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Have you ever scrolled through nail Instagram, feeling inspired by all the fantastic nail manicures on there, then wondered how people make nail art? From pristine lines to tiny details, how do nail techs create such intricate designs on a small surface? Well, the answer comes from many different types of tools tailored precisely for nails’ limited surface areas. Here are some nail art products, specifically focusing on those used in creating designs on nails. Base Coat Applied before the nail polish color goes on, base coats help nail polish last longer and prevent yellow stains on the natural nail. They also smooth the nail surface before color or nail art is applied. It is always best to use a base coat before any type of manicure. A base coat will also provide a semblance of the naked nail under nail art designs. Check out DEMIblue’s Hydrating Base Coat. Nail Polish The fundamental medium for all manicures, nail polish is a given. In this day and age, nail polish comes in a wide variety of colors and finishes, from glittery to holographic to matte. They are the equivalent of paint, but for nails. However, to ensure polish stays on nails, especially fingernails that encounter a lot of daily wear and tear, nail polish can contain many toxic ingredients that can weaken your nails over time. So it’s best to look for polishes free of formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and toluene like DEMIblue. For best application, make sure hands and nails are dry. Use a base coat. Make sure the polish is completely dry between coats. A simple application technique for full coverage polish is to start with a drop of nail polish on the end of the brush. Swipe down the center of your nail, then fill in the sides by slightly angling the brush closer to the sides of your nail. Finish with a top coat to preserve the manicure. Check out DEMIblue’s collection for some fun, clean, and vegan nail polish colors. Top Coat Applied after the nail art or nail polish, top coats help preserve the manicure and create a smooth finish. They also come in a variety of formulas. As your hands take on daily activities, a top coat keeps your nail polish color vibrant, protecting it from outside forces like water or even UV rays. Make sure your nail polish is completely dry before applying a top coat. Top coats are also a fun opportunity to add a little extra to your nails. They can come in a classic glossy finish or shimmery and glittery finishes. A top coat will ensure your nail art won’t get scratched up over time. Check out DEMIblue’s Super Dry Top Coat or Gel Finish Top Coat. Nail Polish Remover Helpful to fix any errant nail polish marks, nail polish remover is great to have on hand for any manicure. Typical removers contain acetone. These conventional store removers dry out nails, so cuticle oil or hand lotion after using them might be helpful. Otherwise, you can opt for entirely acetone-free, nontoxic removers like DEMIblue’s Soy Polish Remover with Vitamins. Soaking your nails in nail polish remover and then wiping it off with a cotton pad will remove all the polish. Sometimes, removers can come in a more precise pen form for those small mistakes or for fixing up the edges of a manicure. If not, a Q-tip dipped in remover will work just as well. Nail Art Paintbrushes There is a massive variety of nail art paintbrushes out there. From tiny thin brushes to angled or fan brushes, it can be pretty overwhelming. However, two brush types that are very useful for small nail art designs are detail brushes and striper brushes. A detail brush is basically a super small paintbrush, and as the name suggests, suitable for details. A striper brush has long, thin bristles, allowing it to create straight lines or for outlining areas on the nail. Many brushes specifically made for nails are sold in packs, useful for experimenting with the different uses of these brushes. While nail art brushes are not fundamentally different from regular paintbrushes, they are tailored to be very small, allowing for more ease in painting on the surface of your nail. You can just buy paintbrushes, but the paintbrush variety extends to much larger sizes, and packs often include those large sizes. Make sure to clean brushes after use, whether with water or nail polish remover. Just a quick wipe will do. Dotting Tools Aptly named, dotting tools have a round metal tip, the perfect shape for creating the ideal dot or circle. But they are also very flexible in application. You can use these tools to create virtually any kind of rounded design. Usually sold in packs of varying sizes, you can experiment with design possibilities. They’re also easy to take care of. Just wipe with water or some nail polish remover after use. Nail Vinyls These stencil stickers work to block areas of nails to create a clean design. Nail vinyls come in sheets and in a large variety of shapes and designs. From swirls to chevrons to mermaid scales, they can be applied to the nail and later peeled off. There’s probably a nail vinyl out there for anything. For nail vinyls, wherever the shape is applied would be the area that will not have your polish on it. For instance, if you have a base color, you can apply the nail vinyl on top of it, then add another color over the vinyl. Peel the vinyl design before the nail polish completely dries, and voila! The design will show up in the base color. Check out "Do-It-Yourself: Popular Nail Art Trends" and "Short Nails? No Problem! Nail Polish Ideas for Short Nails" for popular nail art inspo. Whether you want to recreate existing patterns or come up with original designs, go have fun creating your own nail art!

