statements issued by a company, opinions, projections, and promotional claims. Company claims are attributed rather than presented automatically as independently proven facts.
Paid Press Releases
Press releases are paid commercial content and are clearly labelled as such. Information may be supplied by a client. Payment covers editorial preparation and publication consideration — it does not guarantee acceptance, a favourable conclusion, or permanent publication. Publication does not constitute endorsement. TheNailWiki may request supporting evidence and may attribute claims to the submitting organisation. The submitting party remains responsible for the accuracy, legality, rights, and permissions relating to supplied material. Content may be corrected, restricted, suspended, or removed where justified.
Paid press releases must meet baseline requirements for transparency, safety, legality, and the absence of clearly misleading claims. They do not receive the same evidential review as independent reference material.
Featured Contributor Content
The contributor is identified and their relevant professional background may be displayed. Opinions remain attributable to the contributor. Articles may be edited for grammar, clarity, structure, safety, sourcing, and house style. Publication does not imply endorsement of every contributor view. Contributors must disclose material conflicts. Unsupported claims may be removed or qualified. Submissions may be declined or withdrawn. TheNailWiki may not be able to independently reproduce or verify every professional experience described by a contributor.
Verified Professional Profiles
Directory profiles may be paid listings, open to any nail technician or nail salon offering nail treatments. Payment does not itself result in a live profile: we carry out a basic check to confirm the person or business offers nail treatments, and we do not require qualification certificates or insurance documents. Inclusion in the directory is not accreditation, insurance, a guarantee of competence, a guarantee of service quality, a guarantee of legal compliance, or a personal recommendation. Clients remain responsible for making their own enquiries before booking. Profiles may be amended, suspended, or removed where material concerns arise.
How Sources Are Assessed
Source quality is considered according to relevance, authority, publication date, methodology, transparency, jurisdiction, conflicts of interest, and consistency with other reliable information.
- Current legislation
- Official government guidance
- Regulators and standards bodies
- Peer-reviewed research and systematic reviews
- Recognised medical and scientific institutions
- Official manufacturer documentation
- Original company announcements
- Professional associations
- Recognised textbooks
- Established trade publications
- Specialist educators with relevant experience
- Documented professional practice
- Interviews with identified professionals
- Social-media posts
- Anonymous claims
- Retailer product descriptions
- Promotional blogs
- Unsourced infographics
- Testimonials
- AI-generated summaries
- Copied content without an identifiable original source
Lower-level sources may identify a topic or professional experience but should not normally be the sole basis for important medical, safety, chemical, legal, or regulatory claims.
Research and Review Process
The process is risk-based rather than identical for every page.
Define the question and scope
Consider the intended audience, subject, jurisdiction, purpose, level of risk, and whether the content is educational, medical-adjacent, commercial, submitted, regulatory, or opinion-based.
Collect sources
Gather relevant sources appropriate to the subject. Record dates and jurisdictions where important.
Assess significant claims
Determine whether a claim is directly supported, attributed to a source, professional interpretation, an inference, manufacturer guidance, uncertain, disputed, or promotional.
Draft the content
Use clear British English. Avoid overstating certainty. Use concise explanations and define technical language.
Editorial review
Review as appropriate for accuracy, internal consistency, safety, professional scope, source quality, misleading implications, conflicts of interest, copyright, privacy, commercial disclosure, and readability.
Seek additional expertise where appropriate
Specialist input may be sought where potential harm is significant, evidence is difficult to interpret, or medical, chemical, regulatory, or legal interpretation is central. Specialist review is not automatically applied to every page.
Publication and labelling
Where relevant, display author, content category, publication date, review or modification date, commercial label, contributor attribution, disclosure, and disclaimer.
Post-publication review
Content may be updated, corrected, clarified, relabelled, restricted, or removed where justified.
Fact-Checking Standard
TheNailWiki takes reasonable editorial steps to check material factual claims using sources appropriate to the subject and level of risk. This process reduces the risk of error but cannot guarantee that every statement will always be complete, current, or free from error.
Checks may include opening and reading original sources, comparing several reliable sources, checking dates and jurisdictions, reviewing manufacturer instructions, examining publicly available credentials, requesting supporting documents, confirming quotations, and attributing claims that cannot be independently established.
- Repetition online is not proof.
- Absence of evidence is not proof of safety or danger.
- A professional opinion is not automatically a scientific conclusion.
- A manufacturer statement is not automatically independent evidence.
- AI-generated references must not be relied upon without checking the original source.
