NAIL CARE; HISTORY AND

ITS IMPORTANCE

Bint Abdullah, Princess Hamimah C.

Nail care
Nail care is the maintenance of the fingernails
and toenails, is important for health as well as
cosmetic reasons. Good nail care can prevent
fungus infections of the nail, painful ingrown
fingernails and toenails, and infections of the skin
in the hands and feet.
HISTORY OF NAIL CARE

Nowadays, going to the nail salon is

considered as treating yourself. It’s part of a
self-care routine for some people, and some
even enjoy going to the nail salon with their
friends. But did you know that caring for
your nails goes way back? It’s actually
challenging to determine exactly when nail
treatments started in history. This is because
it seems like it originated from different
parts of the world all at the same time.
Nail Care in the Ancient World
According to an article from a well-known lifestyle magazine,
nail care can be traced as far back as the time of the ancient
Babylonian. Men from ancient Babylonia were known to
manicure and color their nails using kohl, which is a powder
that has been used since the ancient times for cosmetic
purposes. Ancient Babylonian men would wear different colors
on their nails to symbolize the societal class where they belong.
Those who were in the upper part of society wore black while
those at the bottom wore green.
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Fast forward to a few thousand years during the glory days of
ancient Egypt, and we have the most famous figures during this
time, Cleopatra and Queen Nefertiti. They are known as the
pioneers of living lavishly and surrounded by all kinds of luxuries.

Cleopatra and Nefertiti are also known to have popularized nail by

rubbing their hands in lush oils and putting color on their nails
using henna. Both ladies believed that taking care of your nails is a
reflection of your wealth and status in society. They also believed
that the bolder the color, the more power you had. In fact,
Cleopatra’s known favorite color is a blood-red hue while Nefertiti
leans towards ruby.
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How about nail care in China? During the Ming
Dynasty, both the female and male members had
perfectly manicured nails. They stood out from
everybody else by having talon-like nails, which
also has a tint to it. To do this, they used a mixture
of egg whites, wax, vegetable dyes, and other
materials to create a wide range of colors.
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Nail Care in the 19th Century

Thanks to drastic social and technological advancements in history,

new tools have been developed specifically for nail care. Of course,
these are still not close to what you usually see at your favorite nail
salon, but it’s almost similar. In Europe back in 1830, a podiatrist or a
foot doctor named Dr. Sitts invented a wooden manicure tool. This
tool was actually an adaptation of a dental tool for nail care purposes.
After a few years, his legacy was continued on by his niece, who
invented a nail care line specifically for women of any social class.
This new product eventually made its way to the United States nail
salons.
Nail Care in 20th Century

In 1907, the first liquid nail polish was invented, but it was
colorless. This all changed during the 1920s when the automobile
industry was booming. Women started to color their nails using
high-gloss car paint. Due to its popularity together with
advancements in technology, Revlon finally launched the first-ever
polish that used pigments instead of dyes. This was in 1932, and it
was also a big factor that such a product was available in drug
stores. The 1930s also saw the popularity of flappers and silver
screen actresses, which resulted in the popularity of the half-moon
technique as well as the French manicure.
When the colorful 1970s came in, people saw
the rise of artificial nails. These looked
exactly like real nails and are usually long.
Artificial nails are popularly worn by rich
people. With more and more tools and
technologies being available, nail salons
started to offer a wider range of manicure
services.
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Nail Care in Present Times

Did you know that pedicure or caring for your feet and
toenails only became popular during the beginning of the 21st
century? This led to the blossoming of the nail care industry
and resulted in the doubling of nail salons in the U.S. in the
year 2000, each salon offers an array of services. Whether its
nail extensions, nail art, 3D nails or putting different gems on
your nails.
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Why Nail Care is important?

Nail care is important for many reasons. For one, it improves

the appearance of your hands and feet by keeping them
looking healthy. Neglected nails can also put you at risk for
infection or injury. And perhaps most importantly, they are an
indicator of your overall health – fingernails are made up
mostly of keratin which means that if anything is wrong with
your body, you’re likely to see it first in your nails.
5 REASON WHY NAIL CARE IS
IMPORTANT
1. To Strengthen Your Nails.

Nail care can be used to strengthen nails and encourage

healthy growth. DIY nail kit can be used to make your
nails even stronger. Manicures are a great way to
pamper yourself and try out new nail colors or designs.
It is important to keep your fingernails trimmed short
so that they do not break. You should also avoid biting
or peeling the skin around your fingernails, which can
cause bleeding and infection.
2. Improve Your Overall Health.

When nails start to look unhealthy, it’s a sign that you

might need to check in with your doctor or health care
provider. Fingernails can indicate overall wellness
because they are made up mostly of the same thing as
skin: keratin! If there is any issue with your body and
its ability to produce healthy cells – such as vitamin
deficiencies or hormonal imbalances – this will usually
show up first in your nails before other parts of your
body begin showing symptoms too.
3. To Keep Them Looking Healthy and Beautiful

Nail care can be used to improve the appearance of your nails

and hands. Nails that are short, well-groomed, and free from
chips, cracks, or peeling polish will look better than longer
nails with more extensive damage. It’s important to keep
your cuticles moisturized to avoid cracking and chipping as
well. To add spice to your hand, try nail art or pink dip nails
for a fun and easy way to look great.
4. To Avoid Injury and Infection.

Neglected nails can lead to injury or infection – whether

you’re walking barefoot through your garden, cutting your
lawn, or simply opening a jar at home! Keeping them short
will help prevent this from happening. Additionally,
exposure to harmful chemicals such as detergents and
solvents should be avoided if possible since all of these
substances are bad for the health of your skin and nails too.
5. To Improve Your Self-Esteem and Confidence.

There is no reason to feel self-conscious about your nails or hands!

Nail care can help improve the appearance of your fingernails and
hands so that you don’t have to worry anymore about hiding them in
public, wearing gloves all day long every time you go outdoors, etc.
Give your nails a chance to be on display, and they will give you the
confidence boost you need! Whether acrylic or poly nail kits work
best for you, be sure to keep your nails looking great so that they can
reflect positively on the way people see you.
There are many reasons why nail care is important. Nails
should be cut, so they do not touch the skin or clothes and
prevent infections from bacteria on them. They also need to
be filed down as much as possible because nails that remain
sharp will cause injuries if someone runs into them with their
hand. Finally, we recommend getting a manicure at least once
every two weeks to help keep your hands moisturized and
looking nice! You don’t have to feel guilty about spending
time and money on yourself when it comes to taking good
care of your nails- you deserve it.
thank you
 ACTIVITY:

GUESS THE NAILS

TALON NAILS
HENNA
nail extensions
nail art
3D NAILS