Back in my early blogger days, I used to wax lyrical about shoes. Oh, how I adore shoes! (I mean, who doesn’t?) But today, instead of going on about my beloved Gucci sandals, I thought it would be fun to revive and rewrite some old posts that I think are interesting. I hope you do too!

So, I recently moved houses. You know what that means: confronting the mountain of shoes I’ve somehow accumulated over the years. Desperately needing to declutter but unable to part with any of my precious pairs, I stumbled upon a fabulous old pair of Gucci sandals. Naturally, this led to the immediate realization that my feet were in desperate need of a pedicure. An appointment was made faster than you can say “foot spa.”

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As I sat in the salon being treated like royalty, I began to ponder the origins of this delightful ritual. Did you know pedicures have been around for over 4,000 years? (Talk about ancient self-care!) Besides making our feet look pretty, pedicures can also prevent nail disorders and diseases. And let’s not forget the blissful relaxation that comes with a good foot massage. (Seriously, who doesn’t love a foot massage?)

Fun Facts and Quirky Tidbits

Fingernail polish has a history as colorful as its shades. It dates back to around 3000 BC in China, where a Ming Dynasty manuscript reveals that royal fingernails were painted black and red to signify high social status. Meanwhile, in Egypt, Cleopatra’s nails were always painted a deep red, and men heading into battle painted their nails to match their lips. (Imagine frosted pink warriors!)

Fast forward to the United States in 1932, where Charles Revlon introduced the first nail color manicure. Today, the manicure/pedicure industry is a worth a whopping $15 billion. Talk about nail-biting success!

More Fun Facts to Polish Off

  • In ancient Egypt, long nails were a symbol of wisdom and were thought to be tools for communicating with deities. Royalty and nobility flaunted long, brightly colored nails, while servants and the lower classes kept theirs short and pastel.
  • Ancient Chinese women preferred metallic gold and silver nails. Their nail polish was made from beeswax, and they grew their nails up to 13 cm long to show they didn’t have to do manual labor. (Talk about a hands-off approach!)
  • To protect their growing nails, ancient Chinese people invented long metal cones. (Imagine trying to text with those!)
  • In ancient Babylonia, noblemen used solid gold tools for their manicures and pedicures. (Golden grooming, anyone?)
  • The word “pedicure” comes from the Latin words “pedis” (feet) and “cura” (care). Simple yet elegant, like a classic French manicure.
  • Hollywood made manicures popular in the U.S. Actresses needed perfect nails for close-ups, leading to the invention of fake nails for those with short nails. (Movie magic at its finest!)

And here’s one for the “Nope, not for me” category: It takes about 150 garra rufa fish, or “doctor fish,” to nibble away the dead skin from your feet. Erm, nope! Could you do it?

And there you have it, a history lesson on the manicure/pedicure. So next time you’re pampering your tootsies, remember you’re partaking in a tradition that spans millennia. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with my nail technician and a fabulous new shade of polish.

Sources:  Wikipedia, USPedicureSpa.com, Sooper Articles, Spatahena.com