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Encyclopedia > Nail polish
Pink nail polish.
Pink nail polish.

Nail polish or nail varnish is a lacquer that is applied to the nails of both the fingers and toes, usually cosmetically, but also as protection for the nails. The act of simply polishing the nails without applying a chemical layer afterwards is called nail buffing. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (938x680, 115 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Nail polish Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (938x680, 115 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Nail polish Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... In a general sense, lacquer is a clear or coloured coating, that dries by solvent evaporation only and that produces a hard, durable finish that can be polished to a very high gloss, and gives the illusion of depth. ... For other uses, see Nail. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the body part. ... Nail buffing is the act of `polishing the nail using buffers of successively finer grit in order to make it look better. ...

Contents

History

The practice of adding color to nails appears to have begun with the Japanese and Italians around 3000 B.C.[citation needed] The Chinese used a colored lacquer, made from a combination of gum arabic, egg whites, gelatin and beeswax. They also used a mixture consisting of mashed rose, orchid and impatien petals combined with alum.[citation needed] This mixture, when applied to nails for a few hours or overnight, leaves a color ranging from pink to red. The Egyptians used reddish-brown stains derived from the henna plant to color their nails as well as the tips of their fingers. Today, some people still use henna dyes to draw intricate, temporary designs on their hands in a practice known as Mehndi. Mehandi on a hand Another intricate Mehandi pattern Mehndi (or Hina} is the application of henna (Hindustani: हेना حنا) as a temporary form of skin decoration, orginated in India it is most popular in South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Somaliland as well as expatriate communities from these areas. ...


It is unclear exactly how the practice of coloring nails progressed following these ancient beginnings. By the turn of the 19th century, nails were tinted with scented red oils and polished or buffed with a chamois cloth, rather than simply painted.[1] Even a century later, women still pursued a polished, rather than painted, look by massaging tinted powders and creams into their nails, then buffing them shiny.[1] One such polishing product sold around this time was Graf’s Hyglo nail polish paste.[1] Some women during this period painted their nails using a clear, glossy varnish applied with camel-hair brushes.[1] When automobile paint was created around 1920, it inspired the introduction of colored nail enamels.[1] Michelle Ménard is credited with inventing the beginnings of our modern day colored nail lacquers.[citation needed]


Nails and social status

The color and condition of a person’s nails has long been an indication of social status. In ancient times women were identified and separated from men by the color of their nails. Different tribes had different nail art; for example the Incas were well known for the eagles decorated on their fingernails. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ...


Nail condition also identified common laborers, as they worked with their hands, having a finely manicured set of nails was not only impractical for them; it was an extravagance they couldn’t afford. Thus, only wealthy aristocrats from ancient times were seen with finely trimmed and decorated nails. During the Chou Dynasty of 600 B.C., Chinese royalty often chose gold and silver to enhance their nails. A fifteenth-century Ming manuscript cites red and black as the colors chosen by royalty for centuries previous. The Egyptians also used nail color to signify social order, with shades of red at the top. Queen Nefertiti, wife of the king Akhenaton, colored her finger and toe nails ruby red and Cleopatra favored a deep rust red. Women of lower rank who colored their nails were permitted only pale hues, and no woman dared to flaunt the color worn by the queen - or king, as Egyptian men, too, sported painted nails.


Constituents

Most nail polishes are made of nitrocellulose dissolved in a solvent and either left clear or colored with various pigments. Basic components included are: film forming agents, resins and plasticizers, solvents, and coloring agents. Skeletal formula of nitrocellulose Ball-and-stick model of a section of nitrocellulose Nitrocellulose (also: cellulose nitrate, flash paper) is a highly flammable compound formed by nitrating cellulose through, for example, exposure to nitric acid or another powerful nitrating agent. ... For other uses, see Solvent (disambiguation). ... In biology, pigment is any material resulting in color in plant or animal cells which is the result of selective absorption. ...


