https://instagram.com/p/1U5eUzAHwN/?taken-by=nihonchique

 

Getting my nails done in Japan is one of my favorite things to do. More specifically a manicure with nail art. It’s one of my little pieces of joy to see my nails nice and manicured and it makes me feel so put together in most situations.

I first started getting manicures when I was a young girl, but it wasn’t until I came to Japan that I really did “Nail Art”. Even then, I didn’t do it on a consistent basis, but since I started working I find it a nice little splurge every month to get my nails nicely manicured.

https://instagram.com/p/w3OrnRAHzg/?taken-by=nihonchique

 

My nail salon of choice? A chain called Speed Nail. This was the first place that I found when I came here to Japan and I have been hooked ever since. Now, I know that nail art can be pretty intense here in Japan, but I am on the more conservative side for work purposes, so this salon is good for me and for my needs.They give me the right amount of nail art that I prefer, as well as, I can talk to the staff each time and they give me suggestions.

I go to the flagship store in Umeda, in Osaka Japan but since they are a chain, they are all around Japan. I used to go to one of the two salons in Kyoto when I lived there for 2 years and then started to go to the Umeda location when I moved to Osaka back in November of 2014.

In Japan, it is gel nail polish that they use, more specifically they actually use a pot of gel that they actually paint on to your nails, versus shellac that is more like a traditional nail polish. The pot method actually makes it easier to do nail art and customize it, rather than just plain color.

Also, the stones on nails seem that they would fall off easily, but they do not at all. I was skeptical about it at first, but it really does work. The method of using the pot of gel to paint the nails has the ability completely seal in the stone on the nails and they do not move at all, even for about 5 weeks. I was very impressed with the results!

 

https://instagram.com/p/0Mzs6eAHyP/?taken-by=nihonchique

 

Another concern would be, how safe is it for your nails to do this every month? The answer is that there are 3 types of gels that they use at this particular salon (and most salons I believe). I use the type that is the most gentle on the nails. With this being said though, each time they take off the gel nails, they do grind your nail down a bit. If you have thin nails, then getting them done every month like me might not be a good option.

Here are some more examples of the Nail Art that I have done while I have been here in Japan:

 

https://instagram.com/p/4_WI83AH22/?taken-by=nihonchique

 

https://instagram.com/p/x8kpEiAHwY/?taken-by=nihonchique

 

What do you think about Japanese Nail Art? Let me know in the comments below!