This section in our third issue, “Seduction,” is dedicated to ritual of manicures.

Our hands possess an inherent poetry. They are our visual expressers of language; our tools of creation; our primary way of interpreting the world through touch; and our instrument of physically relating to those around us, be it intimate or defensive. For many women, the exploration into beautification rituals begins with the hands from an early age– adorning our fingers with chunky rings from grocery store gumball machines and sloppily painting each other’s nails with garish hues at sleepover parties. 

The ritual of ornamenting one’s hands is a practice closely tied to exploration of feminine expression and community, and dates back as far as 5000 B.C., when Indian women dyed their fingers with henna; to 3000 B.C. China, when women adorned their fingernails with dyes made from gelatin and vegetables; to the 1800s, when European women painted their nails with a faint red hue as a symbol of status, cleanliness and purity. In the 1900s, the practice of adorning one’s nails became progressively more inventive–with trends from the classic “moon” manicure of the 1920s, to the first application of fake nails in the 1930s, to the introduction of a plethora of new colors in the 1960s and ‘70s, to the garish acrylic nailed ‘80s and the chipped black nail polished ‘90s. 

Since the turn of the century, the prevalence of nail art has exploded. Nail artists across the globe are continually exploring new aesthetics and employing a myriad of inventive methods to adorn these miniature canvases. Some painstakingly detailed, some gaudy and grotesque, some youthful and bubbly, and some seductive and predatory–it seems that the possibilities of this ritual beautification practice are endless. Tokyo born, Los Angeles-based artist Britney Tokyo takes a playful approach to her designs–incorporating recognizable product logos, cartoon characters, and dimensional decals to create complex, statement embellishments that have garnered the attention of pop culture icons such as Ariana Grande and Rita Ora. 

Similarly, London-based artist Kate Cutler a.k.a BANG BANG NAILS infuses high fashion with an exuberant attitude and bold feminine flare, with designs ranging from elegant monochromatics to vibrant, detailed patterns. For artist and trans activist Charlie Craggs, the ritual of nail adornment is a catalyst for dialogue and social change. We collaborated with these three diverse and influential artists to explore the ways that the ritual of nail art incites femme community and self-expression.