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{{Short description|Lacquer applied to fingernails and/or toenails}}{{About|the cosmetic product|the 2021 film|Nail Polish (film)|the book|Sophie Labelle}}(File:Polished purple nails with nail art on.jpg|thumb|Polished nails with nail art)(File:Fingernägel-lackieren-IMG 2027.jpg|thumb|Fingernails before, during, and after application of red nail polish)(File:Female feet 2.jpg|thumb|A woman’s toes with dark nail polish)Nail polish (also known as nail varnish in British English or nail enamel) is a lacquer that can be applied to the human fingernail or toenails to decorate and protect the nail plates. The formula has been revised repeatedly to enhance its decorative properties, to be safer for the consumer to use, and to suppress cracking or peeling. Nail polish consists of a mix of an organic polymer and several other components that give it colors and textures. Nail polishes come in all color shades and play a significant part in manicures and pedicures.

History

Nail polish originated in China and dates back to 3000 BCE.BOOK, John, Toedt, Darrell, Koza, Kathleen van, Cleef-Toedt, Chemical Composition Of Everyday Products, 2005, Greenwood Publishing Group, 49, 978-0-313-32579-3,archive.org/details/chemicalcomposit0000toed/page/49, BOOK, Sherrow, Victoria, For appearance’ sake: The historical encyclopedia of good looks, beauty, and grooming, 2001, Oryx Press, Phoenix, 978-1-57356-204-1, 119, registration,archive.org/details/forappearancesak00sher/page/119, Around 600 BCE, during the Zhou dynasty, the royal house preferred the colors gold and silver. However, red and black eventually replaced these metallic colors as royal favorites. During the Ming dynasty, nail polish was often made from a mixture that included beeswax, egg whites, gelatin, vegetable dyes, and gum arabic.In Egypt, the lower classes wore pale colors of nail polish, whereas high society painted their nails a reddish brown with henna.BOOK, Cosmetic Dermatology: Products and Procedures, Draelos, Zoe Diana, John Wiley & Sons, 2011, 46, 978-1-4443-5951-0, BOOK, Milady’s Standard Cosmetology, 8, Cengage Learning, Alpert, Arlene, Altenburg, Margrit, Bailey, Diane, amp, 978-1-56253-879-8, 2002, Mummified pharaohs also had their nails painted with henna.NEWS, Shah, Shikha, History of nail polish, The Times of India, 17 January 2014, {{ProQuest, 1477854392, }}In the Ancient Levant, women used nail polish not for color for the sake of the color but rather to bring out the best of their natural color.BOOK, Ide, Arthur Frederick, Woman in the ancient Near East, 1982, University of Virginia, 79, {{Failed verification|date=May 2024}}In Europe, Frederick S. N. Douglas, while traveling in Greece in 1810–1812, noticed that the Greek women used to paint their nails “dingy pink”, which he understood as an ancient custom.Douglas Frederick Sylvester North (1813), An essay on certain points or resemblance between the ancient and modern Greeks, p. 163 Early nail polish formulas were created using basic ingredients such as lavender oil, carmine, oxide tin, and bergamot oil.{{self-published source|date=April 2021}} It was more common to polish nails with tinted powders and creams, finishing off by buffing the nail until left shiny. One type of polishing product sold around this time was Graf’s Hyglo nail polish paste.NEWS,www.edwardianpromenade.com/beauty/on-how-to-be-lovely-2/, On How to Be Lovely, 2010-04-15, Edwardian Promenade, 2018-05-06, en-US, {{self-published source|date=April 2021}}In Victorian era culture it was generally considered improper for women to adorn themselves with either makeup or nail coloring, since natural appearances were considered more chaste and pure. In the 1920s, however, women began to wear color in new makeups and nail products, partly in rebellion to such prim customs of their recent past.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}} In 1920s France, a big pioneer of nail polish was the hairstylist Antoine de Paris, whose cosmetic company produced some of the first modern polishes, and he himself shocked the newspapers by wearing each nail painted a different color.BOOK, Orzeszyna, Marta, Antoine Cierplikowski: król fryzjerów, fryzjer królów, 2015, SpoÅ‚eczny Instytut Wydawniczy Znak, 2015, 978-83-240-3050-7, Znak Horyzont, Kraków, pl, La Garçonne, Since the 1920s, nail colors progressed from French manicures and standard reds to various palettes of color choices, usually coordinated with the fashion industry’s clothing colors for the season. By the 1940s the whole nail was painted; before that, it was fashionable to leave the tips and a half-moon on the nail bed bare.{{cn|date=April 2021}}

