Ancient Babylonian men manicured and colored their nails using kohl, with different colors representing different classes. The upper echelons wore black while the lower classes wore green. They also created the world's first, and most lavish, manicure set — the tools were made from solid gold! Kelly Osbourne and her $250,000 manicurehave nothing on these guys.
2. The Ancient Egyptian's Scarlet Manicure, 1300 B.C. - 1st Century B.C.:
Cleopatra and Queen Nefertiti, pioneers of all things opulent, popularized the manicure by rubbing their hands in rich oils and staining their nails using henna. They believed that this signified their wealth and status. The bolder the color, the more power you had. Cleopatra preferred a blood red hue, while Nefertiti opted for ruby. We're going to go ahead and call red the official shade of sovereignty à la pyramids.
Cleopatra and Queen Nefertiti, pioneers of all things opulent, popularized the manicure by rubbing their hands in rich oils and staining their nails using henna. They believed that this signified their wealth and status. The bolder the color, the more power you had. Cleopatra preferred a blood red hue, while Nefertiti opted for ruby. We're going to go ahead and call red the official shade of sovereignty à la pyramids.
3. The Ming Dynasty's Man-icure, 1368–1644:Like the Chinese royals who came before them, both male and female members of the Ming Dynasty had perfectly manicured, talon-like nails. To add a tint, they mixed together egg whites, wax, vegetable dyes, and other materials to create different color varnishes ranging from dark red to black.
4. The Roaring 1920s and 1930s:
As the automobile industry flourished in the '20s, women began to color their nails using high-gloss car paint. In 1932, Revlon launched a groundbreaking polish that used pigments instead of dyes and was available at drug stores. Flappers and silver screen actresses helped popularize the half moon technique, as well as the French manicure.
As the automobile industry flourished in the '20s, women began to color their nails using high-gloss car paint. In 1932, Revlon launched a groundbreaking polish that used pigments instead of dyes and was available at drug stores. Flappers and silver screen actresses helped popularize the half moon technique, as well as the French manicure.
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