Nail polish makers have been under pressure to reduce or eliminate potentially toxic ingredients, including phthalates, toluene, and formaldehyde, from their nail polish.[2][3] In September 2006, several makers agreed to phase out dibutyl phthalate, which has been linked to testicular problems in lab animals and humans, in updated formulations.[3] Though some makers recently agreed to eliminate formaldehyde from their products, others still use the chemical.[2] General chemical structure of phthalates. ... Toluene, also known as methylbenzene or phenylmethane is a clear, water-insoluble liquid with the typical smell of paint thinners, redolent of the sweet smell of the related compound benzene. ... R-phrases , , , S-phrases , , , , , Flash point -53 °C Related Compounds Related aldehydes acetaldehyde benzaldehyde Related compounds ketones carboxylic acids Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 Â°C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references Formaldehyde (methanal) is the chemical compound with the formula... General chemical structure of phthalates. ... R-phrases , , , S-phrases , , , , , Flash point -53 °C Related Compounds Related aldehydes acetaldehyde benzaldehyde Related compounds ketones carboxylic acids Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 Â°C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references Formaldehyde (methanal) is the chemical compound with the formula...


Nail polish in fashion

Nail polish is traditionally worn by women, who may apply it to their fingernails, toenails, or both. Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ...


Traditional colors for nail polish are red, pink and flesh-colored shades, although more unusual shades are also available. French manicures traditionally mimic the colors of natural nails, with flesh tones on most of the nail and white at the tips. Today, nail polish can be found in nearly every color and shade desired. It is believed that the film Pulp Fiction started a trend for a shade of dark red nail polish during the mid-1990s, after Uma Thurman's character wore Chanel's "Rouge Noir" (known as "Vamp" in the USA) throughout.[citation needed] Black or other very dark nail polish has been popular with goths and punks of both genders since the 1970s, however it has now gained popularity in the mainstream fashion world. Nail polish may also be used to complete an outfit. In this case, women, and occasionally men, match the color of the nail polish to the colors of the clothing. Pulp Fiction is a 1994 film by director Quentin Tarantino, who cowrote the film with Roger Avary. ... Uma Karuna Thurman (born April 29, 1970) is an Academy Award-nominated American actress. ... Not to be confused with Channel. ... This article is about the late 20th / early 21st century subculture. ... Punks at a music festival The punk subculture is a subculture that is based around punk rock music. ...


Colors with glitter and a metallic sheen have also become popular among the teens of today. With the intial red losing its fame, metallic purple and colors with a shade of pearl are gaining the spotlight of the teen's cosmetic world. Clear nail polish is also a great favorite.


Also in today's world some popular designs on one nail and can be done with thinner nail brushes (usually the ring finger) or all includes: flowers, strokes of lines and even more detailed designs with airbrush tools usually on acryilic nails.


Some men also wear nail polish (typically fingernail polish). Musicians, particularly of the rock genre, such as Marilyn Manson, Richard Kruspe, Dave Navarro, Steven Tyler, Kirk Hammett, Brian Molko, Lou Reed, Martin Gore, Davey Havok, Gerard Way, Lauri Ylönen, Jonne Aaron & Sir Christus, Ville Valo, Tuomas Holopainen and Alexi Laiho have been known to wear nail polish. In 1997, the cosmetic company Hard Candy released Candy Man, a nail polish brand aimed specifically at men. It featured colors such as Testosterone (gunmetal grey), Gigolo (silver-specked black), Superman (midnight blue), and Dog (deep purple). [4] For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... This article is about the person. ... Richard Zven Kruspe (born June 24, 1967) is a German musician, most notable for being one of the guitarists for the industrial metal band Rammstein. ... “David Navarro” redirects here. ... Stephen Victor Tallarico (born March 26, 1948 in Yonkers, New York[1]), better known as Steven Tyler, is an American musician and songwriter. ... Kirk Lee Hammett (born on November 18, 1962) is the lead guitarist in the band Metallica. ... Brian Molko (born December 10, 1972, in Belgium) is a songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist of the band Placebo. ... Lou Reed, born Lewis Allen Reed[1] March 2, 1942, is an American rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. ... Martin Gore (born Martin Lee Gore, 23 July 1961, Basildon, Essex, England) is an English songwriter, lyricist, singer, guitarist and keyboardist. ... David Marchand [1] (born David Anthony Passaro, on November 20, 1975, in Rochester, New York) more commonly known by the stage name Davey Havok, is the lead vocalist of the American rock band AFI. // Havok was born in Rochester, New York and is of Italian ancestery. ... Gerard Arthur Way (born April 9, 1977) is the front man, lead vocalist and co-founder of the band My Chemical Romance; he is also elder brother to the bands bass player, Mikey Way. ... Lauri Johannes Markus Paavo Ylönen (born April 23, 1979 in Helsinki, Finland) is the frontman of the Finnish alternative rock band The Rasmus. ... Jonne Aaron Liimatainen (pronounced /jon-ne a:-ron li:-ma-tai-nen/ in ASCII-IPA, born August 30, 1983 in Tampere) is a Finnish singer and frontman of Negative. ... Ville Hermanni Valo ( ) (born November 22, 1976) is the vocalist, songwriter and frontman of the Finnish rock band HIM. They have released six full length albums, and as of 2006, they are the first and only Finnish rock band to go Gold in the United States. ... Tuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen (born December 25, 1976, in Kitee, Finland)[1][2] is the keyboardist and main songwriter[3] in the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. ... Alexi Wildchild Laiho (born Markku Uula Aleksi Laiho) is the lead guitarist in the bands Children of Bodom (where he is also the vocalist), Sinergy and Kylähullut. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Hard Candy is an American cosmetics company, founded in 1995 by Iranian American sisters, Dineh and Pooneh Mohajer (who now owns tokidoki), and Benjamin Einstein (who now owns einstein-beauty. ... Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group. ... For other uses, see Gunmetal (disambiguation). ... A male prostitute (or hustler) is a sex worker or prostitute who earns money by providing sexual services to clients. ... Superman is a fictional character and comic book superhero , originally created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian artist Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics. ... Midnight Blue is a dark shade of blue that was named for its darkness. ...


