You are on page 1of 2

History of Nail Polish and Heavy Metal subcultures were not first introduced

Even though examples of nail polish can be with them, but in 1930s during the post Art-Deco era.
found in many ancient civilizations, it was the modern 1. Nail polish originated in China as early as
times when these cosmetic products reached its 3000 BC.
popularity. Empowered by the incredible advances of The ingredients included beeswax, egg whites, gelatin,
the industrial revolution and new abilities of modern and vegetable dyes. In Ancient Egypt, nail polish was
chemist, nail polish emerged as one socially even used to signify class rankings: The lower class
acceptable cosmetic product that was accepted by often wore nude and light colors, while high society
female population in the western hemisphere. Nail painted their nails red. (No wonder red manis are so
care was always important part of high fashion in iconic!)
modern times, but it was in late 17th century when first 2. The invention of the car spurred the
portraits with shiny nails started appearing. From that creation of the first modern-day nail polish.
point on, nail care and accompanying cosmetic Inspired by automobile paint, a completely colorless
products started trickling down to the general version was introduced in 1916. Revlon became the
population, becoming widely accepted during the first established nail polish brand in 1932 when they
Victorian age. released a cream color.
However, before we return to Victorian 3. Essie currently sells 311 colors of nail
England and the time when nail polish became polish, not including nail decals or specialty base and
widespread in the western hemisphere, we must touch top coats.
upon its origins in ancient civilizations. According to You can even buy them in vending machines in
the historians and archeologist, 5000 years ago nail airports and malls around the country.
polish was created in China where it was used by 4. Acrylic nails were introduced in 1978.
ruling class to distinguish themselves from the general And they were invented by a dentist.
population. Popular colors were of metallic nature and 5. In 1934, a bottle of Cutex nail polish cost
they symbolized power and wealth, such as silver and 35 cents.
gold. One difference between China and other ancient It was only available in three shades of red.
civilizations that used nail polish was that this 6. The most expensive nail polish costs
cosmetic product was not allowed to be used by $250,000.
general population. Several reports survived of public Nope, that's not a typo. The color, Black Diamond
execution of common people who were caught with King, is made with 267 carats worth of black
colored nails still survived today. diamonds.
From China, nail polish spread across India, 7. In 2012, nail polish sales reached $768
Middle East and northern Africa, where it was million.
extensively used in Egypt. As with many other This was a 32% increase over 2011, and was probably
cosmetic products, nail polish disappeared from the due to a rise in nail art mania.
European fashion after the fall of Roman Empire. It 8. Actress Rita Hayworth popularized red
was only after the arrival of renaissance and the new nail polish.
trade connection with the Middle East and India that After the introduction of Technicolor, Rita's bold
European aristocracy gain access to the nail polish. As nails launched a polish movement. Much later, Uma
the centuries went, nail polish and manicures became Thurman would start a new trend of vamp-colored
more and more commonplace, finally becoming nails, thanks to her hit role in Pulp Fiction.
commonplace in France during late 18th century. 9. There are 13 types of nail polish finishes.
By the turn of 19th century nail polish and And they include: shimmer, micro-shimmer, micro-
coloring became more common among general glitter, glitter, frost, lustre, crème, prismatic micro-
population in France, England, Italy and United States, glitter or shimmer, iridescent, opalescent, matte, duo-
but it was in the early 20th century when nail polish chrome, and translucent.
became truly popular, with manicure establishments 10. Opened bottles of nail polish only last
appearing in France at great numbers (especially in about two years.
1920s and 30s). Unopened bottles can last indefinitely. But once you
Today, nail polish can be found in every twist the cap off for the first time, certain ingredients
possible combination of color and opacity. Black nail evaporate, which changes the formula and consistency
polish which is today popular in the Goth, Punk, Emo of your polish.
