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History Of Manicure

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The Manicure - A Psycho-social Experience

There’s nothing like Strawberry Champagne or Park Avenue Orchids to let the world know that you want to have fun. Peppermint and Funshine Pink exude youthful innocence while Chinese Red is downright sexy. Black Cherry adds a bit of serious sophistication to an already irresistible demeanor. And for those more mellow moods, Grand Canyon Sunset and Beach Blanket Mauve are sure to have a soothing impact.

It’s true. Nail color can mirror the inner feelings and emotions of the person wearing it. In fact, there is an entire psychological dimension to nails—mental health being a primary reason why people get manicures. Few people will admit to getting their nails done solely for hygienic …show more content…

The nails were also polished, along with the tips of the fingers, with red lac-dye. Henna leaves were used for this same purpose and are still used in India and Pakistan for traditional customs such as weddings. The Chinese and Japanese also colored their nails during the Middle Ages.

The evolution of nail products in the West occurred much later. This is possibly because women wore gloves most of the time, and thus their hands were always hidden. It was in the post-Victorian era that attention was given to enhancing the beauty of the hands and fingers. In the early 1900s, women of the Western world discovered a new phenomenon—polishing the nails. Beauty experts of the time stated that because nails were apt to be a “trifle pale” they could be touched with rose to call attention to their slenderness.

Along with facial creams, rouges, lipsticks, and other popular cosmetics of the time, women also invested money in polishing pastes, powders, or sticks. In 1903, Polpasta Polishing Paste was available for 25 cents and claimed to serve as a brilliant polish and a cure for hard nails and callous cuticles. At its heels came French Polishing Powder, which was available in cake form. When rubbed onto the nails, this powder gave them a long-lasting look of transparency. Many women preferred to have a transparent polish, which simply gave the nails brilliance and

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