Nails: The Story of the Modern Manicure

by Suzanne E. Shapiro

This lively, colorful, and wide-ranging exploration of the evolution of the painted nail places a fascinating aspect of cultural history at your fingertips. The manicure as we know it has been around for less than a century, but it’s become a major presence in the culture of fashion, with its own trends, fads, and fringe aspects. This first definitive history of the manicure looks at the myriad ways in which the adorned fingernail has served as an expression of the individual and the times. Author Suzanne E. Shapiro traces the origins of the modern manicure as a radical gesture in style and follows it through today’s culture of ubiquitous nail salons and edgy experiments in nail art, showing how at every turn the manicure has reflected larger style trends as well as changing ideals of femininity. Nails draws on an incredible range of popcultural images, from early 20th-century beauty manuals and classic Hollywood glamour shots to hip-hop music videos and fine art. It also features gorgeous nail-centric images from iconic fashion photographers including Nickolas Muray, Richard Avedon, and Helmut Newton. A series of contemporary photo essays rounds out the volume with an international survey of the most vital pockets of manicure culture today, from hipster nails in London to outré nail art in Tokyo. Unique, accessible, and authoritative, Nails brilliantly connects the painted nail to the history of women’s fashion and the evolution of beauty.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Fashion

176 pages, Hardcover

First published April 25, 2014

Reviews

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I'm still waiting for the dissertation-level work on this topic (I'm sure it exists, I just haven't searched in awhile), this was very fun in the meantime.

[Serhii · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suzanne E. Shapiro’s book was not just an interesting read for us—it became a true source of inspiration. It beautifully explores the fascinating history of manicures, showing how this industry has evolved and influenced fashion and culture.

Thanks to this book, we gained a deeper understanding of nail care and its significance in the beauty world. It motivated us to take a big step—launching our own store for professional manicure equipment and supplies. Today, we are proud to help nail artists create beauty by providing high-quality tools and products.

If you're passionate about the nail industry, we highly recommend this book! And if you're looking for professional supplies, feel free to visit us: https://kohaysebe.com.ua/

[Elizabeth Judd Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, well-illustrated book about the history of nail polish, which delves into the way social trends and moments in history influence fashion and the way we look at one another. Recommended for fashion historians, social historians, and people who simply love nail color.

[Amanda Coder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Artfully written with gorgeous accompanying photos, this book takes you on a wild ride of the history of the manicure and nail art, from the turn of the last century up until modern times.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

As recommended by beauty and nail blogger Vampy Varnish, I received this book as a gift from my wish list for my birthday and it was a very interesting read! There truly is much history behind the ever-changing manicure and this book follows a timeline from the pre-1900s to today, not just following the trends, shapes, and nail colors of the time, but also taking into consideration the way society has changed for women and how they adapted with the times: their manicures a reflection of that change. The photographs and visuals were a nice touch, too (no pun intended)! I really loved this book. I think I will insist that my mother read it next!