Nail polish
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Bottle of "No. 17" nail polish |
Nail polish (called also
nail varnish in
British English) is a cosmetic
lacquer that is applied to the
nails of both the
fingers and
toes, usually as ornamentation but also as protection. Most nail polishes are made of
nitrocellulose dissolved in a
solvent and either left clear or colored with various
pigments.
There are historic records of its use in ancient societies of
China and
Egypt, where colour signified
social class. In China, it is done by mashing together the petals of
impatiens flower and
alum. Applying this mixture to nails for a few hours or overnight leaves a color ranging from pink to red.
Originally made of natural
pigments, modern nail polish is similar to car paint, and requires a
polish remover such as
acetone to remove. Modern nail polish was invented by Michelle Ménard in the early 1920s.
Nail polish should be stored in a cool place, such as a refrigerator, as it will change consistency if left in a warm environment.
Nail polish is traditionally worn by
women. Some men with a
countercultural bent will wear nail polish as well, with stars such as
Aerosmith's
Steven Tyler having been photographed wearing it. Men wearing it can be viewed as carrying a
social stigma, as male use of makeup does not fit traditional
gender roles. Nail polish may be applied as one of several components in a
manicure. Reddish and
pinkish shades of nail polish represent femininity in most cultures and can make the wearer appear more sexually attractive. Sometimes people paint their nails a color that will match their clothes, but others tend to paint their nails to match what color they think represents their mood. There are also types of polish that are advertised to cause nail growth, make nails stronger, and stop nail biting.
Black nail polish is popular amongst the
goth and
punk community.
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Nail Polish FAQ MadSci Network*
Perfect Nails - Manicure and Pedicure 
