GSS5000 | The History of Nail Art | Nail art and Nail Polish | | By Trang Nguyen | 11/11/2014 |

|

Abstract
Nail art is a fashion sense in today’s world of fashion; it has become more and more popular in the beauty industry and women and men all across the world are making this a fashion trend. Whether or not nail art may be a “new” trend or not, nail polish has been around since high- gloss car paint was invented. Interestingly, back in 3200 B.C., Babylonian males wore black or green nail polish, which signified class; with green representing the lower class and black as the higher class.(Oliveras, 2012) Other countries such as China, Britain, France, and America have an intriguing history of how nail polish existed in their culture. Nail polish and nail art may be the trend today; however, it has always been a trend for many other cultures back in history as well.
Keywords: Nail Art, Nail Polish

In China and in Egypt, 3000 B.C., the Chinese wore color on their nails as a reflection of class and the ruling of the different Dynasties. The Egyptian and Indian women stained their nails using henna so that the color of their nails would distinguish the upper and lower class; similar to the Babylonian’s. The Babylonian wore green which represented the lower class and black as the higher class. Colors such as a light red were worn by the people of the Victorian era. (Oliveras, 2012) Nail polish and Nail art isn’t a new thing… it has been around for many years and was an ancient resemblance of culture and class, today we use nail art as a representation of fashion and style.
In 1920, Michelle Menard et al. discovered that paint used on cars worked on finger nails as well and decided to produce nail polish using a formula that didn’t involve dye in (1932) her line of cosmetics became known as Revlon, which now is one of the top producing cosmetics in today’s’ line to make-up and nail polish industry. The first bottle of nail polish hit the shelves with colors that were unseen by anyone. Once nail polish became popular in the fashion world, actresses and models begin wearing colors on their nails as a fashion statement.
In Paris 1976, another popular nail style became known; the French manicure created by Jeff Pink, founder of another popular line of nail products called ORLY. (Oliveras, 2012) A French manicure is a painted half moon on the tip of the nail in white polish and a light pink color polished over it. Jeff discovered that this style of polish was an easier way to keep actresses and their finger nails matched with all of their outfits. Instead of having to change the color of their nails for different scenes, a French manicure did the trick. French nails are very popular and still today clients will request this look.
In the 90’s, nail art became a symbol of communication between subcultures for example Goths, rock stars and punk wore black nail polish. (Artemis, 2011) Nail polish then became very artistic with a simple elegance of rhinestones and decals, and then art involving airbrushing became popular. Airbrushing was usually done on fake nails which were discovered by dentist Maxwell Lappe in 1934, he created the first fake nails for clients who bit their finger nails known as acrylics, and another dentist Frederick Slack accidently invented the sculpting of acrylics. (Chang, 2012) Although acrylics have been the number one nail enhancement for decades, there is another lead that is about to take over. Hard Gel and Gel Polish is catching up to the acrylic trend, and people all over the world are talking about it. Unlike acrylics, gel is gentler on the finger nails and it doesn’t require mixing a powder with a liquid. Gel is cured by an LED or UV light that causes the product to harden and shaped into a natural looking nail. Creative Nail Design, a very well known nail supply company, invented the gel polish which last longer than just the regular nail polish founded by Menard. Gel polish is a very unique way of wearing polish on finger nails. It is polished on like regular polish and cured under a light, once cured it is finished with wiping alcohol on it and magically… the polish is dry and you are ready to walk out the door.
Conclusion
Today, nail art is considered as an accessory and everyday there are new styles and designs that are being discovered. With the new trends of nail polish and nail art, the nail industry continues to grow. Products such as Minx are stick-on colors and designs for nails, Shellac and Gelish are the top leading gel products. Interestingly, the nail industry continues to grow with new products that are meant to improve the look of your nails but in the healthiest way possible, and throwing out all the products that can damage and ruin your nails, such as acrylic.
Nail polish and nail art have come a long way. In India 5000 B.C., nail art was very popular using henna, and in China 600 B.C., the Chou Dynasty used nail art as a symbol of wealth and wore silver and gold on their long nails with jewels to protect it. So who really invented Nail Art? It has been the trend for many other cultures back in history so nail art couldn’t be a new discovery. Nail art has a history and has been a trend for many cultures to identify class and rank. Nail art today is a fashion trend and many people flaunt it as an accessory to add to their look like they do with jewelry. Nail art has always been very popular to different cultures in their own ways however; today it has become more popular in the same ways such as design and art.

References
Artemis Nails (2011) History of Nail Art. Retrieved by http://www.artemisnails.com/index.php?route=information

Chang, Gloris ( January 21, 2012) The Illustrated History of Nail Art. Retrieved by http://m.refinery29.com/the-illustrated-history-of-nail-art?#

Oliveras,Chloe Aligator Blogger ( April 25, 2012) The Colorful History of Nail Polish Retrieved by http://m.alligator.org/blogs/lifestyle/thefbomb/article_92924820-8e3d-11e1-b5bf-001a4bcf887a.html?mode=jqm Wilson, Jamie Alligator Blogger ( Friday, January 25th, 2013). Everything You Need to Know bout Gel Nails. Retrieved by http://www.alligator.org/blogs/friday/beauty/article_846be8da-66b1-11e2-9c8c-0019bb2963f4.html