Some types of polish are advertised to cause nail growth, make nails stronger, prevent nails from breaking, cracking and splitting and stop nail biting. Nail polish may be applied as one of several components in a manicure. Long, manicured nails are a fashion statement. ...


Nail polish remover

Nail polish is easily removed by nail polish remover, which is a solvent (usually acetone, sometimes acetonitrile) and often recognized by its characteristic industrial aroma. Other components may include scents and coloring. Like other solvent-containing products, nail polish remover is also used as an inhalant drug for its intoxicating properties. The chemical compound acetone (also known as propanone, dimethyl ketone, 2-propanone, propan-2-one and β-ketopropane) is the simplest representative of the ketones. ... Acetonitrile is an organic molecule, often used as a solvent, with the chemical formula of CH3CN. Also known as methyl cyanide, it is the simplest of the organic nitriles. ... An aerosol metered-dose inhaler (MDI) used for administration of asthma medication. ...


References

  1. ^ a b c d e "History of Nail Care." Originally published in Nails magazine, 2007.
  2. ^ a b http://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/news/ng.asp?n=70219-cancer-nail-varnish
  3. ^ a b Singer, Natasha. "Nail Polish Makers Yield on Disputed Chemical." New York Times (Sept. 7, 2006).
  4. ^ Lutyens, Dominic. "If it's good enough for Quentin Tarantino ..." The Independent (London), (Mar 2, 1997).
  • Charles Panati , Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things Harper & Row Copyright 1987
  • Vanni Contingo, Article published in COSMO Magazine, copyright 2007
  • http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19970302/ai_n14091234
  • Nail Polish Tips

  Results from FactBites:
 
Nail Polish: How Products are Made (1530 words)
Nail coverings were not unknown in ancient times—the upper classes of ancient Egypt probably used henna to dye both hair and fingernails—but essentially, its composition, manufacture and handling reflect developments in modern chemical technology.
Nail polish is a "suspension" product, in which particles of color can only be held by the solvent for a relatively short period of time, rarely more than two or three years.
Shaking a bottle of nail polish before use helps to restore settled particles to the suspension; a very old bottle of nail polish may have so much settled pigment that it can never be restored to the solvent.
Nail Polish at Folica.com (385 words)
CHI Ceramic Nail Lacquer is the most revolutionary nail lacquer in the industry and the latest in advanced American technology.
Mava-Dry dries nail polish in seconds, reduces chipping and prevents smearing or smudging.
Exceptional nail polish that is able to "flow" on, blended to last a long time.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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