Martin likes to help wherever he can.  Today he helped with a manicure.  Imelda (from Aroma Salon in Cerritos) was very patient and taught Martin all sorts of things about giving manicures.  The first step she said, was picking just the right color!  He took his job very seriously and spent several minutes before finding the perfect shade of dark blue!  While removing my old polish and buffing and prepping my nails for the new color, Imelda told Martin a little bit of history about manicures.    She told him the word ‘Manicure” comes from two Latin words “manus” and “cura” meaning hand cure.  Explaining ow manicures have been around for more than 5,000 years, Imelda told Martin in ancient Babylonia and Egypt, nails were colored with colors that told others which class you belonged to.   Bright colors and tones were for high class and royalty.  Cleopatra’s nails were painted red and Queen Nefertiti’s nails glowed violet.  Working and lower classes used paler and more natural tones.  In 1878 Mary E. Cobb opened the first nail salon in New York City.  In 1907, liquid nail polish was invented.

My nails were now buffed and prepped and ready to be polished.  Martin had picked a deep ocean blue.  He wanted to know if there were different ways to paint nails or if everyone just polished their nails the same only using different colors.  Imelda chuckled and told Martin there were MANY different ways to paint nails.  In the 1920’s, the lunar manicure,” or half-moon manicure, became popular, leaving the cuticle and tip of the nail unpolished.  During the glamorous era in Hollywood, red nail polish became synonymous with glamour and beautiful celebrity women.  In 1976, the French manicure was invented in Paris.  The French manicure is very similar to the Lunar manicure, but flipped. The white tips become painted white and the rest of the nail is painted to look natural.

Martin asked me how I wanted my nails painted.  I just wanted something plain this trip so had no suggestions.  Martin wondered if there were trends or styles of manicures.  Imelda assured him there were!  From the 1980’s on, she said, nail salons took inspiration from the 80’s deco and neo-pop art styles and nails became more artistic than simple polish.  Bold colors, geometric shapes, new developments in polish and the creation of gel and dip polishes have turned the modern manicure into a form of self expression.

My nails were painted and looked so pretty!  Martin had that look on his face like he had something planned.  He put his hand up to Imelda’s ear and whispered for a couple of moments.  She smiled, took a mint color of polish, and took my hands back.  She applied a thin line of the mint color to the very tip of my nails.  Not a French, just a hit of color at the tips.  It looked amazing!  Martin had selected the mint color and thought of the design style by himself.  He was quite proud of himself!  I was very happy and have used this style several times after this manicure.

As we left Aroma Salon that day, Martin skipped alongside me, still buzzing with excitement about his new manicure knowledge. He kept gently touching my fingertips, admiring his mint-tipped creation in the sunlight.

“Do you really like it?” he asked for the third time, his eyes bright with hope.

“I love it,” I assured him, holding my hands up so we could both admire them together. “You have a real eye for design, Martin.”

He beamed at that, then grew thoughtful. “Maybe next time we can try something with glitter,” he mused. “Or maybe little stars?”

I laughed and took his hand. “Maybe next time. But for now, let’s go show everyone your beautiful work.”

As we walked to the car, I glanced back at the salon. Through the window, I could see Imelda waving at us, her warm smile reminding me that sometimes the best memories come not from the perfect manicure, but from the perfect teacher who takes the time to share their passion with an eager young artist.

Martin was already planning his next masterpiece.