Nail polish has been around for quite some time, but have you ever given a thought to how it all started?
Who sat down one day, glanced down at their bare nails and thought.. I’m going to paint these?!
Whilst we don’t have all the answers (or a time machine to find out for ourselves) we have gathered some pretty interesting facts about the nail polishes we’ve all grown to love.
1. Origins of the manicure
The concept of the manicure began in India well over 5,000 years ago with the use of henna as a nail paint. This practice spread and was adopted by different the cultures. It is believed that the people of southern Babylonia took it a step-further around 4,000 BC and turned to solid gold to achieve the perfect manicure. Very high end!
In ancient Egypt around 3,000BC, nail polish was sometimes used to signify social status and wealth. The ingredients included beeswax, egg whites, gelatin and vegetable dyes. The lower class often wore nude and light colours, whilst high society painted their nails red. No wonder red manis are so iconic! Check out our favourite classic red, Scarlett– a deep crimson which of course is vegan, cruelty free and non toxic.
2. the invention of the car inspired every day nail polish
Yes you did read that right! In the early 1920’s a french make-up artist had the genius idea to adapt automobile paints for use on nails. Revlon was the first established nail polish brand using this initial idea to create an opaque nail polish.
3. acrylic nails were invented in 1978… by a dentist
In the 1950’s, a dentist named Frederick Slack broke his nail and experimented with chemicals and different materials to create a realistic looking replacement- using dental acrylics. He and his brother Tom, patented a successful version and started the first artificial nail company ‘Patti Nails’.
Acrylic nails have grown massively in recent years and it’s all thanks to a dentist in the 50’s! Acrylics are a great way of adding instant length, but removing them can sometimes be a chore. Check out our recent blog on removing nail tips at home to make sure you give them the TLC they need.
4. opened bottles of nail polish only last about 2 years
Unopened bottles of polish can last indefinitely, but once you open the lid for the first time, certain ingredients start to evaporate. This changes the formula and consistency of your nail polish. To prevent this from happening you can use a nail polish thinner which works to replace the ingredients that have started to evaporate.
5. nAIL POLISH ISN’T JUST FOR YOUR NAILS
Nail polish has soo many handy uses, we all know the classic; to stop a ladder in your tights! If you’re into haberdashery, try painting a small amount of clear polish on the end of some thread to feed it through the eye of the needle with ease.
How about using your favourite colours to organise your keys? Colour coding your keys not only makes it easier to see which one you need at a glance, it also makes your boring keys look much prettier.
a NOTE FROM US
We hope you’re feeling a little more in the know about nail polishes now, we certainly are. It’s amazing how a simple idea can grow into something huge. Back in 2012 the nail polish industry hit over $768 million in the US alone!
As a forward thinking company, we here at Livoliv are always looking for ways we can add new and exciting products to our range whilst never losing sight of what we stand for. That’s why all of our products are 100% vegan, cruelty free and non toxic. We believe that our products should be inclusive to everyone who cares about their skin.
That’s it for this weeks blog, until next time…
The Livoliv Team x