Structurally flexible artificial nails

A package of preformed artificial nails adapted to substantially cover an upper surface of a user's natural nails, the upper surface of the natural nail extending from a cuticle and having an oppositely disposed free edge, the package comprising:

• a plurality of artificial nails each having an elongated nail body extending between a proximate edge and a distal edge and having a thickness, the proximate edge being adapted to be disposed substantially adjacent the user's cuticle, a longitudinal direction being defined from the proximate edge to the distal edge, wherein for at least a majority of the artificial nails, the thickness of each nail body of said majority continuously decreases from the distal edge to the proximate edge by at least one of either at least 0.022 inches (0.55 mm) or at least substantially 70% as measured by the difference between the thickness of the nail at the distal and proximate ends divided by the thickness at the distal end multiplied by 100, the nail body being unitarily formed of a material including at least one of a rubber, silicone, or silicone derivative, a silicone elastomer, a silicone-containing macromer, a hydromacromer, a TPU (thermo plastic urethane), a TPR (thermo plastic rubber), a TPE (thermo plastic elastomer), menoprene, or a mixture including one or more of the foregoing materials.

A method of making an artificial nail for placement on a user's natural nail, the natural nail extending from a cuticle and having an oppositely disposed free edge, the method comprising:

• providing a mold,
• introducing a single shot of a material including at least one of a rubber, silicone, or silicone derivative, a silicone elastomer, a silicone-containing macromer, a hydromacromer, a TPU (thermo plastic urethane), a TPR (thermo plastic rubber), a TPE (thermo plastic elastomer), menoprene, or a mixture including one or more of the foregoing materials, into the mold to form an elongated nail body extending between a proximate edge and a distal edge, and a left side and a right side, and having a thickness, a longitudinal direction being defined from the proximate edge to the distal edge, the thickness of the nail body substantially continuously increasing from the proximate edge to the distal edge, and the thickness being substantially uniform in a lateral direction from the left side to the right side across the nail body, the proximate edge being adapted for placement substantially adjacent the user's cuticle.