MENU
SEARCHAllure's September 2012 issue featured a timeline of nail styles throughout history, starting in ancient Egypt and ending with nail decals and 3-D nail art.
Allure's September 2012 issue featured a timeline of nail styles throughout history, starting in ancient Egypt and ending with nail decals and 3-D nail art.
5000-3000 B.C. - Women in ancient Egypt dye their fingertips with henna to broadcast their social status and sex appeal.
600 B.C. - Noblemen and women of China's Chou dynasty sprinkle their nails with gold and silver dust.
1920s-30s - MGM employs Beatrice Kaye to manicure its stars, such as Bette Davis. Kaye paints just the center of the nails, calling it a "moon manicure."
1930 - Princess de Faucigny-Lucinge, a Parisian socialite, sets a new trend: red nails with a stripe of silver painted on just the tips.
1937 - Inventor Earl Tupper, creator of Tupperware, experiments with glue-on nail appliques, including pictures of shamrocks.
1955 - Fred Slack, a dentist, and his brother Tom inadvertently invent acrylic extensions while trying to mend a broken fingernail with acrylic.
1965 - London mod followers decorate their nails with flowers using artists' oil paints. Fashion designer Mary Quant launches Nail Bullion - a silver-flecked nail polish.
1988 - Wearing long, blinged-out nails, Florence Griffith Joyner, sets two world records at the Seoul Olympics.
Late 1990s - Hip-hop artists such as Missy Elliot embrace airbrushed and pierced nails. Lil' Kim wears dollar bills encased in acrylic.
1999 - CoverGirl introduces a line of polishes called Crackle Lacquers that create a broken-glass effect on nails.
2007 - Beyonce tops her nails with gold Minx foils at the American Music Awards. Models at the Louis Vuitton spring show have Swarovski-encrusted nails.
March 2011 - Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real nail Polish Strips hit the market in a variety of prints, including leopard, zebra, lace, and paint splatter.
September 2011 - The nail-art exhibition "Nailphilia" opens at the degreeart.com gallery in London.
January 2012 - Models walk the Chanel couture runway with geometric, two-tone manicures.
You Might Also Like:
History of Nail Care (photo gallery)
Happy 30th Birthday to... Us! (photo gallery)
Sofia Vergara, Lucy Hale, Alison Brie, John Salley, Brian Austin Green and more honored the best achievements in Science Behind Beauty, Health & Wellness at this glittering event.
Stress was the factor respondents blamed most often when their skin worsened, cited by 54%, followed by diet at 37% and hormones at 35%.
The anniversary campaign includes a proposed French Manicure Day and submission of the original French Manicure Kit for consideration by the Smithsonian's Personal Care and Cosmetics Collection.
The show reported 30% attendance growth. It felt that way. This event for the southwest professional beauty community had heart, spice, and something for everyone.
For Christian Cowan’s Spring/Summer 2027 collection, the designer drew inspiration from classic feminine silhouettes, reimagined with a cool edge and unexpected textures.
MelodySusie is celebrating its 17th anniversary. It is a time to celebrate another year of growth, another year of innovation, and another chapter of the journey we've shared with nail lovers around the world. From first-time nail enthusiasts and bold creators to professionals turning passion into a career, we’re grateful for every person and community who has made nail artistry their own.
Sponsored by MelodySusie
Join us in congratulating this year's list of hardworking, game-changing individuals.
Premiere San Antonio Presented by SalonCentric returns for its fourth edition August 30-31 at the Henry B. González Convention Center, delivering its biggest and boldest event to date.
One-Day Personal and Professional Development Education Event for Beauty Professionals Set for October 25, 2026, at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue.
According to the report, people are moving away from copy-paste trends and toward community, using real experiences to develop a sense of taste and beauty that reflects who they are.
