What the French – specifically the makeup artist Michelle Menard – can be credited with, however, is introducing a glossy nail polish in the 20s using car paint, although it was available only to a limited few. That changed in 1932 when Revlon launched what we now know as nail polish and opened this aspect of manicuring to the masses. The popularity of nail colour continued for decades, even in times of economic instability, when it was considered an affordable and justifiable luxury. Some shades, such as Chanel’s Rouge Noir, became famous. In 1995, this dried-blood hue, popularised by Uma Thurman’s character in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, sold out on the first day it launched. The hype created a 12-month waiting list; it is still Chanel’s bestselling product.