In the 1920s, America experienced an industrial boom: in the ten years from 1920 to 1930, the number of cars in the country more than tripled. This industrial revolution affected everything related to cars, including the production of paint for cars. Brothers Charles and Joseph Revson saw more in the new opaque paint technologies and began manufacturing nail polish in 1932.
The most popular colors were ruby red and pink to match the lipstick. They were used to paint nails by Hollywood stars and pin-up girls. Later, natural shades and a fashion for French manicure appeared, which goes well with any lipstick. In the 70s, punks and goths, regardless of gender, brought black and very dark shades of blue into fashion. In the 90s, after the release of the film "Pulp Fiction", dark red lacquer came into fashion: Uma Thurman used the Rouge Noir (Vamp) color from Chanel.
If a few years ago the most daring statement in the fashion world was black varnish on short nails, now unusual colors and shades, textures and patterns are gaining popularity. A year ago, it was OPI matte varnishes - especially the dark blue Russian Navy Matte, in the spring - Chanel mint color. In the collections of varnishes, like clothes, there is a strict seasonality: in spring they are bright or pastel colors, in autumn they are dark tones.
Gold nails came into fashion thanks to Lisa Logan, Beyoncé's manicurist, who gave the singer a gold manicure with Minx stickers for the music video for All The Single Ladies. In general, it is pop singers who use the craziest accents to get attention. Katy Perry pastes a portrait of her fiancé Russell Brand on each nail, and Lady Gaga paints card suits.
A year ago, 25-year-old stylist and editor of Dazed & Confused and Arena + Sharmadine Reid opened Wah Nails in London, which specializes in fun nails. A second Topshop shop on Oxford Street is now open. Their clients are not only East London fashionistas, but also models (such as Alice Dellal) and The Daily Telegraph's fashion editor, Hilary Alexander.