Nail art

An outstanding example of hand art. The hand shows matching turquoise nails and ring; brown henna and gold skin decoration.

Pink nail polish and applicator.

A low-key, but effective style: the 'French manicure'.

Nail art is a creative activity that draws pictures or designs fingernails. It a type of art. These days fingernails and toenails are seen by some as important points of beauty. In some cultures, nail art is linked to femininity.^[1]

Also, it is a type of fashion activity, related to manicuring. There are commercial shops ('nail bars') where nails are worked on to make them attractive. The main product is acrylic nails with ready-made designs which can be stuck on top of natural nails.

Nail polish

Nail polish, or nail varnish, is a lacquer applied to human fingernails or toenails to decorate and/or protect the nail. Today’s nail polishes are usually nitrocellulose in a solvent such as butyl acetate or ethyl acetate. They may be clear or coloured with pigments. There are many different shades in which this occurs. The coating has a plasticizers (e.g. camphor). This links polymer chains, spacing them to make the film flexible after drying. That way it resists cracking or flaking caused by the natural movement of the nail.^[2]

History

A beautiful result

Nail polish was used in the ancient world. In China it started off being made from a combination of beeswax, egg whites, gelatin, vegetable dyes, and gum arabic and rose petals. The Chinese would dip their hands in this mixture until their finger nails turned red or pink.^[3] The Ming dynasty (1368-1644) was known for very long nails.^[4] In Ancient Egypt henna was used. The henna stained their fingernails orange, which turned dark red or brown after the stain matured.^[5] In 1300 BC, the colour of the nail polish reflected social rank. The colours gold and silver were favoured; later, black and red were the favoured colours.^[2] Red is the colour Cleopatra wore.^[3]

By the turn of the 9th century, nails were tinted with scented red oils, and polished or buffed with a chamois cloth, rather than simply polished.^[6]

The modern manicure began in 1830, when the orange stick was invented by Dr. Sitts, a European podiatrist. It is a thin, wooden stick with a pointed end, made from orange wood.^[7] Dr. Sitts' neice began a nail care product for women of any social class, and it began to be used in United States salons.^[8] In 1907, the first nail polish was invented, but it had no colour. Later, colours were sold also.^[9] The French manicure style was created by Jeff Pink in 1976.^[10] Nail painting became more popular in the 1980s and since then became more popular.^[11]

Artificial nails

The artificial nails are not a replacement, but an extension for natural nails. There are two main approaches to creating artificial nails–tips and forms.

Tips are made of lightweight plastic plates that are nail-shaped. They are glued on the end of the natural nail and liquid acrylic is then applied over the entire nail.
Forms are fitted over the nail. Then an artificial nail is molded out of acrylic. Then the form is removed and the new nail shaped and buffed to a shine.

Acrylics

This is a mixture of a powder and a liquid. The mixture starts to harden in 30–40 seconds after application and gets to its final hardness in fifteen minutes. Powder and liquid acrylics can be removed by using a variety of solvents (usually acetone is used). Usually it takes 15 to 20 minutes to remove the nail.

UV topcoat

Another material, commonly called "UV Top Coat" (in correct terms a polymer resin), hardens under ultraviolet light. These can show a wider range of properties (flexibility, strength, etc.) but may be more expensive. They cannot be removed by organic solvents, but only by filing (or left to grow out with the natural nail).

Other

Black toe nails

Another popular alternative to acrylic or gel preparations are fiberglass or silk wraps. They are done by cutting pieces of actual fiberglass or silk fabric to fit on the surface of the nail or tip and then it is sealed down with a resin or glue. These are an alternative for those who are allergic to chemicals used in the acrylic or gel process. Other materials can be used, as well as combinations of them. There are also temporary, cheaper flexible tips that can be quickly glued at home without help from a professional.

Acrylic nail powders are available in a variety of colours and can use "special effects" such as contours, sparkles and the very popular French manicure (pink and white appearance).

Guitar players

Guitar players, if they don't use their fingertips, use their nails, or a 'pick' (piece of metal) to play. If they use their nails, the nails must be in perfect condition, and kept to the same length all the time. Alternatively, he/she may use acrylic stick-ons. Every guitarist has their own way.

The players of many ancient Chinese instruments, like the guqin, pipa, and ruan, also commonly used artificial nails.

Nail Art Media

Fing'rs Natural French Spitzen
A wall painting from 2330 BC found in a tomb shows people with painted nails.
Pair of finger nail protectors, front- side- and back- view ; brass sheet hammered, inlaid semi precious stones. China, Qing Dynasty , 1900-1910. Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst in Cologne ( gift by Helga Fischer ).
Nail art depicting characters from the video game Pac-Man
Sugar Nails
Multi-chrome nail art with star-shaped nail vinyl stencils