6 Ways Self-Love Will Help You Crush Your Goals
From breaking free of external validation to creating joy-based goals, discover a more sustainable and fulfilling path to success.
Under the Microscope: Beau’s Lines
Beau’s lines are ridged or grooved lines that run horizontally across the nail.
by Staff
November 4, 2011
3 min to read
What is it?Beau’s lines appear on the nails as horizontal ridges or grooves. The French physician Joseph-Honoré-Simon Beau is credited with the name because he was one of the first to document the relationship between physical indicators and systemic health problems. When the body suffers a trauma — internally or externally — there is often evidence of the trauma on the nails, sometimes in the form of Beau’s lines. Techs can identify Beau’s lines because they are not only discolored, they add the texture of a ridge or groove to the nail. When the issue is a systemic problem instead of the result of a local trauma, Beau’s lines can appear on multiple nails and may even show up on toenails.
How do you get it? Beau’s lines are caused when the body stops producing nail cells for a period of time — a day or longer. When the body starts producing those cells again, the nails begin to grow. As the nail grows out, Beau’s lines will appear and techs will be able to see where the nail’s development was affected. Most commonly Beau’s lines can be traced back to a high fever or an infection, but other systemic problems can also be the cause, such as chemotherapy. Local trauma (such as a hammer) can also stun the nail matrix and Beau’s lines can be produced on only one nail.
How is it treated? Because Beau’s lines are the result of systemic problems or local trauma, there is nothing clients can do to prevent them from developing. Once they appear, no treatment is required. Beau’s lines are entirely harmless. As the healthy nail grows out, the lines will grow out also, and techs will eventually be able to file them off when they reach the free edge.
What can a tech do? Techs can begin by educating the client about the condition. Ask the client if she has had any infection, fever, or illness in the past months. Let the client know that her body has experienced a trauma, and the lines are simply evidence that the body had a problem. Show her the healthy nail that is growing at the cuticle behind the Beau’s lines. Let her know that as the healthy nail continues to grow, the lines will grow out and will eventually be filed off. However, if techs see Beau’s lines recurring in the same client without the client being able to identify the reason, insist the client see her doctor to troubleshoot the cause. Nail enhancements are the ideal solution to the appearance of Beau’s lines, because nail products such as acrylic or gel can fill in the grooves and smooth out the nail. Take care to prep the area well so no air pockets form.
What else? Shock or a traumatic event can affect the body in strange ways, so don’t dismiss any explanation the client suggests. For example, Beau’s lines have been documented in the case of heart attacks and malaria. They have also been documented in divers and climbers, who have experienced the pressure of a severe change in altitude, which can disrupt the production of the nail cells.
Robert Brodell, M.D. contributed to this article.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Wellness
The Invisible Hazard in Every Nail Salon and How to Fight It
From acrylic monomers to airborne bio-dust, the air inside a nail salon carries risks most professionals never see coming. Aerovex Systems reveals the source-capture and room-purification strategies that are setting a new standard for salon safety.
Sponsored by Aerovex Systems
Nail Safety Council Warns Holiday Shoppers About Toxic 'Magic' Gel Polish Removers
Products marketed as 'magic' or 'burst' gel removers may contain methylene chloride, a federally banned, highly toxic chemical.
How Beauty Pros Can Prevent Pain: Somatic Movement for Career Longevity
Working in beauty doesn’t have to hurt. Learn how Somatic Movement helps hairstylists, lash artists, and other beauty pros release tension, improve posture, and extend their careers.
Spa Day, Safe Day: Stop Fungal Infections in Their Tracks
As a spa or salon professional, your clients expect more than just beauty—they expect safety, hygiene, and peace of mind. Fungal infections like Athlete’s Foot and Nail Fungus are more common than you think, especially in environments where tools and footbaths are reused without proper sanitation. This blog covers how to stop these issues before they start, using proven infection prevention strategies for salons and spas.
Federal Research on Nail Salon Safety Concludes Due to Budget Reductions
A federal initiative aimed at studying chemical exposure in nail salons has ended due to staffing and budget changes. Here’s what the project set out to do—and what its conclusion means for salon professionals.
by Anne Moratto
Opinion: What You Need to Know About Pedicure Safety
For many people, a pedicure is a relaxing beauty ritual. But what most don’t realize is that this simple service, if done without proper hygiene and sanitation, can cause serious infections and long-term health issues.
Onycholysis: What Nail Pros Should Know About Nail Separation
Onycholysis is the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. While it may look painful, it typically isn’t—at least not at first. But without proper care, this common nail disorder can lead to infections, deformities, and long-term damage.
What to Say--or Not Say--to Someone Grieving
Mckenzie Kool, Psychologist, MC, RPsych provides us with guidance on what may or not be helpful in speaking with someone who has suffered a significant loss.
Protecting Your Clients From Viral Infections
Clients come to you to feel their best—not leave with a viral souvenir. Warts and cold sores can spread fast in busy salons, but a few smart habits make all the difference. Let’s talk about what’s really lurking in your salon (and how to kick it to the curb).
Beauty Professionals, It's Time to Take the Green Pledge
As Earth Day approaches, The Green Beauty Community Foundation and the Green Spa Network invite beauty pros to step forward and embrace sustainability through the Green Pledge--a powerful initiative designed by and for beauty industry leaders.
How Not to Be Cynical About Valentine's Day
Don’t cancel Valentine’s Day altogether, urges Jill Palmquist. Instead, think of it as a (frilly, flowery, Champagne-bubbly) wake-up call to fall deeply in love with your own life.
Temporary Burnout or Time to Hang Up the Shears?
Life coach and Culture Ambassador of Sam Villa, Andrew Carruthers, outlines how to tell if your burnout is temporary - or if it's time to make a bigger career change.
Nail Care and Cancer Treatment: 6 Tips for a Safe Nail Service
Cancer treatment can create very specific challenges for your guest when it comes to hair, skin, and also nails. Here are some tips for working with your salon client who is going through cancer treatment to help you provide a relaxing, enjoyable, and also safe experience.
Sun Patch Protects Hands from Sun Damage
For those clients concerned about exposure from UV lamps, the Sun Patch might be a solution. Sun Patches are waterproof, reusable (up to 10 wears) block 98% of UVA/UVB rays, and maintain their UPF 50+ rating all day long.
by Anne Moratto
The Nail Doctor: Onycholysis, or Nail Separation, Has Different Varieties
One of the most common conditions that affects the nail is onycholysis, which is the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. Onycholysis occurs as a result of or along with a great variety of nail traumas and disorders. Probably the most common cause of onycholysis is a fungal infection of the nail.
Standing Stretches for Physical Longevity
Hairdressing is a physically taxing career integrating simple stretches into your daily routine can reduce the strain repetitive motion puts on your body, help you stay flexible and strong and eventually prolong your career.