Ingredients

(File:Nitrocellulose-2D-skeletal.png|thumb|right|Nitrocellulose is a film-forming polymer that is the main ingredient in most nail polishes.)Modern nail polish consists predominately of a film-forming polymer dissolved in a volatile organic solvent. The most common polymer is nitrocellulose, although the more expensive cellulose acetates such as CAB are claimed to give better performance. In gel nail varnish, the polymer is usually some sort of acrylate copolymer. The solvents are commonly butyl acetate or ethyl acetate. Low levels of various additives are included to give the desired finish:{{Ullmann |first1=Günther |last1=Schneider |first2=Sven |last2=Gohla |first3=Jörg |last3=Schreiber |first4=Waltraud |last4=Kaden |first5=Uwe |last5=Schönrock |first6=Hartmut |last6=Schmidt‐Lewerkühne |first7=Annegret |last7=Kuschel |first8=Xenia |last8=Petsitis |first9=Wolfgang |last9=Pape |first10=Hellmut |last10=Ippen |first11=Walter |last11=Diembeck |title=Skin Cosmetics |doi=10.1002/14356007.a24_219 |date=2000 |isbn=978-3-527-30385-4 }}

Types

Base coat

(File:Base coat of nail polish.jpg|thumb|The base coat is clear and is used to strengthen nails.)This type of nail polish is a clear, milky-colored, or opaque pink polish formula that is used specifically before applying nail polish to the nail.WEB, Molina, Christina, How to Actually Remove Glitter Nail Polish for Good,www.elle.com/news/beauty-makeup/opi-glitter-off-base-coat-review, Elle.com, Hearst Communications, Inc., 2 April 2014, 31 March 2014, Its function is to strengthen nails, restore moisture to the nail, and help polish adhere to the nail. It prevents staining and extends the lifespan of the manicure.NEWS,www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/nails/a34522/why-base-coat-is-important/, The One Step You Should NEVER Skip in Your Mani, 2015-09-21, Good Housekeeping, 2018-05-06, en-US, Some base coats are marketed as “ridge fillers”, and can create a smooth surface, de-emphasizing the ridges that can appear on unbuffed nails. Some base coats, called “peel off base coats”, allow the user to peel off their nail polish without using a remover.

Top coat

This type of nail polish is a clear colored polish formula that is used specifically after applying nail polish to the nail. It forms a hardened barrier for the nail that can prevent chipping, scratching and peeling. Many topcoats are marketed as “quick-drying.” Topcoats can help the underlying colored polish dry quickly as well. It gives the polish a more finished and desired look and may help to keep the polish on longer.File:Manganese violet.jpg|thumb|upright|Manganese violet is a typical pigmentpigment

Gel

Gel polish is a long-lasting variety of nail polish made up of a type of methacrylate polymer. It is painted on the nail similar to traditional nail polish, but does not dry. Instead it is cured under an ultraviolet lamp or ultraviolet LED. While regular nail polish formulas typically last two to seven days without chipping, gel polish can last as long as two weeks with proper application and home care. Gel polish can be more difficult to remove than regular nail polish. It is usually removed by soaking the nails in pure acetone (the solvent used in most nail polish removers) for five to fifteen minutes, depending on the formula.

In fashion

{{More citations needed section|date=October 2023}}Traditionally, nail polish started in clear, white, red, pink, purple, and black. Nail polish can be found in a diverse variety of colors and shades. Beyond solid colors, nail polish has also developed an array of other designs, such as crackled, glitter, flake, speckled, iridescent, and holographic. Rhinestones or other decorative art are also often applied to nail polish. Some polish is advertised to induce nail growth, make nails stronger, prevent nails from breaking, cracking, or splitting, and even to stop nail biting.

