Manicures began 5000 years ago. In Arab countries, henna was used for manicures. The term mehendi, used synonymously for henna, henna being an Arabic word, derives from the Sanskrit mehandika. Empress Dowager Cixi was known to keep very long naturally-grown nails.
Nail Care History in Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptian manuscripts reveal that women at that time used henna (also known as mehendi) to polish their nails. The colors however determined the class and status. Royal people choose their own color and normal people were not allowed to use those colors. At the time of Queen Nefertiti, royals would wear red nail colors to symbolize their status. It is also said that the great queen Cleopatra always wore rusty red color on her nails and at the time she ruled Egypt, the color was only reserved for the queen.
Nail Care History in Ancient China
In ancient china finger nails also played a great role in defining noble people. People of high status grew long nails to show their status and the color of the nail would reveal the social class. In Chou Dynasty (600 B.C.), Gold and Silver colors were worn by people of highest ranks and status. People below them wore black and red colors on their nails. Normal people were only allowed to...