The Diverse And Gorgeous World Of Nail Polish

Nail Polish is one of the most important constituents needed in order to keep your nails looking lovely and elegant.

How to Care for your Nails and your Nail Paints

Caring for your nails is an important element to good looking and groomed nails. Applying Nail varnish on chipped or broken nails will only make them look worse. You can follow a few simple tips to avoid the most obvious pitfalls and problems encountered when applying nail polish. First and foremost, it is important to keep your hands and nails moisturized at all times. You can use a hand and nail cream to achieve the desired effect. It is also advised to go for manicures once in 2 weeks.

Always store nail paints in a cool place away from sunlight to give them a longer shelf life. When applying nail paint, mix the color evenly by shaking the bottle and warming it up between the hands to let the polish flow freely. Apply Nail Enamel in 3-4 easy strokes and make sure you apply two thin coats letting the first one dry before you apply the last one. For maximum effect, ensure that the paint you use is a good quality one and is not too old. And lastly remember the golden rule; 'never apply fresh polish on old paint'.

History of Nail Paints

Since time immemorial, since the uncovering of the practice of nail painting way back in 2800 BC, the Mongolese, Afghan, Australian and various other cultures have been using assorted different products in an effort to beautify and lend color to their nails. While the Chinese used a mixture of beeswax, bark, sap and crushed flower petals with alum, the Egyptians used a dye from the henna plant. They also used Gold and Brass on their nails to give it extra zing! However, the lower ranks of society was not allowed to apply dark shades and had to contend with lighter shades of nail paints.

During to the 19th Century, the concept of nail polishing took on a whole new aspect. During these times, the nails were lightly colored or tinted with rose fragranced oils and then buffed and polished using a leather chamois piece. Later, the oils were replaced by tinted creams and powders, but the trend of polishing nails continued.

Types of Nail Polish

The 19th century has seen various types of nail varnishes over time. The 2 main forms of paints found today are either high gloss mattes or frosted nail paints. These are among the most popular nail polish types for daily wear. The high gloss mattes look great with all types of shades, mainly the lighter versions while the frosted look complements dark nail colors.

On the extremes, high glitter nail polish is increasingly trendy among teenagers who prefer to wear anything with a flashy effect. While on the other hand, colors like matt blacks, dark blues and greens etc. are widely popular among gothic and punk followers, both male and female. The high-fashion world is also falling in step and such a pallet is no longer restricted to the rebels of society! On a sober note, the French are also known to use flesh tones most often in their popularly known French Manicures. This trend has caught up with the rest of the globe as well. Also popular are the versions of clear vanishes with light invisible tints which give just a hint of healthy color to the nails. However, these polishes are also increasingly popular among men, who are now more conscious of their overall grooming. Among the latest trends, nail designs and nail piercing are also highly popular.

Nail Polish in the 21st Century

It was not till the 1720 that the true nail enamel we use today came into being, thanks to the discovery of automobile paint. Since then, Nail Polish has been through various transitions in terms of its chemical content in an effort to make it non-toxic as well as more and more nail friendly, but it's basal form has not changed. Today, most nail varnishes are manufactured with some pigment mixed with color and dissolved in solvents.