WHEN we look at shimmering nail varnish we see lots of scintillating colour. But we may also be looking at fish scales, repackaged as guanine, whose changeable pigmentation is what causes the changing tones.

Now this may not concern many of us who are more than happy chomping on fish and chips. But for people who are determined to avoid using animal products in their lives, it can be these unexpected ingredients which catch them out.

Which is where Birmingham organic hair salon Puro comes in. The city centre salon has launched a range of beauty treatments including vegan manicures and pedicures.

They have all been designed by beauty therapist and nail technician Cara Simpson-Davies whose sister Sarah opened Puro in John Bright Street a year ago.

And Cara says it is already proving to be a hit.

“People are more and more worried about the ingredients in the products they use,” she says. “A lot of people come here because it is organic. We have had a few people come here just because they want to make sure the manicure is vegan.”

As most nail varnishes are manufactured from chemicals, a good many of them do not contain animal-based products but Cara says the situation is more complicated than it may first appear.