In ancient China, both men and women with high status had long nails, which indicated that they didn't need to work, while men showed their masculine strength and status. In the Qing Dynasty, royal women in China used luxurious metal or cloisonne fingernails inlaid with beads and jade to protect their elaborately decorated nails. In ancient times, due to cultural and environmental restrictions, it was impossible for women in China to have professional manicurists. This kind of work of beauty, hairdressing, skin beautification and manicure is generally taught by their mothers, communicated between sisters and assisted by maids.

In the history of China, the most representative nail figure was Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty. She listened to politics and wore decorative metal or cloisonne fake nails on her little finger and ring finger to increase the length of nails and show her noble status.

Nail cover in Qing dynasty aristocratic women in Qing dynasty kept long nails and dyed them with henna or impatiens for a long time. The fingernails in Qing Dynasty were made of gold and silver, with exquisite patterns and rich varieties.