The History of Nail Art

Women in ancient Egypt dye their fingertips with henna to broadcast their social status and sex appeal.

Noblemen and women of China's Chou dynasty sprinkle their nails with gold and silver dust.

MGM employs Beatrice Kaye to manicure its stars, such as Bette Davis. Kaye paints just the center of the nails, calling it a "moon manicure."

Princess de Faucigny-Lucinge, a Parisian socialite, sets a new trend: red nails with a stripe of silver painted on just the tips.

Inventor Earl Tupper, creator of Tupperware, experiments with glue-on nail appliques, including pictures of shamrocks.

Fred Slack, a dentist, and his brother Tom inadvertently invent acrylic extensions while trying to mend a broken fingernail with acrylic.

London mod followers decorate their nails with flowers using artists' oil paints. Fashion designer Mary Quant launches Nail Bullion -- a silver-flecked nail polish.

Wearing long, blinged-out nails, Florence Griffith Joyner sets two world records at the Seoul Olympics.

Hip-hop artists such as Missy Elliot embrace airbrushed and pierced nails. Lil' Kim wears dollar bills encased in acrylic.

CoverGirl introduces a line of polishes called Crackle Lacquers that create a broken-glass effect on nails.