French manicure

French manicures are designed to resemble natural nails, and are characterized by natural pink or nude base nails with white tips. French manicures were one of the first popular and well-known color schemes. French manicures may have originated in the eighteenth-century in Paris but were most popular in the 1920s and 1930s. However, the traditional French manicures were much different from what we know today. They were generally red, while leaving a round crescent shape at the area near the cuticle blank to enhance the lunula of the nail, known now as a half-moon manicure.{{Citation needed|date=March 2019}}With the modern French manicure, trends involving painting different colors for the tips of the nails instead of the white. French tip nails can be made with stickers and stencils. It is still typically done by hand through painting with polish or gel, or sculptured with acrylic.{{Citation needed|date=March 2019}}

Social media

(File:Nail Polish.JPG|thumb|left|upright|A nail polish collection)Social media has given rise to a nail art culture that allows users to share pictures of their nail art. Women’s Wear Daily reports nail polish sales hit a record US$768 million in the United States in 2012, a 32% gain over 2011.MAGAZINE, Sun, Feifei,style.time.com/2013/01/28/nail-polish-sales-hit-record-768-million-in-u-s/, Nail Polish Sales Hit Record $768 Million in U.S., Time, 2013-01-28, 2013-12-06, Several new polishes and related products came on to the market in the second decade of the twenty-first century as part of the explosion of nail art, such as nail stickers (either made of nail polish or plastic), stencils, magnetic nail polish,WEB, Romanowski, Shannon, The Science Behind Magnetic Nail Polish,www.self.com/story/the-science-behind-magnetic-na, Self.com, 29 February 2012, 22 June 2017, nail pens, glitter and sequin topcoats, nail caviar (micro beads), nail polish marketed for men, scented nail polish, and color changing nail polish (some which change hue when exposed to sunshine, and ranges which change hue in response to heat).{{Year needed|date=April 2014}}

Western world

File:Wikidata nail polish 02.jpg|thumb|Men and women with painted nails at WikimaniaWikimaniaNail polish in the Western world was more frequently worn by women, going in and out of acceptability depending upon moral customs of the day. It is less common for men to wear nail polish, and can be seen as a divergence from traditional gender norms.JOURNAL, Edwards, Nelta M., Using Nail Polish to Teach about Gender and Homophobia, Teaching Sociology, October 2010, 38, 4, 362–372, 10.1177/0092055X10378821, 143960053, Uses include clear polish to protect nails from breakage or impart a well-groomed sheen, and colored polish on fingernails and toenails.NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2013/06/13/fashion/manly-manicures-end-in-color.html, Manly Manicures End in Color, 2013-06-12, The New York Times, 2015-07-14, Professional baseball players, especially catchers, may wear nail polish on the field.WEB,melmagazine.com/en-us/story/everything-we-know-about-baseball-manicures-and-nail-polish, Everything We Know about Baseball Manicures and Nail Polish, Graff, Jesse, Mel Magazine, 10 October 2017, 2021-04-06,

Finishes

There are 17 principal nail polish finishes:WEB, Mismas, Michelle, Can you describe the different types of nail polish finishes?,www.alllacqueredup.com/faq, AllLacqueredUp.com, All Lacquered Up, 2014-04-03,www.alllacqueredup.com/faq," title="web.archive.org/web/20210304002740www.alllacqueredup.com/faq,">web.archive.org/web/20210304002740www.alllacqueredup.com/faq, 2021-03-04, dead, {{self-published source|date=April 2021}}{{div col |colwidth=12em}}