Specialist Input and External Review
TheNailWiki may seek input from specialists such as dermatologists, podiatrists, pharmacists, cosmetic scientists, cosmetic chemists, toxicologists, regulatory professionals, legal professionals, data-protection professionals, and educators with directly relevant technical expertise.
- External input is used selectively — not every page is externally reviewed.
- Specialist input does not transfer responsibility for the entire website to that specialist.
- A reviewer is only named with their permission.
- Any relevant paid or commercial relationship is disclosed.
- A brief informal comment must not be described as a full professional review.
- Publication does not imply that a specialist endorses unrelated content elsewhere on the site.
Jurisdiction and Regulatory Information
TheNailWiki is based in Scotland. Great Britain — comprising England, Scotland, and Wales — is used as the default jurisdiction for regulatory discussion unless another jurisdiction is clearly identified. Northern Ireland may be subject to a different cosmetic-products framework.
International readers must check the law, licensing, insurance, standards, and manufacturer requirements applicable where they live and work. Legislation and official guidance can change.
Regulatory content is provided as a general educational summary based on information available at the time of review. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the current legislation, regulator guidance, or qualified professional advice.
Official HSE guidance identifies nail dust, acrylic-system exposure, dermatitis, allergy, asthma, and fumes as relevant occupational risks in beauty work. See HSE COSHH guidance for beauty.
Professional Scope
- Cosmetic nail preparation and shaping
- Cosmetic enhancement services
- Manicure procedures
- Product application
- Cosmetic care of the surrounding nail area
- Nail art
- Maintenance and removal
- Client consultation
- Recognition of contraindications
- Referral where appropriate
- Diagnosing disease
- Prescribing medication
- Treating infection
- Presenting cosmetic services as medical treatment
- Advising clients to disregard persistent or concerning symptoms
- Carrying out procedures reserved for regulated professionals
- Making unsupported therapeutic claims
Nail professionals may observe changes, record relevant information, pause or decline a service, and recommend appropriate professional assessment. Observation is not diagnosis. No universal claim is made about what is illegal without identifying the jurisdiction and relevant law.
Corrections, Updates, and Withdrawals
Minor Editorial Amendments
Spelling, grammar, layout, broken links, and minor clarification that does not change the meaning may be corrected without a public correction notice.
Material Corrections
Inaccurate safety information, incorrect legal or regulatory description, incorrect anatomy, material factual errors, incorrect attribution, misleading commercial disclosure, or significant quotation errors may receive a correction note where useful to readers. No guarantee is made that every material correction will receive a public notice.
Substantive Updates
Substantial revisions may display an updated review date or a summary of the change where appropriate.
Withdrawal or Removal
Content may be restricted or removed where there are reasonable concerns relating to safety, legality, copyright, privacy, fraud, fabricated credentials, materially false information, undisclosed commercial influence, or an inability to correct the content adequately. TheNailWiki may preserve internal records of removed or corrected content.
Reader Feedback
Readers wishing to report a concern about published content are invited to provide the URL, the disputed wording, the reason for concern, supporting evidence, the relevant jurisdiction, and any relationship or conflict of interest they hold in relation to the content.
Submissions are considered in good faith, but TheNailWiki cannot guarantee an individual response or a particular outcome.
- Disagreement does not by itself prove an error.
- Credible evidence may lead to clarification, correction, additional disclosure, update, restriction, or removal.
- Final publication decisions remain with TheNailWiki.
- Credible new evidence may be reviewed at any time.
- Abusive, threatening, repetitive, or irrelevant correspondence may not receive a further response.
How TheNailWiki Uses AI and Digital Tools
AI tools may assist with generating research questions, identifying possible source leads, organising outlines, improving structure, grammar and British English review, metadata drafting, code assistance, checking consistency, and developing concepts for non-clinical illustrations.
AI output is not treated as verified evidence.
AI Does Not Independently Decide
- Whether a technical statement is true
- Whether medical content is safe
- Whether a source is authoritative
- Whether a product is compliant
- Whether a contributor is trustworthy
- Whether content should be published
- Whether a reader should undertake a particular service or treatment
Human Responsibility
A human remains responsible for final publication. Sources must be opened and assessed. Invented quotations, references, statistics, qualifications, and legal claims are prohibited. Important technical claims must not rely solely on AI output. Confidential or sensitive data should not be entered into unsuitable third-party AI systems.
AI-Generated and AI-Assisted Images
- Material AI generation or alteration should be disclosed where relevant.
- AI imagery must not be presented as genuine client work.
- AI imagery must not be presented as clinical or scientific evidence.
- AI must not fabricate treatment results.
- Educational illustrations may use AI assistance but should be checked for technical accuracy.
- Image use remains subject to copyright, privacy, and consent requirements.