Nails. The subtle keratin layer at the ends of our hands and feet. Have you ever wondered why we have nails? Your nails and cuticles protect your fingers and toes from outside forces. Just like how animals have claws, we have nails to help grip. Our nails also protect our fingers and toes from damage, whether from physical force or bacteria. Because your nails are essential in protecting you, proper nail care is critical. Healthy nails mean they can do their job in blocking out bacteria and enduring force. To help you in your nail care journey, here’s a general guide to standard products used to support your nails. Cuticle Oil Your cuticles are very important. They protect the nail bed (the fleshy part underneath your nail) from bacteria. Often the number one nail care product people recommend, cuticle oil helps keep this barrier against germs nourished and healthy. Because cuticles are the final line of defense against invading germs trying to get into the nail bed, it is best to avoid pushing back or trimming your cuticles at all. But if you want to clean up your cuticles, invest in a high-quality cuticle pusher and remover. Do your research before pushing your cuticles back. Oils can come in an easily accessible twist brush form or the traditional nail polish-esque bottle. Check out DEMIblue’s Cuticle and Nail Oil Pen. Nail Clippers Used to trim nails, nail clippers keep nails at a healthy length. Keeping your nails shorter prevents hangnails, nail breaks, and ingrown nails. Trim straight across your fingernails, leaving a little bit of the white area of your nail. Generally, you want to follow the curve of your natural nail shape. Round off the sharp edges with a nail file so they won’t catch on to things. Also, trim toenails straight across. Fingernails grow much faster than toenails, so clipping them weekly is a safe practice. You won’t need to clip toenails as frequently. It is also good practice to disinfect your clippers every month. Nail Files Used in conjunction with nail clippers when trimming your nails, nail files help achieve a more detailed and close trim. Where clippers are suitable for trimming a general shape to your nail, nail files can wear down the odd small areas of the nail that a clipper is too large to reach. Nail files are also great for refining your desired nail shape and evening out all those sharp edges after the initial trim with the nail clippers. Start at one edge and file half of the nail when filing your nails. Repeat with the other side. Always file in fluid motion in one direction. A back and forth sawing motion when filing may actually damage your nails. Both emery boards and glass nail files are commonly used. Glass nail files are known to be more gentle on the nail. Check out DEMIblue's Nail File. Nail Buffers Buffing can smooth out the ridges on your nails, making nails feel sleek. It is helpful to do in-between applications of nail polish, letting your nails breathe while also causing the surface of your natural nail to look glossy and healthy. Though it is not necessary to buff your nails as a part of your nail routine, it’s an extra step that helps your naked nails look clean and shiny. Buff by moving from the base of the nail near the cuticle to the edge. Try not to buff side to side. Buffer blocks often come with four sides with four different purposes. Go from the roughest surface to the smoothest one. Start with the file side, then buff, polish, and shine to achieve a nice polished nail. Hand Lotion Like moisturizing your cuticles, hand lotion keeps your hands and fingernails moisturized. Dryness causes nails to be more prone to brittleness and breakage. Hydrating your nails with hand lotion helps strengthen your nails over time. Nail Treatment Nail treatments, otherwise known as nail strengtheners, repair nails by replenishing keratin and moisturizing the nail. They are another way to keep your nails hydrated to prevent dryness or breakage. Considered another option for your nail hydration routine. Nail treatments usually go on like nail polish though the frequency of application may vary. Check out DEMIblue’s Deep Nutrition Nail Treatment and Nail Strengthener. Check out our other blogs, How Fast Do Nails Grow in A Day and 8 Nail Care Do’s and Don’ts, for more information on taking care of your nails! Remember, healthy nails are happy nails. Good luck in your nail care journey!

