Some info about Nails + Nail Polish + Hello Kitty

Before we start with the nail painting. Lets get to know about the things involved: nails, nail polish, Hello Kitty :3

Nails

Photo courtesy of en.wikipedia.org

Features

• Multiple parts make up the fingernail. The hard, outer part is called the nail plate. It grows from underneath the cuticle, the layer of tissue overlapping the nail plate and the base of the fingernail. The skin underneath the nail plate is the nail bed. The narrow strips of skin that surround the nail are called nail folds. Finally, the light-colored "half-moon" seen at the base of the nail is called the lunula.

The Facts

• Human fingernails are made out of a substance called keratin. Keratin is a protein, and it is also found in hair and skin. In the case of a fingernail, keratin is produced at the base of the nail, under the cuticle. As new cells are made, the older cells harden and are pushed outward. Nails grow at a rate of approximately .01 millimeters per day, so it takes about four to six months to grow a full nail.

Significance

• The condition of fingernails provides clues into whole body health. Healthy fingernails are smooth and a uniform color. Nails with a bluish tinge may indicate oxygen deficiency. Greenish nails may be infected, and yellowing nails hint at internal disorders. Spots or texture problems, like ridges, indicate vitamin or mineral deficiency. Dry or brittle nails may indicate that the body requires more calcium.

Function

• The main purpose of fingernails is to provide protection for the nerve endings in the fingertips. Fingernails are also useful for scratching and can be used as prying devices in a pinch. Nails help to peel things, such as stickers or fruit, and can be helpful when working with small things like screws. However, these behaviors tend to ruin fingernails.

Effects

• Fingernails are used as a fashion statement and accessory, typically for women. Manicured or polished nails are considered a beauty staple by some. Acrylic and other types of fake nails are popularly used to change the length and shape of fingernails, especially by those people unable to grow long nails. Nail polish is used to add color, shine and design. Occasionally, decals or small rhinestones are applied to add extra effect or visual appeal.

Read more: About Fingernails | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_4564731_fingernails.html#ixzz2E3Sk3600

Nail Polish

Source

History

By the turn of the 19th century, nails were tinted with scented red oils, and polished or buffed with a chamois cloth, rather than simply polished. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, people pursued a polished rather than painted look by massaging tinted powders and creams into their nails, then buffing them shiny. One such polishing product sold around this time was Graf's Hyglo nail polish paste. Some people during this period painted their nails with an air brush. After the creation of automobile paint, Cutex produced the first modern nail polishes in 1917 with the introduction of colored nail glosses.

Nail polish originated in China. It started off being made from a combination of beeswax, egg whites, gelatin, vegetable dyes, and gum arabic. Egyptians used orange henna. The orange henna would stain their fingernails. Back in the 1300 BC, the color of the nail polish symbolized the ranking of social class each individual earned. The colors gold and silver were considered to be the royal colors; however, were later changes to black and red.

Once nail polish was refined, it was often used in the place of gloves to cover up the grime underneath the nails.

Colored nail polish was also considered at one time self-mutilation by psychiatrists and unhealthy. Despite this, the first lady to wear solid colors was Eleanor Roosevelt.

source : wikipedia

Hello Kitty

Source

Hello Kitty (ハローキティ Harō Kiti) (full name Kitty White (キティ・ホワイト Kiti howaito)) is a fictional character produced by the Japanese company Sanrio, first designed by Yuko Shimizu. She is portrayed as a female white Japanese bobtail cat with a red bow. The character's first appearance on an item, a vinyl coin purse, was introduced in Japan in 1974 and brought to the United States in 1976. The character is a staple of the kawaii segment of Japanese popular culture. At age 36 as of 2010, Sanrio has groomed 'Hello Kitty' into a global marketing phenomenon worth $5 billion a year.

Originally aimed at pre-adolescent females, Hello Kitty's market has broadened to include adult consumers. She can be found on a variety of products ranging from school supplies to fashion accessories and high-end consumer products. Several Hello Kitty TV series, targeted towards young children, have been produced. Hello Kitty is also the main character at the two Japanese Sanrio theme parks, Harmonyland and the indoor Sanrio Puroland.

Source : wikipedia