| For many women today, nail polish is more of a | | | | polish progressed, but there are portraits of people in |
| staple than a luxury. Nail polish has been around for | | | | the 17th and 18th centuries with shiny fingernails. |
| thousands of years, and is believed to have been | | | | During the 19th century, nails were tinted with red |
| created by the Chinese in about 3000 B.C. They first | | | | scented oils, then polished or buffed for shine. |
| used a colored lacquer that was made from a | | | | Cookbooks included recipes for nail paints, but |
| combination of beeswax, egg whites, gelatin and | | | | polishing through buffing was still generally preferred. |
| Arabic gum. They also used a formula of mashed | | | | Automobile paint inspired the creation of nail enamels |
| rose, impatiens petals, and orchid combined with alum. | | | | as we know them. This occurred around 1920. Since |
| They would apply this mixture to their nails and leave | | | | then nail polish has greatly increased in its number of |
| it on for a few hours or overnight. When it was | | | | colors and varieties, but the principle remains the |
| removed, the color it left ranged from pink to red. | | | | same. |
| During the Chou Dynasty, Chinese Royalty used | | | | Now, however, there are more nutrients available in |
| genuine gold and silver on their nails. Black and red | | | | nail polishes that can actually strengthen and improve |
| were also the colors of choice for centuries. | | | | the condition of nails. Polishes are no longer simply |
| Ancient Egyptians used henna to color their nails and | | | | paints. There are base coats and top coats with |
| tips of their fingers. They used nail coloring to | | | | different purposes, finishes and textures. Virtually any |
| delineate social order. Royalty got to wear deep | | | | look you can conceive for your nails can be |
| shades and shades of red, while women who were | | | | accomplished with today's products. |
| lower in social rank could only wear pale colors. | | | | In order to get some scope of the nail products that |
| Queen Nefertiti liked ruby red, while Cleopatra went | | | | are available, consider checking out an online store. |
| for deep rust tones. | | | | That way you won't have to be on your feet for |
| There is evidence of Western indigenous cultures | | | | hours searching for the perfect product, which, |
| decorating their fingernails as well. The Incas enjoyed | | | | believe it or not, is possible. Plus, even though it looks |
| painting pictures of eagles on their nails. Even though | | | | like there must be all the colors in the world on the |
| it is not generally known how it started, there is | | | | shelf, there are probably some that can only be |
| evidence of Native Americans sporting colorful nails | | | | found online. Now you can join the ranks of royalty |
| as well. | | | | throughout history without ever leaving the comfort |
| From there, it is not really known how the use of nail | | | | of your couch. |