Original French Manicure Kit Could Be Headed to the Smithsonian

Flashback to 1976. Orly Founder Jeff Pink was at the helm of one of the largest personal care supply stores serving nail salons, movie studios and the professional beauty industry when he was faced with a quandary: actresses needed their nails redone with every costume change. The drying time of reapplying new coats of polish was time-consuming, slowing down production and the actors who needed to move quickly through set changes. It caused headaches and cost studios money.

Thinking about women who used white pencil beneath their nails to yield a clean, natural look, Pink’s eureka moment—a white polish he’d later trademark as the French Manicure—would forever change the nail industry.

“I had no idea it would become what it is today,” Pink told Happi via email. “When I called my supplier, Abe, and told him I wanted to order a large quantity of white nail polish, he thought I was crazy. Nobody was buying white nail polish at the time.”

In retrospect, that observation was a good omen.

“At the time, Revlon and L’Oréal were dominating the nail market, with a strong focus on nail polish,” Pink recalled. “But I saw a huge gap when it came to nail treatments. There really wasn’t anyone developing products specifically to treat and improve then natural nail. That’s where I saw an opportunity for Orly; to go beyond color and focus on the health, care and overall condition of the nail. I was asking for a product that the market simply wasn’t interested in yet.”

A ‘Catchy’ Innovation

The following year, Pink traveled to runway shows in Paris with a manicurist who would create a look for the models that the pair would initially christen, “the Natural Nail” look. It was characterized by a simple, classic and feminine manicure that accentuated the nails over “upstaging” the outfit.

“After one particular trip, I was on the plane home thinking about the look and how we could give it a name that was catchy and memorable,” Pink recalled. “That’s when it came to me: the French Manicure.”

With the creation of the French Manicure kit, Orly—a nail brand established in 1975 and named for Pink’s wife—etched a reputation as a pioneer trusted by nail professionals.

Barbara Streisand and Cher were among the celebrities who helped popularize the look in the 1970s, he recalled.

“What began as a simple solution for Hollywood became something far greater than I ever imagined,” said Pink. “Seeing the French Manicure embraced by generations of people around the world has been one of the greatest privileges of my career. Fifty years later, I’m humbled that it continues to inspire confidence, creativity and timeless style.”

Place in History

“The original kit represents the beginning of something that became a permanent part of beauty and fashion,” added Pink. “It wasn’t just another nail product; it introduced a new way of thinking about the natural nail and became one of the most recognizable beauty looks in the world.”

In the last five decades, Orly, based in Los Angeles, has grown range to include cruelty-free, vegan formulas with award-winning lines like Pro Lacquer, GELFX, Builder in a Bottle, Breathable and 1-Step Color.

Orly has also delivered novel packaging and nail tools. The brand’s 600-bristle brush was designed to deliver precise, easy application with a new shape that fans out to fit the cuticle. Orly’s patented Gripper Cap pairs offers a sleek, ergonomic design that is easy to open with just a gentle grip.

“I think I’ve always been curious about how things work and naturally look for ways to make them better,” said Pink. “Even something as simple as our signature Gripper cap came from that same idea; creating a bottle that was easier and more comfortable to open.”

Last year, Orly became the first official nail partner of the LA Sparks with limited-edition Game Day Glam kits. The three-year partnership was inked during a record-breaking year for women’s sports viewership and a cultural epoch during which athletes are shaping beauty trends.

As Orly hits the 50th anniversary of the French Manicure, the brand has submitted its original Orly French Manicure Kit for consideration by the Smithsonian’s Personal Care and Cosmetics Collection. The goal: solidify it as a part of American beauty history. The proposed historical archive would document the French Manicure’s origins, evolution and cultural influence spanning five decades of fashion and beauty, per Orly.

Additionally, Pink is proposing an annual observance, French Manicure Day, celebrating one of beauty’s most iconic designs.