So it has been what feels like a million years since I posted anything. And for that, I am sorry! Thanks for sticking with me though! 🙂 For school, I had to do a research paper. I could do any topic I wanted…so naturally I researched the History of Nail polish! 😛 (I got 100%, In case you were wondering haha) Without further ado, here is a Brief history lesson on nail polish!
The History of Nail Polish
My Question
I am an extreme girly-girl. I always have been (and probably always will be) excited by sparkles and the color pink. I love to paint my nails with different colors and designs and do so multiple times a week. I collect different colors of nail polish and have over 250 bottles. To appreciate the art of nail polish, I wanted to find out the historic background behind painting nails. When was it started? Who started the trend? Was it always a trend among females? What colors were initially available? Was there a certain income level nail polish was available to? How did nail polish become such a fashion statement and widespread today? It is time to find out.
What I Already Know
I already knew that nail polish today is more popular than ever before. I knew by reading magazines that there was an entire fashion trend revolving around nail polish and beautifully decorated nails. While I went shopping, I noticed that not only is there a plethora of basic colors to choose from, there are also glow in the dark polishes, metallic polishes and even mood changing polishes to choose from. Because nail polish is widely available and such a huge piece of modern day fashion, the nail polish industry is creating more and more unique ways to excite nail polish lovers each and every day.
My Search Process
Because of the fact that I am such a nail polish enthusiast, these simple questions popped into my head “When did nail polish originally start? And who do I have to thank for bringing this hobby into my life?” On the website “The Corner Apartment”, I found out that coloring of the nails began with the Babylonians all the way back in 3,200 B.C. as well as in China at the same time period. During these times, the nail “polish” was made out of everyday items such as Kohl, Egg Whites, and Beeswax in which the nails would be soaked in for hours. Although the modern-day trend is for females to wear polish on their nails, it may surprise you to learn that men originally wore nail polish.
“Manicures made from kohl were first spotted in ancient royal tombs, worn by males in colors with accordance to social class. Around the same time, the Chinese also used nail color as a sense of self-expression and class definition.” (The Corner Apartment: History Lesson on Nail Polish)
Colors of the nails were very important in representing one’s social status.
I also learned that colors meant different things in different regions. In Egypt, shades of red were only worn by the queen. In China, gold and silver represented the highest social standing and colors such as black, red and pale colors represented lower classes.
“Gold and silver color indicated highest rank and power whereas black and red were symbols of strength and boldness and pale tones would have indicated feebleness.”(The History of Nail Care From Ancient Times to Recent Trends)
Average people would wear pale colors such as green and yellow and middle class people would wear blacks and reds on their nails.
Coloring of the nails would not become popular again until the Nineteenth Century. While working for an automobile company called Charles Revson, French make-up artist Michelle Menard came up with an odd idea to use the new invention of car paint…on her fingernails.
“The Revson company, that had then changed its name to Revlon, started selling the first nail polish in hair and beauty salons in 1932 and in 1937 the product became available in department stores and drugstores.” (History of Nail Polish)
Most of the nail polishes that are found today are the almost same exact formula used when Michelle Menard first thought of the idea.
At first, women and society in general thought nail polish was a mark of rebelliousness; many teens would paint their nails to follow seemingly risqué fashion trends. With the invention of Technicolor, women found celebrities to act as fashion icons, many of whom painted their nails.
“The introduction of Technicolor in 1922 affected more than just the film industry. Shades of gray became a thing of the past and moviegoers were able to see everything in color. The actors and actresses. The sets. The clothing. The make-up. As they “oohed and aahed” over this amazing change in cinema, women were suddenly treated to a spectacular sight – Rita Hayworth’s red lips and nails!” (A history of Nail lacquer: Blood Red Nails On Your Fingertips)
As the years went on, more and more women opened up to the idea of painting their nails and it soon became a widespread fashion trend for women of all ages and social status.
Now it’s the year 2013. Eighty one years later and Revlon is still creating beautiful nail polishes along with many other companies such as O.P.I., China Glaze and Orly. “From the runway to Main Street, nail art has emerged as a democratic form of self-expression in which anyone can participate.”(On Main Street and the Runway, Nail Art Is The New Lipstick). Painting your nails in today’s times isn’t just about having colorful nails. Painting your nails gives you the ability to express your artistic self and sense of style where you otherwise wouldn’t be able to. Nail polish is one of the most affordable makeup articles which allows women and even some men to try many new designs and colors to express their styles.
What I’ve Learned
I learned that although it isn’t the same as modern-day nail polish, the trend of coloring your nails started way back in 3,200 B.C. I was surprised to learn that the nail polish that is used today is almost identical to the first polish created in the late 1920’s by a French make-up artist who used car paint to paint her nails. I was expecting to learn about the meaning behind different colors of nail polish and why some were more popular than others. I think red was so popular because not only was it such a classy and classic color, it also was easy to get such a color from plants. The perspective on the history of nail polish is quite similar among my research. The hardest part was the fact that it was so hard to actually find information on this subject in general.
What This Means to Me
One of the most interesting things that I have learned through researching was the fact that men first wore nail color to represent their social standing. I am amazed at how different things are today compared to the beginning of this trend. I have gained a better appreciation for the fact that anyone and everyone can wear whatever color and style of nail polish they wish. I also appreciate the fact that there are so many options and price ranges, so that basically everyone can own a bottle of nail polish if they so desire. Nail polish doesn’t represent wealth or social class any longer, nail polish is a growing art, and personal style which is becoming more and more appreciated as the days go by.
Works Cited
Alhamora. “The History of Nail Care from Ancient Times to Recent Trends.” HubPages.com. N.p., 9 July 2012. Web. 29 Apr. 2013.
Elizabeth. “The Corner Apartment: History Lesson on Nail Polish.” Thecornerapartment.com. The Corner Apartment, 6 Feb. 2013. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
Giorgia. “History of Nail Polish.” Beautifulwithbrains.com. Beautiful With Brains, 21 Dec. 2009. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
Grinberg, Emanuella. “On Main Street and the Runway, Nail Art Is the New Lipstick.” CNN. Cable News Network, 12 Feb. 2012. Web. 18 Apr. 2013.
“A History of Nail Lacquer: Blood Red Nails On Your Fingertips.” Beautifully-invisible.com. Beautifully Invisible, 27 May 2011. Web. 28 Apr. 2013.
ModestlyPolished 