SKIN 
 

September 2018     Volume 2 Issue 5 
 

Copyright 2018 The National Society for Cutaneous Medicine 345 

COMPELLING COMMENTS 
 

 

The History of Cosmetic Nail Treatments, From Babylon to Beyoncé 
 
Jeanette R. Zambito BA, MSa 
 
aUniversity of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 

 
 
Cosmetic nail treatment refers to the 
stylization, embellishment, or enhancement 
of one’s natural fingernails or toenails. While 
often seen as a leisure activity, these 
treatments can pose significant dermatologic 
health risks including traumatic onycholysis, 
mycobacterial infections, and contact 
dermatitis1. Modern enhancements such as 
the gel manicure, ultraviolet treated nails, 
and acrylic nails each come with their own 
host of dermatologic complications. 
Nonetheless, the demand for these nail 
beautification services has continually grown 
into what is now a multibillion-dollar 
business in the United States.1 This large, 
dynamic, and fascinating industry had 
humble beginnings dating back thousands of 
years.  
 
Around 3500 BC, Babylonian male warriors 
adorned their nails with ground minerals as 
part of a pre-battle ritual designed to 
intimidate their enemies. The ancient 
Egyptians used henna to dye the nails a red-
brown color while the ancient Greeks 
preferred a mixture of yellow flower petals, 
pollen, and potassium salt to color the nails 
a pale flaxen color. Around 3000 BC, China 
elevated nail art by using a crude form of 
nail lacquer composed of beeswax and egg 
whites. By 1000 BC, gold and silver were 
the preferred nail colors, a trend that 
recently came back into fashion after 
Beyoncé was spotted wearing gold minx nail 

foils. The Chinese even enhanced their nails 
with gemstones, demonstrating that the 
intrigue of bedazzling predates the modern 
era.2  
 
It wasn’t until the 1920s, when the 
automobile industry developed new paints, 
that the modern-day manicure was born.3 In 
1937, the creator of Tupperware (Earl 
Tupper), invented glue-on appliques. Less 
than 20 years later, a dentist named Fred 
Slack tried to fix a broken fingernail with 
acrylic leading to the unintentional invention 
of acrylic nails.4 From there, it was only a 
matter of time before we were left with the 
sculpted, studded, pierced, and stenciled 
nails of today. 
 
Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None. 
 
Funding: None. 
 
Corresponding Author: 
Jeanette Zambito, BA, MS 
University of Rochester Medical Center  
Rochester, MN 
Jeanette_zambito@urmc.rochester.edu  

References: 

1. Rieder EA, Tosti A. Cosmetically 
Induced Disorders of the Nail with 
Update on Contemporary Nail 
Manicures. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 
2016;9(4):39-44. 

mailto:Jeanette_zambito@urmc.rochester.edu


SKIN 
 

September 2018     Volume 2 Issue 5 
 

Copyright 2018 The National Society for Cutaneous Medicine 346 

2. Schafer L. Nail care: From Ancient 
Rites to New Heights. Nails Magazine. 
Sep 1993. 

3. Pagano, F.C. A review of nail polish: 
The industrial cosmetic. Cosmetics and 
Toiletries. 2011, 126, 372–380 

4. A History of Nails. Nails Magazine. Sep 
2012.