Fingernails with Rouge

Before colored nail polish -- or really, any nail polish -- the fingernails might be 'made-up' with the same rouge one applied to the face. Here I dabbed a little lip stain on one thumbnail (at right) to show the effect. Apologies for the quality of the photo; my MacBook's camera was the only hands-free device that was available.

In the past I've also adapted modern nail polish to make a similar look to the nail rouge of old. Most clear nail polishes don't have enough color for this: what you do is buy a clear polish, then pour in some of your favorite red to create a bloody-looking liquid. That is the consistency you will need to get a noticeable tint but not a flat color. A matte or semi-matte finish would also be desirable for authenticity's sake: while the Victorians had liked to buff and shine their nails to a high-gloss finish, the Edwardians preferred a more natural sheen, and disliked the mirror-like gleam of old.