What is Nail art?
[[File:Henna London Mela.jpg|thumb|right|230px|An outstanding example of hand art. The hand shows matching [[turquoise]] nails and ring; brown [[mehndi|henna]] and gold skin decoration.]] [[File:Nail polish drop.jpg|thumb|230px|Pink nail polish and applicator.]] [[File:Manicure closeup.jpg|thumb|right|220px|A low-key, but effective style: the 'French manicure'.]] '''Nail art''' is a creative activity that draws [[picture]]s or designs [[fingernail]]s. It a type of art. These days [[fingernail]]s and [[toenail]]s are seen by some as important points of beauty. In some [[culture]]s, nail art is linked to [[femininity]].<ref>{{cite journal|author1=BEATTY, E. Sharon |author2=GIVAN, M. Alexa |author3=FRANKE R. George |author4=REYNOLDS E. KRISTY |title=Social Store Identity and Adolescent Females' Store Attitudes and Behaviors|journal=Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice|date=2015|volume=23|issue=1 |pages=38–56|doi=10.1080/10696679.2015.980173 |s2cid=143223280 }}</ref> Also, it is a type of [[fashion]] activity, related to [[manicure|manicuring]]. There are commercial shops ('nail bars') where nails are worked on to make them attractive. The main product is [[acryl]]ic nails with ready-made designs which can be stuck on top of natural nails. == Nail polish == '''Nail polish''', or '''nail varnish''', is a [[lacquer]] applied to human [[fingernail]]s or [[toenail]]s to decorate and/or protect the nail. Today’s nail polishes are usually [[nitrocellulose]] in a [[solvent]] such as [[butyl acetate]] or [[ethyl acetate]]. They may be clear or coloured with [[pigments]]. There are many different shades in which this occurs. The coating has a plasticizers (e.g. [[camphor]]). This links [[polymer]] chains, spacing them to make the film [[wikt:flexible|flexible]] after drying. That way it resists cracking or flaking caused by the natural movement of the nail.<ref name=Toedt>Toedt M. 2005. ''Chemical composition of everyday products. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, p34.</ref> === History === [[File:Female hands.jpg|thumb