Many people frequently prefer longer nails for their elaborate manicures. While longer nails offer more surface area for nail polish, shorter nails are often more realistic. Having short nails doesn’t mean you can’t have nice manicures. You don’t need to have long nails to enjoy nail polish. If you like keeping your natural nails short, here are five simple nail polish ideas for short nails. Glitter accents Found in a wide variety of colors, these polishes are usually made up of flaky glittery pieces, useful in accentuating fingernails. You can pair glitter polishes with nude colors for more of a statement. Or pair a colored glitter with a similarly colored polish (for example, gold glitter with yellow nail polish). You may need several coats of glitter polish to achieve the desired concentration of glitter, but it’s worth it in the end. Check out Bling Girls for some glittery gold. Leaving Negative Space Negative space is where parts of the nail surface don’t have any colored polish. Often, these negative spaces will simply have a base coat finish, while the other parts of the nail will have polish. They can take on any shape, from vertical negative spaces that might take up half the nail to half moon negative spaces mentioned above. It’s a straightforward technique to create interest on the nail using just one nail polish color. Gradients Nail polish is for everyone, and gradients of color are a fun way to experiment with a different color on each nail. They can be the same color but in various shades, like from light blue to dark blue. But you don’t always need to follow a gradient of colors; you can always choose different colors you like. For color suggestions for this summer, check out this blog article. Half Moons Half moon polish follows the curve of the nail, similar to a french tip. However, in a half moon design, the nail polish will cover more of the nail surface than a french manicure style does. There’s lots of flexibility for half moons. You can start as close to the cuticle as desired, with any color you would like. You can even leave negative space around the cuticle (where there is no nail polish) or use different colors layered on each other. Neon accent colors Neons are in this summer. From bright pink to sunny yellow, neons add a pop of color at your fingertips. But if you don’t want to go all neon on every nail, you can opt for a quick accent color on the finger of your choice. Easy to do, this technique works on all nails. Check out Explosion, Sinful Sunshine, and Rave for pops of neon color. Whatever your nail shape, there’s a nail polish color and style out there for everyone!

Your fingernails are the basic canvas for nail polish. Keeping your nails healthy is the key to sustainable natural nails. Healthy natural nails will in turn support nail polish and manicures. Here are 8 do’s and don’ts in nail care that will help you achieve healthy, natural nails. DO keep hands dry and clean. Water can weaken nails and increase the risk of bacteria growth. Consider wearing gloves when washing dishes and cleaning. Harsh chemicals are hard on both your hands and your nails. Gloves may help prevent your nails from cracking and splitting. DO moisturize your cuticles. Cuticles help protect your nail bed from fungi and bacteria. Applying cuticle oil keeps cuticles healthy and clean, resulting in a healthy nail bed. Check out DEMIblue’s Cuticle and Nail Oil Pen. DO apply a nail hardener. You can also try other nail strengtheners to help weak and brittle nails. Stronger nails mean healthier nails that are less prone to damage. Try DEMIblue’s Nail Strengthener or Deep Nutrition Nail Treatment. DO let your nails rest. Nail polishes are fun to experiment with and apply. However, it is best to let your nails breathe in between applications. Strong colors can sometimes result in drying out your nail or coloring your natural nail yellow. DON’T bite your fingernails. Your fingernails also protect the nail bed. Biting them damages the fingernail, leading to cracking and brittleness. Weak or cracked nails risk allowing fungi or bacteria to get into the nail bed. DON’T pick at the cuticle. Like fingernails, cuticles are the final line of defense between your nail bed and bacteria in the outside world. If you need to push your cuticles back, be careful not to push them too far back. If the cuticles are damaged, the nail bed is less protected from outside germs. DON’T use harsh nail chemicals. For instance, opt for acetone-free remover or polishes without toxic chemicals like dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, and toluene. Currently, there are many non-toxic and vegan-friendly brands like DEMIblue that focus on providing clean nail polish and nail products to consumers. Buying from these brands supports both the clean beauty initiative and your nail health. Check out DEMIblue’s Soy Polish Remover with Vitamins and the wide variety of 21-free and vegan-friendly nail polishes. DON’T ignore concerning signs of nail health problems. For example, a fungal infection may show up as a white spot on the surface of your nail. This type of infection can eventually crack your nail. Infection of the nail bed usually entails red, inflamed skin around the nail. If you spot something concerning on your nails, consult a healthcare professional. Keeping your nails healthy is the first step to a long and fruitful manicure!