• Shimmer
• Micro-shimmer
• Micro-glitter
• Glitter
• Frost
• Lustre
• Creme
• Iridescent
• Opalescent
• Matte (a formula of nail polish, or a topper placed on top of a coat of normal nail polish, that has a matte finish when dried)
• DuochromeEmma Carlson Berne Nail Care Tips & Tricks 2015 - Page 13 1467786551 “Chrome. Many polishes give off a metallic sheen. Duochrome or multichrome polish contains several colors. The colors flash differently, depending on the reflection of the light. Iridescent polish is a softer version of duochrome.”
• Jelly or translucent (clear nailpolish with a tint, usually a natural or neon colour)
• Magnetic (nail polish with metallic particles that react to specially shaped magnets for nail art)
• Crackled (a topper placed on a coat of nail polish, which crackles on top of said coat)
• Glass-flecked
• Holographic (glitter nail polish that reflects all colours when light is shone on them)
• Prismatic micro-glitter or shimmer

{{div col end}}

Nail polish remover

(File:Nail polish remover.jpg|thumb|Nail polish remover)Nail polish remover is an organic solvent that may also include oils, scents, and coloring. Nail polish remover packages may include individual felt pads soaked in remover, a bottle of liquid remover used with a cotton ball or cotton pad, or a foam-filled container into which one inserts a finger and twists it until the polish comes off. The choice of remover type depends on the user’s preference, and often the price or quality of the remover.The most common remover is acetone. Acetone can also remove artificial nails made of acrylic or cured gel.An alternative nail polish remover is ethyl acetate, which often also contains isopropyl alcohol. Ethyl acetate is usually the original solvent for nail polish itself.Acetonitrile has been used as a nail polish remover, but it is more toxic than the aforementioned options. It has been banned in the European Economic Area for use in cosmetics since 17 March 2000.Twenty-Fifth Commission Directive 2000/11/EC of 10 March 2000 adapting to technical progress Annex II to Council Directive 76/768/EEC on the approximation of laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products. OJEC L65 of 14 March 2000, pp. 22–25.

Health concerns

File:Ms. magazine Cover - Fall 2014.jpg|thumb|upright|The safety of nail polish was examined in the fall 2014 issue of Ms. magazine.]]The health risks associated with nail polish are disputed. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “The amount of chemicals used in animal studies is probably a couple of hundred times higher than what you would be exposed to from using nail polish every week or so. So the chances of any individual phthalate producing such harm [in humans] is very slim.“JOURNAL, Bender, Michele, Nail polish gets a healthy makeover, Health, 18, 10, 2004, 34, A more serious health risk is faced by professional nail technicians, who perform manicures over a workstation, known as a nail table, on which the client’s hands rest – directly below the technician’s breathing zone. In 2009, Susan Reutman, an epidemiologist with the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Division of Applied Research and Technology, announced a federal effort to evaluate the effectiveness of downdraft vented nail tables (VNTs) in removing potential nail polish chemical and dust exposures from the technician’s work area.WEB, Reutman, Susan, Nail Salon Table Evaluation,blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2009/03/10/salon/, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Science Blog, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3 April 2014, 3 March 2009, These ventilation systems have potential to reduce worker exposure to chemicals by at least 50%.WEB, Marlow, David A., Looney, Timothy, Reutman, Susan, September 2012, An Evaluation of Local Exhaust Ventilation Systems for Controlling Hazardous Exposures in Nail Salons (EPHB Report No. 005-164), Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,www.cdc.gov/niosh/surveyreports/pdfs/005-164.pdf, 5 March 2013, Many nail technicians will often wear masks to cover their mouth and nose from inhaling any of the harsh dust or chemicals from the nail products.According to Reutman, a growing body of scientific literature suggests that some inhaled and absorbed organic solvents found in nail salons such as glycol ethers and carbon disulfide may have adverse effects on reproductive health. These effects may including birth defects, low birth weight, miscarriage, and preterm birth.Nail polish formulations may include ingredients that are toxic or affect other health problems. One controversial family of ingredient are phthalates,Cunningham, J. (2013) “Color cosmetics” in Chemistry and Technology of the Cosmetics and Toiletries Industry. D. F. Williams and W. H. Schmitt (eds.). Springer. {{ISBN|978-94-010-7194-9}} which are implicated as endocrine disruptors and linked to problems in the endocrine system and increased risk of diabetes. Manufacturers have been pressured by consumer groups to reduce or to eliminate potentially-toxic ingredients,WEB, Dangers of Nail Polish – Toxic Chemicals in your nail polish,www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Dangers-Nail-Polish-Toxic-Chemicals-nail-polish/story-20892980-detail/story.html, TorquayHeraldExpress.co.uk, Local World, Ltd., 2 April 2014, 1 April 2014, With inviting names such as peaches and cream or Caramel Smoothie, you are led away from the potential dangers of these polishes, with some ingredients that are known cancer-causing chemicals and those toxic to the nervous system. The top three chemicals of concern are toluene, dibutyl phthalate (dbp) and formaldehyde – the so-called ‘toxic trio’.,www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Dangers-Nail-Polish-Toxic-Chemicals-nail-polish/story-20892980-detail/story.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20140405210446www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Dangers-Nail-Polish-Toxic-Chemicals-nail-polish/story-20892980-detail/story.html,">web.archive.org/web/20140405210446www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Dangers-Nail-Polish-Toxic-Chemicals-nail-polish/story-20892980-detail/story.html, 5 April 2014, dead, dmy-all, and in September 2006, several companies agreed to phase out dibutyl phthalates.NEWS, Singer, Natasha, Nail Polish Makers Yield on Disputed Chemical,www.nytimes.com/2006/09/07/fashion/07nails.html?_r=0, The New York Times, 7 September 2006, WEB, Jaslow, Ryan, 2012-07-16, Phthalate chemicals in nail polish, hair sprays tied to raised diabetes risk in women - CBS News,www.cbsnews.com/news/phthalate-chemicals-in-nail-polish-hair-sprays-tied-to-raised-diabetes-risk-in-women/, 2024-01-10, www.cbsnews.com, en-US, There are no universal consumer safety standards for nail polish, however, and while formaldehyde has been eliminated from some nail polish brands, others still use it.WEB, Simon, Pitman, Nail Polish manufacturers remove potentially harmful chemicals,www.cosmeticsdesign.com/Formulation-Science/Nail-Polish-manufacturers-remove-potentially-harmful-chemicals, Cosmetic Design USA, William Reed Business Media, 30 August 2006,

