Nail Art History
Manicuring and the practice of such has been dated back about 4,000 years ago. Instruments used for cutting nails in Egypt have been found in some of the royal tombs. Turkish women would boil rose petals and make pink tint for painting on nails. The Romans would paint their nails with solution of blood and sheep fat. In the Song of Solomon it is mentioned that biblical women painted their finger nails and toe nails with henna juice. In the middle east this practice still exist. Growing long fingernails date back to the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644). The Chinese where the first to use gold and jewels on their nails. The Chinese would polish their nails with a polish made from egg whites, beeswax, vegetable dyes, and Arabic gum.

In Western history colored nail polish appeared in the 20th century. In the 1800s a little lemon juice mixed with water would be used to whiten the tips of the nails. Also available were buffers, crystal stones, emery boards, cuticle creams, and bleaching powders.

In the 60s and 70s salons began to open up leading to the nail fad. This all came about because American women wanted beautiful nails that looked sexy and feminine. Today both men and women have their nails painted. With gel nail and nail art in the last 10 years nail art has become very popular. Nail art designs allow the nails to be sculpted, stenciled, pieced, and of course painted with beautiful designs.

With gel nail kits in the last couple of years it became possible for creating gel nails with designs at home for all those special occasions. The allows gel nails to be created in the comfort the home.