Have you ever looked at beautiful nail art manicures and wondered how you can recreate them with limited supplies? While some nail art designs are best left to the professionals, there are still a few simple, popular current nail art trends that do not require much artistic flourish but still look sleek and glamorous. However, a small paintbrush might still be useful to have on hand to give you control over the small canvas of your nail. So grab your nail polish and paintbrushes, we’re going to look at some easy, trendy nail art today! French Tips Classic and elegant, a french tip manicure always creates an air of professionalism. Traditionally done in white over the tips of nails, there has now been a shift to doing french tips of all colors, adding a pop of fun to a typically simple manicure style. You can even change up the shape of the tip. From two-toned tips (two colors on the same nail tip) to two color french tips (base color, then a tip color), the possibilities are endless If you can exact the right control over the thicker nail polish brush for a french tip, then that’s great. If not, a smaller brush might help get a crisper tip. Geometric Geometric patterns are all straight lines and shapes. Many times, this manicure starts with a base color, then you can add a geometric design, like triangles, squares, or just lines. You can create a pattern on a single nail or change it up for every nail. There are endless combinations and endless patterns you might be able to create. It’s helpful to have a small detail brush and a steady hand. Consider drawing out designs on paper before committing to the nail. Swirls A common nail art manicure that has shown up across platforms is manicures of swirls across the nail. Oftentimes done with colors of your choice, this nail art trend results in a simple, but still interesting, pattern on your nails. Changing up your choice in color makes it versatile and suitable for any occasion. From neutrals to bright summer colors, swirls make for an engaging nail art manicure for people looking to change it up. A little more challenging to create, a small brush and a steady hand are best for this design. Stripes and Dots Stripes are another classic design and dots are its circular cousin. There are no rules with these two designs. You can simply do what you feel like doing. Stripes can go in any direction and be any color. Dots can be any color and have any placement pattern (or none at all). You can’t go wrong with these two designs. Stripes require some control and a steady hand. Some nail artists lay down strips of nail vinyls that help create a crisp line. Dots can be recreated using the end of a small paintbrush or perhaps with a toothpick. Mix it up with a different design on every nail Experiment and play around with simple nail art shapes and patterns. You can mix and match all sorts of styles and patterns. Different nail art on every nail makes each one unique and interesting. If you are unsure of where to start, look no further than the internet for inspiration, where talented nail artists create beautiful nail art of all types. Nail art doesn’t have to be complicated. Even the most basic shapes and patterns can form an elevated look. Be creative and have fun!

