The history of nail fashion begins al the way back in 3000 B.C. There is evidence that the Chinese used a type of enamel on their fingers that once applied, after leaving for several hours, it would turn the nail a reddish/ pink color. In India, dye derived from the Henna plant was used on the fingernails, and this left a type of reddish brown stain.
Nail art began to advance in modern society, beginning in the 19th century. In 1830, the orange wood stick was developed in Europe and this began to modernize the process of a nail manicure. Towards the end of the 19th century, salons increased across the United States, attributed in part to the popularization of the manicure.
When the automobile began mass production in the 1920s, automobile paint also inspired a more modern nail polish. While popular celebrities had often sported only unpolished nails, this changed by 1925 when nail polish entered the popular market in a shade of red. When this happened, the “moon manicure” became wildly popular. This manicure method involved painting the middle of the nail, but leaving the moon of the nail, at the bottom, unpainted. Sometimes the tip was left unpainted as well.
As the century wore on, nail fashion continued to grow. Nail polish began to be used to communicate certain trends and subcultures as well. Thus, nail art became an important cultural signifier. Black nail polish, for example became popular among Goths, rock stars and punks in the 1970s and it often still is a common trend today among these groups. More recently, nail polish has gained popularity among men as well. Though clear manicures on men are more common, sometimes colors have been sported on the men’s nails.
As the century wore on, nail fashion continued to grow. Nail polish began to be used to communicate certain trends and subcultures as well. Thus, nail art became an important cultural signifier. Black nail polish, for example became popular among Goths, rock stars and punks in the 1970s and it often still is a common trend today among these groups. More recently, nail polish has gained popularity among men as well. Though clear manicures on men are more common, sometimes colors have been sported on the men’s nails.
Nail art is the practice of painting decorative designs on your fingernails, is a fun way to brighten up your everyday look or accessorize a special occasion outfit. There are a variety of nail art designs available, ranging from subtle and understated to funky and outrageous. For example, you could choose to paint flowers on your nails for a date or spell out the name of your favorite athletic team on the day of the big game. While the more intricate designs are best left to a professional, it’s possible to create simple nail art at home.
The key to any successful nail art design is starting with clean and well-shaped nails. Nails should be neatly trimmed and filed before painting. Even the most accomplished artist can’t create an attractive design on nails that have been bitten down to stubs. If your natural nails are beyond repair, consider applying artificial acrylic nails before painting your nail art design.
There are three methods often used for placing nail art designs on the nails. These include nail art stickers, freehand drawing using nail polish, or airbrushing using an airbrush and a stencil. Using these three different methods, it is possible to place virtually any type of design imaginable on the nails; many people choose to place a small jewel sticker on the nails, while others will choose nail art designs such as flowers or seasonal images.
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