Nail history: The story of acrylics
I don’t know about you, but sometimes as I am admiring a gorgeous new set of nails after leaving the salon, I wonder, how do we even know how to do this? If you’ve ever wondered how and why acrylic nails were invented, wonder no more, as this post will explore and explain the brief history of acrylic nails.
The idea of dressing up your nails and having long nails has existed for years. Looking as far back to the Ming dynasty in ancient China, long nails were associated with the royal classes. While of course it was far too early for any nail technology like acrylic extensions, members of the royal court would wear nail guards or rings to decorate their hands and make their nails appear longer.
The acrylic nail process we are familiar with today, however, wasn’t introduced until the 1900s, and many of the pioneers of the acrylic nail were not nail artists. Many of the first patents for acrylics are attributed to a different field of study—dentistry! In 1934, a dentist named Maxwell Lappe aimed to assist nail-biters by developing artificial nails, which is one of the earliest forms of acrylic nails on record.
In 1954 the process was redefined by dentist Fred Slack, who fixed his own nail at work using foil and dental acrylic. Slack and his family saw an opportunity. They worked to perfect their method, leading to the patent of the industry’s first nail form. Around the 1970s, the concept was refined and popularized by professional nail technicians who adapted the acrylic formulations for cosmetic use.
Black women were pioneers of nails as a fashion statement, and disco legends in the 1970s, like Diana Ross, popularized nail extensions as a form of artistry and design, pushing colour and fashion past traditional and natural nails. Hollywood stars played a role in popularizing the idea of nail extensions by posing with acrylics on magazine covers and red carpets. By the 1980s, acrylic nails were common for salons to offer, and many women hopped on board the new wave of nail technology.
Our understanding of nail extensions has evolved and adapted over the years, and the acrylic process isn’t the same as Dr. Slack introduced it in the 50s, but the idea is the same. If you love your acrylic nails, don’t just thank your nail tech after your next appointment—thank your dentist!
That’s all, folks! Check back next month for more exciting nail info!