Summer is a time for vacations and warm weather. Naturally, a shift in temperature comes with a shift in color palettes. From clothing to accessories, popular color trends change from winter to summer, and nail color is no exception. With many people heading out for fun in the sun, nail colors reflect this uplifting and joyful sentiment. Colors range from bright pops of pink to deep ocean blues to more understated pearlescent shimmers. For this summer, try one of these new colors the next time you head out: Bright Pink With the arrival of the summer season, playful pinks are here. From fuchsia to hot pink, pick up your favorite shade for your next manicure. Try Pinky Dinky Doo or 80’s Lipstick from DEMIblue Citrus Colors Summer is often associated with bright colors, and this season, the refreshing colors of citrus fruits are in. Colors such as those found on oranges, lemons, and limes are surefire nail polish colors to try. From youthful orange to clean yellows and neon greens, the possibilities are endless. Check out Explosion for a shot of orange, Sinful Sunshine for yellow, and Rave for some pop-out green from DEMIblue Pearlescents With slight shimmers and light undertones, pearlescent nail polishes add a bit of magic at every fingertip. Try Pearls and Lace for a soft pink glow from DEMIblue Shades of Blue It’s the best time to head to the beach, but the cooling waters of the ocean actually inspired many popular colors this summer. These range from brighter blues to a deep cobalt blue. Grab some blue for your next visit to the great blue sea. Try Boo Blue for some classic blue or The Signature DEMIblue™ for a touch of shimmer from DEMIblue Shades of Red Red is a classic and a fierce statement. This summer, consider anything from deep true reds to warm corals for your nails. Check out Sexiest Red for deep red and Summer Dress Season for coral from DEMIblue Neutrals Always a staple, neutrals are useful to have any time of the year. Whether you just want a toned-down manicure or you have a favorite neutral color to wear to work, neutral beiges and peaches are always in style. Check out Be Kind for some warm gray tones, Peaceful Mind for taupe, and Peachy Keen for a lighter color from DEMIblue White White nail polishes are always a go-to. Easy and versatile, great for any occasion, white polishes can elevate any look. Even in the summertime, you can’t go wrong with some white. Try Chalk it Up from DEMIBlue Next time you are looking for a fun new summer manicure, try your hand with one of these colors! Nail Artist: Shaé Banks

Because of the current surge, a lot of people are going back to natural nails. Consumers are looking for ways to embark in self care, to practice a more holistic lifestyle and to cut cost on the every increasing prices of the salon visits. With products like DEMIblue's Clean and Vegan Nail Polish, at home nail care has become simpler. This brand provides a collection of nutrient rich combinations with products that assist in natural nail growth, making it easier for you to sport the "actual natural look". The deep nutrition nail treatment, repairs the natural nail and offers a hint of nude that instantly mimics a healthier nail all while it does the work. So join the Natural Nail Revolution!

“By definition, vegan nail care products are not produced from an animal or an animal byproduct. This means that traditional ingredients like beeswax, honey, collagen, lanolin and keratin are not used,” said Dr. Hooman Khorasani, chief of the division of dermatologic and cosmetic surgery at Mount Sinai Health System. There are plenty of other animal-derived ingredients that vegan nail care brands avoid, including carmine (a colorant derived from beetles) and they tend to use plant-based or synthetic ingredients instead. In most cases, vegan products even steer clear of animal byproducts that are ethically sourced. Additionally, vegan products are often rich in vitamins filled with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and since they typically contain fewer ingredients, it can be easier to understand exactly what you’re putting on your nails. DEMIblue Natural Nails. LLC

Nail fungus Nail fungus is a common condition that begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the fungal infection goes deeper, nail fungus may cause your nail to discolor, thicken and crumble at the edge. It can affect several nails. If your condition is mild and not bothering you, you may not need treatment. If your nail fungus is painful and has caused thickened nails, self-care steps and medications may help. But even if treatment is successful, nail fungus often comes back. Symptoms You may have nail fungus if one or more of your nails are: Thickened Whitish to yellow-brown discoloration Brittle, crumbly or ragged Distorted in shape A dark color, caused by debris building up under your nail Smelling slightly foul Nail fungus can affect fingernails, but it's more common in toenails. When to see a doctor You may want to see a physician if self-care steps haven't helped and the nail becomes increasingly discolored, thickened or deformed. Also see a doctor if you have diabetes and think you're developing nail fungus. AVOID FUNGUS Wash your hands and feet regularly. Wash your hands after touching an infected nail. Moisturize your nails after washing. Trim nails straight across, smooth the edges with a file and file down thickened areas. Disinfect your nail clippers after each use. Wear sweat-absorbing socks or change your socks throughout the day. Choose shoes made of materials that breathe. Discard old shoes or treat them with disinfectants or antifungal powders. Wear footwear in pool areas and locker rooms. Choose a nail salon that uses sterilized manicure tools for each customer. Give up toxic nail polish and artificial nails.

