I’d like to direct your attention to Refinery 29. Currently, they have a slide show with illustrations giving a few key milestones in the history of nail art, from ancient Egyptians dying their fingertips with henna to 15th century Incas painting eagles on their fingernails.
Modern nail polish as we know it would not be possible without the automobile, as nail polish is modeled after car paint.
Nowadays, most nail polish is what is colloquially known as “big 3-free.” This means that it does not have Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde or Toluene. Not all nail polishes are Big 3-Free, so if you’re looking to avoid those chemicals, you should stay away from certain brands and you should always read the ingredients list. One of my favorite top coats is actually not Big 3 free (Seche Vite) but I always apply nail polish in a ventilated room and try to avoid gnawing on my fingers.
It’s pretty neat how long nail polish and nail art has been a part of society.
