According to Barkham Burroughs, a person’s natural nail color tells more than their personal hygiene. It’s a sign of their personality and character. Who knew?!

Perhaps the timeless saying, “I’m an excellent judge of character” was because those in at least 1889 knew the secret and made them experts, indeed. Perhaps we, educated women of the 21st century have been looking at things all wrong and have something to learn from our 19^th century sisters. Instead of looking at a person’s actions as a measurement to their character, we should have just been staring at their hands. Good thing we now know this fail-proof test, or we would have possibly continued down the erroneous path of judging one by their actions and ignored their manicures.

• A white mark indicates misfortune
• If the nail is pale or the color of lead that individual is melancholy
• Those with broader nails are timid and shy
• Round nails indicate seekers of knowledge, understanding, and lean more towards “liberal sentiments”
• Those with narrow nails are generally more ambitious and like to quarrel
• Those with small nails have “littleness of mind”
• If the nails are incredibly pale, then that individual is sick often and “persecuted by neighbors and friends”
• If one has ingrown nails, then they are lovers of the luxurious lifestyle
• Ladies beware of men with red spotted nails. Even the most handsome gentleman that tries to woo you, must be resisted. Yes, even if he is tall, dark, handsome, and respects your decision not to show your ankles. You must resist because a suiter with red spotted nails most certainly is choleric and is a man “delighting in war”. His acceptance of your no-ankle policy doesn’t seem so debonair now, huh?

To hear more listen to my podcast episode .

Burroughs, B. BARKHAM BURROUGHS’ ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF ASTOUNDING FACTS AND USEFUL INFORMATION 1889. E-book ed., Public Domain, 1889.

Earl, Grace D., Copyright Claimant. Jiffi Nail Polish
. [Chicago: Grace D. Earl] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2023638982/>.