Picking out nail polish colour can be a very fun endeavor. However, with so many different colours and styles, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Luckily, there are ways to narrow it down. Factors like the season, your skin tone, and your personality can help you pick out the perfect polish for any occasion. METHOD #1 CHOOSE BASED ON YOUR SKIN TONE Go for nude shades if you have a light or medium skin tone. Nudes tend to work best for light-coloured or medium-coloured skin. Lighter skins benefit from a pinkish nude. Avoid beige if you have pale skin, as it could create a yellow undertone. If you have medium-coloured skin, you can go for either beige nudes or nudes with a pinkish undertone. Both will look great on your skin. Choose a pink shade for any skin tone. If you love pink, you'll be happy to know it works for every skin tone. Pale skin tends to look great with any type of pink, from soft baby pinks to bright fuchsias. Peachy shades of pink look great on medium skin tones. Darker skin looks great with very bright, vibrant pinks. Pick blue for any skin tone. Blue is a universal colour that looks great on pretty much any skin tone. If you have pale skin, played down blues like navy blues look great. Medium skin tones look good with sky blues or pastel blues. Vibrant shades, like cobalt blues, look good on darker skin. Experiment with purple. Purple looks good on pretty much any skin tone, but different shades match better with different tones. If you have a pale skin, opt for lavenders. For medium skin, go for a pastel shade with hints of gray. For dark skin, both pastels and brighter shades of purple look great. Deep purple polishes with berry undertones also work great if you have a darker complexion. METHOD #2 SELECT YOUR POLISH BASED ON AN OCCASION Opt for neutral colours for formal occasions. Neutral colours tend to work anywhere, so they're a safe option if you're wearing polish to work or a job interview. For an everyday look for professional occasions, you can opt for grays, whites, beiges, and light peachy shades For example, wear a beige polish to a job interview. For a fun color that's still neutral, opt for gold with a little bit of shimmer. Go with holiday-themed colours. You can wear the colours associated with a particular holiday for a fun, festive look. For example, wear red, glittery polish for Christmas or bright orange polish for Halloween Choose a colour based on season. Some colours are more appropriate depending on the time of year. It can be fun to transition your choice of polish colour with each new season. For the fall months, go for colours like grays, dark blues and purples, silvers, cherry shades, and burnt oranges For the spring months, try greens, whites, bright pinks, yellows, reds, and bright blues. For the winter, try deep purples, light pinks, grays, and silvers For the summer, try shades like light pinks, greens, bright reds, corals, and light nude shades. Add sparkles for a fun event. If you're going for a night out on the town, incorporate a little fun into your look. Add nail polish in sparkly shades or add a sparkly topcoat over a dark base. A little glitter and sparkle can make for a fun, carefree look. For example, paint your nails black and then wait for them to dry. Once dry, add some glittery gold polish over the black to create a fun, sparkling look. METHOD #3 PICK YOU POLISH BASED ON YOUR PERSONALITY Use metallics to convey a wild personality. Maybe you see yourself as someone with a wild side who enjoys partying. Metallic colours, like metallic blacks, blues, and silvers, really give off a party vibe. These can be a great option to convey your fun loving personality. Use metallics to convey a wild personality. Maybe you see yourself as someone with a wild side who enjoys partying. Metallic colours, like metallic blacks, blues, and silvers, really give off a party vibe. These can be a great option to convey your fun loving personality. Pick bright colors for an energetic look. A variety of bright colours can give off an energetic look. Pick oranges, greens, and yellows if you want to emulate energy. Bright pinks can also work for an energetic look. If you want something both bold and energetic, go for a bright orange or green. These are somewhat unusual colours that can add a touch of quirkiness to your look. If you want something very bright, you can even go with white polish. Choose muted colours for a softer look. If you want to give off a serene demeanor, look for softer, more played down polishes. Shades like light purples and pinks have a feminine, soft feel. You can also try pastel shades of blue. Show off sophistication with darker polish. If you want to look sophisticated, choose a deep polish with berry tones. A deep purple polish or a wine red polish can really reflect a classy personality. Deep polishes look great when paired with former outfits, like evening gowns. Go for bright red to look bold. Red is traditionally thought of as the colour of confidence. If you want an overtly bold look, opt for a bright red polish. This can be great for an event where you want extra confidence, like a first date. For example, try something like candy apple, true red, or an red-orange color. WHICHEVER YOU DECIDE...BE SURE TO SELECT FROM THE DEMIblue CLEAN AND VEGAN NAIL POLISH COLLECTION!

