ORLY Celebrates 50 Years of the French Manicure, Honoring an American Beauty Innovation That Became a Global Icon
The milestone establishes the inaugural French Manicure Day as ORLY's original French Manicure Kit undergoes Smithsonian curatorial review.
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- This year marks the 50th anniversary of the French Manicure, one of the most recognizable beauty innovations of the modern era. ORLY—the company founded by Jeff Pink, creator of the French Manicure—is commemorating its enduring influence on beauty, fashion and culture.
Created in 1976 as a practical solution for Hollywood productions, the French Manicure soon traveled from film sets to international runways, becoming synonymous with timeless elegance. Fifty years later, it remains a global beauty signature spanning generations, cultures and trends.
To preserve its place in American beauty history, ORLY has established and registered the inaugural French Manicure Day, to be observed annually on the Wednesday before New York Fashion Week: September 9, 2026 this year. ORLY's original French Manicure Kit is also currently under curatorial review by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History for potential acquisition into its collections.
"What began as a simple solution for Hollywood became something far greater than I ever imagined," said Jeff Pink, founder of ORLY and creator of the French Manicure. "Seeing it embraced by generations around the world has been one of the greatest privileges of my career."
"This anniversary is about preserving beauty history," said ORLY Chief Operating Officer Tal Pink. "The French Manicure is part of the broader story of American innovation, fashion and culture. We're honoring its origins and the artists, nail professionals and consumers who have kept it relevant for fifty years."
Throughout the anniversary, ORLY will celebrate the French Manicure's legacy through historical storytelling, and New York Fashion Week programming.
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ABOUT ORLY
Founded in Los Angeles in 1975, ORLY® has led the professional nail care industry for five decades with trendsetting color, clean beauty innovation, and salon-grade performance. The brand was born on Hollywood film sets, where founder Jeff Pink created The Natural Nail Look to help actresses quickly switch between wardrobe changes – an iconic innovation that soon became the world-famous Original French Manicure®. From there, ORLY cemented its status as a beauty pioneer, trusted by nail pros and beloved by beauty obsessives alike. Still made in LA, ORLY's cruelty-free, vegan formulas span its award-winning lines: Pro Lacquer, GELFX, Builder-in-a-Bottle, Breathable 1-Step Color, and more – empowering fearless self-expression while supporting natural nail health.
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SOURCE ORLY International
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