Regulation and environmental concerns

The U.S. city of San Francisco enacted a city ordinance, publicly identifying establishments that use nail polishes free of the “toxic trio” of dibutyl phthalate, toluene, and formaldehyde.NEWS, Brown, Patricia Leigh, At Some Nail Salons, Feeling Pretty and Green,www.nytimes.com/2010/11/11/us/11nails.html?_r=1&, The New York Times, 10 November 2010, Nail polish is considered a hazardous waste by some regulatory bodies such as the Los Angeles Department of Public Works.WEB, What is Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)?,www.ladpw.org/epd/hhw/, County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, 7 August 2013, Many countries have strict restrictions on sending nail polish by mail.WEB,www.royalmail.com/personal/help-and-support/Tell-me-about-Restricted-Goods, Restricted goods – personal customers: Things we can carry in UK post but with restrictions, Royal Mail, 2013-12-06, WEB,www.usps.com/ship/hazardous-domestic-popup.htm, Restricted and Hazardous Materials, US Postal Service, 2013-12-06, The “toxic trio” are currently being phased out, but there are still components of nail polish that could cause environmental concern. Leaking out of the bottle into the soil could cause contamination in ground water.NEWS,www.footfiles.com/beauty/nail-design/article/stop-why-you-shouldnt-throw-old-nail-polish-in-the-trash, STOP: Why You Shouldn’t Throw Old Nail Polish In The Trash, 2016-07-31, 2018-05-06, en, WEB,www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductsIngredients/Products/ucm127068.htm, Nail Care Products, fda.gov, 3 March 2022, Food and Drug Administration, Chromium(III) oxide green and Prussian blue are common in nail polish and have shown evidence of going through chemical degradation, which could have a detrimental effect on health.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

References

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Further reading

• Charles Panati, Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things, Harper & Row, 1987

External links

{{Commons category|Nail polish}}

• Nail salons: How to be safe at work – Oregon OSHA {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222193253www.cbs.state.or.us/osha/pdf/pubs/4783e.pdf |date=2015-02-22 }}
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Nail Salons Project

{{Cosmetics}}