Ladies, if you are thinking about getting a manicure right before a surgery you may want to reconsider. Most hospitals and offices will advise patients to remove nail polish before surgery, but have you ever wondered why? BECAUSE NAILFRIENDS, OUR NAILS CAN TELL A STORY ABOUT OUR HEALTH!! A nurse or physician uses clues from your nails to determine your blood oxygen levels and more. According to JON PAUL TREVISANI, MD, FACS, "Possibly the most important monitoring device that helps make modern anesthesia so safe is the pulse oximeter. This non-invasive method allows the monitoring of the oxygenation of a patient’s hemoglobin. A sensor is placed on the fingertip and this measures the level of oxygen in the blood and works by passing red light through tissue. Nail polish may reduce the effectiveness of this monitor. The nail bed is one of the best places to detect cyanosis caused by low oxygen levels. This is why acrylic nails, nail polish, solar nails, shellac polish, etc are asked to be removed prior to surgery. SO FOR HEALTH SAKE, TAKE YOUR NAIL POLISH OFF! FOR MORE INFO: usabreast.com. Submitted by: Roshani J. Patel

History is actually repeating itself: Men have been wearing nail polish since 3,200 B.C. Following an excavation of royal tombs at Ur of the Chaldees in southern Babylonia, it was reportedly discovered that most men during that era wore nail polish, with different colors signifying different classes. Made primarily with kohl, the darker the color, the higher the class of the man, from warriors to leaders. Lighter colors were reserved for lower class men. In fact, prior to battle, warriors would take hours to primp and paint their nails just so. In 3,000 B.C., it's said that in China, nail varnish — which was made from a mixture of egg whites, beeswax and gelatin — was reserved for people in the higher classes regardless of gender. In Egypt, people of all classes were encouraged to paint their nails, again with color denoting status. Members of the upper classes, including icons like Nefertiti and Cleopatra, tended to wear red made from plant extracts. There's little documentation of how nail polish turned into a specifically feminine expression as the years ticked on. What we do know is that by 1800s France, it was primarily women who would paint their nails to signify their own cleanliness. By the 1930s, companies like Revlon were marketing red and pink polishes directly to female customers. The counterculture brought it back: Flash forward to the rise of counterculture in the United States and artists such as Iggy Pop, Kurt Cobain, Lou Reed and David Bowie, all of whom were notable proponents of painting varnish on their nails. All the men above were rock stars, rebelling against the gender norms their elders obeyed. In Bowie's case, critics just didn't know what to do with his androgynous look, since rockers of the past had been forced into being extremely hyper-masculine, sexual figures. The same happened with Reed, who, when he painted his nails with Bowie, was described as "freaky." DEMIblue Clean and Vegan Nail Polish may have something in store for our men....SOOOOOON!