Search and Machine Readability
TheNailWiki uses clear headings, structured information, consistent entities, metadata, and structured data to improve comprehension by readers and digital systems. These practices do not guarantee indexing, rankings, inclusion, visibility, or citation by any search engine or AI platform.
Commercial Content and Editorial Independence
Independent Editorial Content
Content whose conclusions are not purchased or controlled by an outside party.
Paid Press Releases
Payment covers editorial preparation and publication consideration — not a favourable conclusion, endorsement, ranking, or permanent publication.
Directory Listings
Payment may cover administration and listing services but does not purchase professional endorsement or accreditation.
Sponsored Content
Sponsored content must be clearly identified. A sponsor may not require TheNailWiki to publish demonstrably false or unsafe claims.
Affiliate Links, Gifted Products, and Product Reviews
Affiliate links must be clearly disclosed where used. Gifted products must be disclosed — gifting does not guarantee coverage or a positive opinion.
A distinction is made between independent review, sponsored overview, first impression, product demonstration, comparison, and manufacturer announcement. Payment in exchange for a predetermined positive verdict is not accepted.
Conflicts of Interest
Disclosure is required of material relationships including brand ownership, employment, consultancy, sponsorship, affiliate relationships, gifted products, training partnerships, financial interests, and close business or personal relationships. A conflict may be managed through disclosure, attribution, narrowing the content, additional review, reassignment, or refusal and withdrawal. A person may discuss their own product or service, but it must not be presented as an independent review.
Contributor Standards
Contributors are required to provide, where relevant: accurate identity, genuine professional background, original work, proper source attribution, disclosure of conflicts and commercial relationships, copyright permission, client consent, accurate case details, and lawful, non-defamatory content within professional scope.
Prohibited
- Plagiarism
- Fabricated sources
- Fabricated qualifications
- Stolen images
- Undisclosed advertising
- False testimonials
- Defamatory allegations
- Confidential client information without an appropriate lawful basis and permission
- Unsupported medical claims
TheNailWiki may edit, restructure, shorten, request evidence, request clarification, add disclosures, refuse, postpone, suspend, or withdraw submissions. Where practical, substantial edits that materially change a contributor's meaning are discussed with the named contributor.
Directory Verification
Membership is open to any nail technician or nail salon that offers nail treatments. Before a profile goes live we carry out a basic check — confirming that the person or business genuinely offers nail treatments — using the details supplied and publicly available information such as a website or social media. We do not require qualification certificates, insurance documents, or proof of training.
This check is limited to the information available at the time of review. It does not guarantee current competence, future conduct, service quality, legal compliance, insurance validity, or client outcomes.
Circumstances can change, public records can be incomplete, and details supplied cannot always be independently confirmed. A live profile is not an endorsement or a guarantee. Users should conduct their own checks, and profiles may be reassessed or removed where concerns arise.
Images, Copyright, and Consent
Published images must be owned or appropriately licensed, have the permission of the copyright holder where required, carry consent for identifiable clients where required, include accurate attribution where required, and must not be stolen portfolio images, stock images deceptively presented as real client work, or fabricated before-and-after results.
TheNailWiki may undertake reasonable checks, but cannot conclusively authenticate every third-party image or permission supplied. Submitters remain responsible for ensuring that they hold the necessary rights, permissions, and consents.
Image Editing
Ordinary editorial adjustments are permitted: cropping, resizing, compression, exposure correction, reasonable colour correction, background tidying, privacy protection, and removal of irrelevant dust or visual distractions.
Undisclosed editing that materially changes nail shape, nail architecture, cuticle condition, surrounding skin, visible damage, product finish, retention, adverse outcomes, or before-and-after results is prohibited. Images used as educational evidence must not be altered in a way that changes the professional meaning of what is shown.
Privacy and Personal Data
Personal information collected through TheNailWiki should be limited to what is reasonably necessary. Contributors and applicants should be informed how their information will be used. Public profiles should contain only approved information. Data may be processed by authorised service providers necessary to operate the platform.
Personal data is handled in accordance with TheNailWiki's Privacy Policy and applicable data-protection requirements. This Editorial Standards page does not replace the Privacy Policy.
ICO guidance requires organisations to provide privacy information when collecting personal data. See ICO: Right to be Informed.
