i-am-tammy (filipino woman on her 20's: way of life)

I found this SUSHI inspired nail delights in Katy Perry's blog and I find it really2 CUTE!!! OMG! I really want to try this stuff one day.. just one day. Maybe right after I'll be told that I'm employed. Before I will finally commit into having short clean cut nails for the hospital.. hehehe. ^___^

This BTW hyped my curiosity, so i searched for cool trivia online re: nail art and found these interesting facts.

1) The Japanese and the Italians were the first people who first thought of polishing their nails in 3000 BC.

2) Egyptians use reddish brown color of HENNA called "Mehndi" to draw intricate designs on their nails. But they also include their hands and fingers. For them, nail art is a display of social hierarchy. Women who have high social status color their nails red- Cleopatra preferred Deep Rusty Red and Queen Nefertiti, wife of the king Akhenaten, uses Ruby Red. Women in the lower rank were just allowed to paint their nails pale colors.

3) The Incas are known to decorate their fingernails with eagles.

4) Nail art also identifies men and women.

5) The Orange Wood stick was developed by Dr. Sitts who adapted it from the dental tool in 1830.

6) In 1900, Nail polish wears off in a day.

7) 'Flowery Manicure Products' invented the "emery board" in 1910.

8) Kindred of North Dakota files a patent for a fingernails shield which protects the polished nails from other chemicals when exposed.

9) "Don't cut the cuticle!" advertisement came out, and this advices women to use the Simplex Method of Home Manicuring.

10) In 1925, the "moon manicure" came out. The cuticles are cut, the free edges filed into points, and polish applied to the nail but not to the moon.

11) Max Factor introduces Society Nail Tint. This is a rose colored tint applied on the nails giving it a natural rosy look.

12) Society Nail White introduced a tube of chalky white liquid that is applied under the tips of the nails. This resembles the modern French Manicure.

13) In 1929, Polish with perfume was introduced.

Nail Art is a trend of today, learning how it began made it more interesting for me. As of today, we know that anyone and people in any status are allowed to paint their nails in whatever they want. But the work factor still affects the use of nail art, people like me (nurse) who models health usually adhere to clean cut nails. And people who are office base could usually flaunt impressive nail designs as much as they want. Then maybe, nail art is still affected by societal status and class.