Polish originated at that time in China. The early mixture was a hodgepodge of bees’ wax, gelatin, gum arabic, and egg whites. Gum Arabic is a natural product found in the African tree of the genus Acacia. The Chinese also added the petals of flowers such as roses and orchids, and alum to their polish.
During the same time period, upper class members in Egypt wore nail polish similar in texture to lacquer paint. The paint signified money and prosperity. I wonder what color Cleopatra preferred?
During the Chou Dynasty, around 600 BC, the royal colors were metallic gold and silver. So, the polish color choice for royalty was the same. It seemed that whatever the Dynasty color was; that was the color worn on people’s nails of the Chinese upper class. If the lower class attempted to wear nail polish, they could be punished by death. The polish at the time was colored with natural pigments.
Michelle Menard invented the modern nail polish in the 1920’s. Flapper girls and later, Hollywood starlets wore bright red. Pin-up girls such as Lana Turner always had on the requisite red lips and red nails for photo sessions and walks down the red carpet. Polish is actually similar to car paint. It requires a remover made of acetone. In Britain, nail polish is called nail varnish.
