The art of nail care, finds its roots thousands of years ago. For more than 5000 years, both men and women have managed to have well-kept nails, with the assistance of nail technicians.
In 3000 BC, the nail polish a person selected in China, actually reflected their social status, for an example, Royalty wore red and black to indicate their power, and authority. In Acient Egypt, from 5000 to 3000 BC, women would dye their nails with henna to indicate their social status and seductiveness. Women of the lower class wore pastel and neutral shades, while the upper classes wore deep, bright shades.
In Babylonia 3200 BC, men, not women, painted their nails with black and green kohl, an ancient cosmetic. To prepare for war, warriors of Babylon spent hours having their nails prepared, hair curled, and other similar beauty treatments.
The mid-1800s saw the opening of the first salons with nail technicians. With the ‘Sitts Method’ gaining popularity, women of all income levels began to take care of their nails and cuticles. Dr. Sitts, was a European podiatrist who adapted a dental tool for manicure purposes. Previous to this invention, people used acid, a metal rod, and scissors to shape and trim the nails.
During the 1920s, the art of nail care began to broaden in America and Europe, at around the same time the Simplex Manicuring Kit came into existence, with the kit consisting of nail polish, cuticle remover, nail whitener, an orange stick and an emery board. This kit provided an opportunity to aspiring women who longed to become nail technicians as, it offered them the opportunity to practice their skills at home.
The nail-care industry has been growing like never before ever since the invention of modern nail polish. In 2012, the United States witnessed a surging popularity of nail art, in the same year, a short nail-art documentary was released: “NAILgasm”. The film explored the growing trend of nail art, from women across the world to high-fashion runways.
What would the next innovation in nail care be? Leave your guess in the comments under this post, we would love to hear it!
Your Glow Concierge