I've Got to Hand It to You　指尖的艺术－指甲彩绘

by Rachel A. Black

In the 1930s, actresses on the silver screen looked elegant and sophisticated. What was the finishing touch to their look that made women across the Western world wish to imitate them? It was the perfect polish on their long fingernails.

Manicuring and painting nails is not a new thing. The first known instances of nail care date back to China in 3000 BC when members of the royal family used a mixture of silver, gold, egg whites, and beeswax to color and protect their nails. The paint used on fingernails in the 1930s and today, however, was actually made possible as a result of innovations in the automotive paint industry.

The cosmetics company Revlon was started in 1932. Its founders used nail polishes that were pigment-based instead of dyes, and they had polishes available in a variety of colors. Up until that point, nail polish was only available in various shades of red. Revlon also brought in vogue the idea of matching nail and lip color.

During the first half of the 20th century, men would receive manicures along with a haircut, shave, and shoeshine in a package deal. Over time, manicures for men went out of fashion. Yet, in the 1990's, men once again started to care about the appearance of their nails. Now, men and women alike can be seen in nail salons getting their nails cleaned, trimmed, polished, and even painted. From natural to acrylic, fingernails come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Getting a manicure is one way to pamper yourself and look well kept without breaking the bank.

1930年代，荧光幕上的女演员看起来既优雅又世故。塑造这些美丽外表的最后步骤是什么，竟让所有西方女性都争相模仿呢？答案是她们修长指甲上完美的指甲油。
　　
指甲修护与彩绘不是件新奇的事。最早为人所知的指甲护理可追溯至公元前三千年的中国，当时皇族成员混合金、银、蛋白和蜂蜡来为指甲上色并保护指甲。而这种从 1930 年代至今都被使用的原料，实际上却是汽车烤漆工业创新发明的结果。
　　
化妆品公司露华浓创始于 1932 年。创办人舍弃染料而改以颜料为底色的指甲油，并提供各种颜色。到那时为止，指甲油还只有深浅不同的红色而已。露华浓也带动指甲搭配唇色的流行风潮。
　　
二十世纪前半，男性所接受的指甲修护包含在理发、刮胡子和擦鞋的成套服务内。随着时间过去，男性的指甲修护逐渐落伍。到了 1990 年代，男性再度开始关心自己指甲的样子。如今不论男女都会光顾指甲美容中心，享受清洁、修剪、磨光，甚至彩绘的指甲服务。从天然材质到压克力材质，指甲有各种形状、尺寸和颜色。让自己纵情享受一次指甲修护服务，不需花大钱就能呈现个人完美的一面。