Nail Varnish
Nail varnish and nail polish are the same. The nail polish is applied on fingernails and toenails. They are used mainly for fashion but can also strengthen the nails.
How to Remove Nail Polish
Required Tools and Materials
Nail polish remover
Cotton balls
Nail moisturizer
Step 1
Open the nail polish bottle. Dip the cotton ball into it. Turn the bottle upside down for about four seconds.
Step 2
Hold the cotton between your index finger and the thumb. The damp side should be face down. Put your hand flat on the table. Put the tissue at the right or left pinkie (depends on whether you’re left or right handed).
Step 3
To remove nail varnish, keep the cotton pressed for five seconds. Slide it going away from you. Repeat this process for all the nails.
Step 4
When you’re done removing varnish for one hand, get new cotton balls and clean the right or left fingers.
Step 5
When you’re done, wash your hands. Apply nail moisturizer on the nails.
Tips and Warnings
Remove nail polish in a well ventilated place. All nail polish removers have a strong smell, so make sure air can circulate freely
in the area.
A Brief History of Nail Polish
Its exact origin has yet to be identified, but it’s widely known the ancient Egyptians used it. The Egyptian nail varnish consisted of red stains drawn from henna.
The Egyptians used this to color their fingers. Nail colors were also indicative of a person’s social status. Queen Nefertiti wore ruby red nails, while Cleopatra used rusty red colors.
The Chinese used different types of nail polishes. There is evidence Chinese royals used silver and gold for fingernails. There is a 15th century Chinese manuscript stating that red was the desired nail polish color of royalty.
There is also evidence the Incas and other Native American tribes used different colors for their nails. By the 17th century, shiny nails were common in Europe and eventually made its way to America.
Basic Ingredients of Nail Polish
Nail varnish are made of various ingredients, but common to most is nitrocellulose melted in ethyl acetate or butyl acetate. It is left as it is for a clear appearance. If color is desired, color pigments are added in. Other ingredients are solvents, film forming agents, plasticizers, resins and coloring agents.
Also included are the adhesive polymers which make the nitrocellulose stick to the nail. The plasticizers are used to join the polymer chains. They also ascertain the film is flexible when dried. Stearalkonium hectorite and other thickening agents are used to keep the sparkling elements in suspension at the bottle.
Nail Polish Use in Fashion
Nail polish has traditionally been used in women’s fashion, but it is now being used by men too. Among the most popular colors are red and pink. However, black and other darker colors are becoming acceptable too.
The history of nail varnish shows that people have used it for millennia as a fashion statement. Today, the various ingredients used in nail polish also help in making nails more durable.