Color is a powerful force in the nail industry. It’s the biggest variable in the latest and most anticipated polish collections; it defines clients’ (and your own) signature looks; it sets the entire tone for your salon décor, and much more. Paint manufacturer Benjamin Moore has encapsulated what color means to American life in its “Color Spanning Three Centuries” exhibit that’s currently touring the country.

As the introductory text of the exhibit notes, “Color provides a vivid reflection of the social, economic, and artistic spirit of the times. Place pink next to turquoise, and that single visual cue can bring an entire tail-finned, fabulous fifties decade roaring to life; while a glimpse of tie-dye in psychedelic shades reads turbulent sixties and an era of social revolution.”

The company, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, uses the exhibit to look back at the paint colors that best represent each decade since the paint maker’s founding in 1883. Plus, it also highlights a major design figure of that period and the influences that helped to shape choices for color in fashion and design.

Be sure to check out the exhibit if it’s visiting a design center near you. It’s at the Chicago Merchandise Mart through May 31, will be at The New York Design Center in June, and the San Francisco Design Center in September.

—Sree