This study identified the relations and differences between women's preferences of nail colors and their psychological status. To evaluate their personal preference and psychological status, we carried statistic analyses of the answers to questions presented in questionnaire. For this study, we distributed a questionnaire composed of short-answer type questions to women in Gwangju and 420 copies of answers except those whose answers were not sincere were analysed with a use of SPSS V.12.0K for a frequency analysis, a technical statistics, a validity and confidence test, a t-test, and an One-way ANOVA. The results of the analyses are summarized as follows:
1. The subjects focused on colors in buying nail colors when their confidence in appearance is medium-level, which indicates there is a significant difference.
2. In respect to the influence of nail colors on purchasing, the group with higher attention to their appearance and nail colors had higher needs to purchase nail colors, which indicates there is a significant difference.
3. In respect to the preferred nail colors, the subjects who have confidence in their appearance preferred trendy colors while those who pay attentions to hangnail decide colors according to their moods, which indicates there is a significant difference.
4. In respect to change of preferences, the subjects who have higher confidence in their appearance and care colors showed significant change in their selection of colors.
5. In respect to purchasing disposition, the women of thirties and forties tended to buy similar colors, which indicates there is a significant difference.
6.They showed consistency between their preferred colors and nail colors and preferred pink the most, which indicates there is a significant difference.
7. In respect to the relations between purchasing criteria and psychological status, when they were depressed, they tended to buy trendy colors and colors presented from brands. When they had negative images of themselves, they tended to buy them, focusing on colors. When they took care of their stress with patience, they tended to buy colors focusing on a function or quality, which indicates there is a significant difference.
8. When the subjects were depressed due to their low confidence and weak health, they did not buy nail colors. When they had both positive and negative images of themselves, they showed higher purchasing rate.
Therefore, this study suggests that the relations between stress, depression and self-esteem of women should be identified in an academic basis, and natural beauty can be obtained when women find their colors and styles based on their psychological status and desires.
It is suggested that nail coloring to express their beauty will be helpful to their mental health and further studies on it should be developed.