11. Some nail polishes have food in them. ruby colors while Cleopatra dyed her tips a rusty hue
Well, food extract that is. Nails Inc. recently launched with the juice of the henna plant.
a brand of nail polish with kale, which they claim will 3. Polish was developed from car paint!
smooth and brighten nails. Londontown Lakur's In the 1920s, makeup artist Michelle Menard
formula includes garlic to strengthen and harden nails, adapted the enamel used for cars to create a polish for
while others have cucumber that allegedly prevents nails. The formula she crafted was popular with
splitting. flappers. Their preferred style—dubbed the Moon
12. You shouldn't throw your nail polish Manicure—was to paint only the middle of the nail,
away. leaving both the tip and the cuticle bare. At the time,
The EPA considers nail polish a household hazardous Menard worked for a company called Charles Revson
waste so you should technically toss your unused – you might know it today as Revlon..
bottles in a hazardous waste facility. (However, even 4. A dentist invented artificial nails.
the EPA says it's impossible to regulate every In 1934, dentist Maxwell Lappe came up
household, so there is an exemption to waste generated with a product he called Nu Nails — an artificial nail
by normal household activities.) created specifically for nail biters. Dentists must have
13. Storing nail polish in the bathroom is a a thing for nail care, because the first modern acrylic
big no-no. nails were developed by dentist Fred Slack.
And contrary to some reports, you shouldn't put polish 5. Hollywood has always set the trends.
in the fridge either. The chill will cause the polish to With a little help from Technicolor, Rita
crystalize, which breaks down the formula. Instead, Hayworth became known for her red nails in the
keep polish in a dry, room temperature space without 1940s. Five decades later, Uma Thurman’s Vamp
direct contact to sunlight. polish (which has since been re-released by Chanel as
14. Painting your nails is prohibited on Rouge Noir) pulled focus in the 1994 cult film Pulp
airplanes. Fiction. The shade became one of the company’s most
One woman was even arrested for painting her nails in-demand products.
on a flight. She did also use profane language and 6. French tips probably aren't really French.
refuse to stop, but overall, most airlines frown upon We have Hollywood to thank for more
nail lacquer in the sky. neutral nail trends, too. In 1975, as the story goes, Jeff
15. Neon nail polish is technically illegal. Pink—founder of the nail polish brand Orly—created
Or at least the FDA hasn't approved them yet. Certain the French manicure to expedite the makeup process
colorants used to create neon and glow-in-the-dark for actresses making multiple costume changes.
polishes are not allowed, but that doesn't mean you However, some say the look does in fact date back to
won't find them on beauty shelves. Many companies 1930s Paris, when Max Factor developed the clean and
like OPI use formulas with FDA-approved coloring, polished look
while your other favorite neon polishes are imported. 7. Neon shades are actually illegal.
16. You can use nail polish to fix a run in your Well, sort of. Certain colorants used in your
tights, thread a needle, and more. favorite day-glo shade haven’t yet been approved by
Lacquer isn't strictly for your fingers and toes! Check the FDA. But OPI has launched a line using formulas
out more unconventional uses for nail polish here. that have been FDA-approved.
1. Nail polish has a long history. 8. Today’s formulas are made with some
Painting one's nails goes back as early as weird stuff.
3000 BCE. There is archaeological evidence of the The main ingredient in regular nail polish is
Ancient Babylonians painting their nails before they something called nitrocellulose — originally known as
went into battle—with a solid gold manicure set. In guncotton, it’s made of plant fiber and the stuff that
Ancient China, during the Ming Dynasty, people makes TNT explode. (Don’t worry, it’s also used in
would use formulas made from beeswax, egg whites, products such as ping pong balls.) The nitrocellulose
gelatin and vegetable dyes. is dissolved in a solvent called ethyl acetate. Once the
2. Only the best could wear red … nail polish goes on your nail, the solvent evaporates
In Ancient Egypt, nail polish was used to leaving the nitrocellulose to dry into a solid—and
signify class rankings. Those in the lower classes wore pretty!—film.
nude or light colors while the more elite preferred red
shades (naturally). Nefertiti is said to have painted hers

You might also like