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Nail polish was originated in China, dating back to 300 BC.
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Around 600 BC during the Zhou Dynasty, the royal house had a preference for the colors gold and silver. However, it would eventually transition to red and black.
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Egyptians used henna stains making their fingernails orange which would then turn dark red or brown after the stain matured. In 1300 BC, the color of the nail polish symbolized the ranking of social class each individual earned: gold and silver were considered to be the royal colors; however, were later changed to black and red. The lower classes would wear pale colors and when the high society color changed to red, that is the color Cleopatra would often wear.
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Cutex manufactured the first modern nail polish to be sold in stores.
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Synthetic Nail polish was created and manufactured in Paris.
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In the 1930's black and other dark nail colors become a huge trend.
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Men also began wearing nail polish in the mid 1970s. It began as a gothic trend but has recently developed into a more common style for men, worn both on fingernails and toenails
