The moon manicure, as it was called by the innovative Beatrice Kaye, manicurist at MGM Studios, was conceived in 1925. At the time rosy red nail polish was used to paint the pink portion of the nail, leaving the lunula and the free edge bare. The look evolved over time, and now the moon manicure involves painting the lunula one color and the rest of the nail another.
The look can be demure in pink and cream shades, or edgy in bright and bold shades. Moon manicures may also vary in the depth and curve of the moon, as illustrated above. On longer nails the moon can be deeper to create a sense of balance, on shorter nails a subtle curve creates the illusion of a slender nail plate.
Photo by Glenn Campbell
