Manicures date as far back as 3000 B.C in Chinese culture, both men and women were creating stains with natural sources like egg white and beeswax. Similarly, in Babylonian and Indian culture, resources such as henna and kohl provided a manicured look. The color of kohl or richness of color in Egyptian culture provided a sense of status and power.
In 1878, the term ‘manicure’ was coined after Mary E. Cobb had opened up a nail salon where she implemented her very own nail system in New York. During the Roaring 20s, women began to use high-gloss car paint to fashion their looks. Twelve years later, Revlon patented a healthier option of nail polish as they utilized natural dyes and pigments which were sold in drug stores. The popularized nail polish influenced the “half moon technique” worn by actresses and flappers at the time and various other forms of nail art to come. This technique is known to leave the space above a cuticle (lunula) and the tip of the nail clear, popularizing the manicure.
Did you know the first acrylic nail was created by a dentist in 1954? Fred Slack, a dentist, had attempted to fix a broken nail while working and was able to fix it by using the same acrylic used for crowns. Both materials can withstand a lot of wear and tear, which gave him the ability to restrengthen his nails. Fred Slack later invented the first ever odor-free acrylic kit in the late 1960s and is part of a primary manufacturer company, NSI. Check the lick below Fred’s photo to hear an interview about his story.
Another nail polish company, Orly, was introduced during 1975 with less harsh colors, unlike red or black, to appeal to hippies. However, disco singers were known to wear more shiny and entended nails. During both the 80s and 90s, extra long acrylics with more extreme nail art. Nail Art can include airbrush, gems, various acrylics shapes, and avant-garde paint overlay. To this day, nail techs are still inspired by looks of the 90s made popular by many female rappers and R&B artists.
Nail Minded 