Ace the South Dakota Cosmetology Test 2025 – Style Your Future with Confidence!

The first step when performing a manicure is to remove old polish. This is crucial because it prepares the nail surface for any further treatment. By starting with clean nails, you create a fresh canvas that allows for better application of nail enhancements, such as polish or gel.

Washing hands typically follows after removing old polish to ensure hygiene, but it is not the initial step in the manicure process. Applying cuticle oil and filing the nails come later, as they're part of the shaping and conditioning of the nails after they've been cleared of previous polish. Thus, removing old polish restores the nail to a primed condition essential for a professional-looking finished result.