Content TheNailWiki May Refuse
Unsafe or Misleading Content
- Dangerous procedures or product misuse
- Unsupported health claims
- Instructions outside professional scope
- Material conflict with current safety information
- Content encouraging readers to ignore symptoms or medical advice
Fraudulent or Deceptive Content
- False credentials or fabricated evidence
- False testimonials or stolen images
- Manipulated outcomes
- Undisclosed impersonation
- Invented sources or deceptive commercial claims
Unlawful or Abusive Content
- Copyright infringement
- Unlawful disclosure of personal data
- Harassment or discriminatory content
- Credible defamation concerns
- Illegal product promotion
- Content that unlawfully infringes third-party rights
Poor-Quality or Conflicted Commercial Content
- Copied manufacturer copy without meaningful attribution
- Keyword-stuffed submissions
- Undisclosed sponsorship
- Self-review presented as independent assessment
- Promotional material with no relevant informational value
- Unsupported superiority claims
The legality and safety of specific substances, ingredients, or products can depend on formulation, concentration, intended use, supply chain, and jurisdiction. A simplistic list of named prohibited chemicals is not maintained, as such a list may be incomplete, misleading, or inapplicable across different legal frameworks.
Product Safety and Occupational Safety
Product and safety content may consider intended use, product instructions, full curing system, ingredient restrictions, safety data, responsible-person details, notification requirements, labelling, sensitisation, ventilation, dust exposure, occupational exposure limits, and regional rules.
- Sale does not prove compliance.
- Social-media allegations do not prove non-compliance.
- TheNailWiki is not a testing laboratory and does not independently certify products.
- Users and businesses remain responsible for following current manufacturer instructions and applicable law.
HSE guidance identifies artificial-nail dust, acrylic-system materials, skin irritation, allergy, asthma, and fumes as relevant workplace hazards. See HSE COSHH guidance for beauty.
Publication Labels
The following labels may be used to identify content type.
| Label | Purpose | Likely Author | Payment? | Independent Editorial Conclusion? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nail Wiki Library | Educational reference | Editorial lead or approved contributor | No | Yes |
| Educational Guide | Topic explanation | Editorial lead or contributor | No | Yes |
| Technique Guide | Practical technique explanation | Editorial lead or contributor | No | Yes |
| Industry News | News and developments | Editorial lead | No | Yes |
| Press Release | Commercial announcement | Submitting organisation; may be edited by TheNailWiki | Yes | No |
| Sponsored Content | Commercial content | May be supplied or co-written | Yes | No |
| Featured Contributor | Professional contribution | Named contributor | May vary | Views attributable to contributor |
| Verified Professional Profile | Directory listing | Listed professional | May vary | Not an endorsement |
| Editorial Opinion | Editorial perspective | Editorial lead | No | Yes — clearly attributed |
| Product Review | Product assessment | Editorial lead or contributor | Disclosed where applicable | Disclosed where applicable |
| Updated Guidance | Revised content | Editorial lead | No | Yes |
Accessibility and Readability
TheNailWiki aims to use descriptive headings, meaningful link text, alt text where appropriate, readable contrast, accessible tables, mobile-responsive layouts, explanations of specialist terminology, formal British English, and restrained use of jargon and sensational titles.
Accessibility is an ongoing process, and readers are invited to report barriers that prevent access to content.
Complaints and Concerns
Editorial Concern
For factual errors, safety concerns, attribution, missing disclosure, copyright, privacy, or misleading wording.
Contributor or Submission Concern
For questions relating to rejection, editing, labelling, suspension, or removal of a submitted article.
Directory Concern
For concerns relating to false credentials, expired information, identity, serious professional conduct, or inaccurate listing details.
Evidence should be supplied with all concerns. The complainant should disclose relevant conflicts of interest. Urgent safety, privacy, or copyright issues may receive priority. Content may be temporarily restricted during review where justified. No specific response time or resolution is guaranteed. Abusive, threatening, repetitive, or clearly unfounded correspondence may not receive a further response.
Enforcement
Proportionate action may include requesting supporting evidence, requesting amendments, adding attribution or disclosure, changing a publication label, correcting wording, suspending publication, removing links, restricting access, declining future submissions, suspending or removing a professional profile, retracting or deleting content, or preserving internal records.
Action will depend on the seriousness of the concern, available evidence, potential harm, legal obligations, opportunity to correct, and history of previous concerns.
Legal, Medical, and Professional Limitations
TheNailWiki provides general educational and industry information. It does not provide personalised medical, legal, regulatory, insurance, financial, or business advice.
- No page can address every individual situation.
- Users remain responsible for their own professional decisions.
- Businesses must check current local requirements.
- Product users must follow current manufacturer instructions.
- Suspected health conditions require appropriate professional assessment.
- Publication does not create a professional-client relationship.
- Content may become outdated despite reasonable updating efforts.
- External links are provided for convenience and do not imply control or endorsement of every external page.
Please refer to the Terms and Conditions for further detail.