Here's a breakdown:
* Ancient Times: Egyptians, Romans, and Chinese all used various natural dyes and pigments to color their nails.
* Early 20th Century: The first modern nail polish, a quick-drying, non-toxic formula, was created by Michelle Menard in 1917. However, it wasn't widely available until 1925 when Charles Revson, a chemist, started selling a similar product called "Revlon" nail polish.
* 1930s: Revlon began marketing nail polish aggressively, introducing a wide array of colors and innovative packaging. This made nail polish a mainstream cosmetic product for women.
So, while Michelle Menard can be credited with the first commercially available nail polish, Charles Revson is credited with popularizing and effectively marketing it to a wider audience.