Fake nails gained significant popularity in the 1980s.
While the concept of artificial nails existed earlier, it was in the 1980s that they became a widespread fashion trend. This surge in popularity is largely attributed to cultural icons like Florence Griffith Joyner ("Flo-Jo"), the Olympic track and field star, who prominently sported long, elaborately decorated acrylic nails as a signature part of her look.
The 1990s further cemented the popularity of acrylic nails, spreading throughout pop culture and influenced significantly by trends originating within the Black community. Acrylic nails became a regular fashion statement, widely adopted and evolving into diverse styles.
