Wow...it's been 3 years since I've been on this blog. Where has time gone? Last time I was on here I lived back home in New York and did my own nails. Things have changed, my friend! Now I live in Japan (and have lived here for the past year) and recently moved to Tokyo. Japan is the land of beautiful nail art and I have spent my time going to various nail salons and getting my nails done. Since January of this year, I have consistently gotten my nails done at the salon versus doing them at home. I made this decision because I truly do love the beautiful art that nail artists do here. Since I don't know how long I'll live in Japan (initially it was only supposed to be a year...but my plans changed), I want to enjoy Japanese nail art as much as possible. So I thought it'd be a good idea to put together a guide on how to get your nails done in Japan as well as catalog the designs I get. So without further ado, let's get started!
My Nails - What I get done at the salon
I have natural nails. I don't get extensions, although most Japanese nail salons do offer the service. I always get gel nails. Most salons here work in gel and not traditional polish. This is because it's much easier to do designs (on top of longer duration) with gel polish. I usually get nail art - designs, characters, studs, etc. I don't usually get 3D nail art because I'm not gentle with my nails and I don't want pieces falling off or bothering me during the day. I usually go to the nail salon once a month (yes, they last that long). I always get the gel removed at the salon versus doing it myself at home.
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| My first Japanese nail art experience from a visit in 2014. This salon was near my hotel. This was one of the most expensive visits I've ever had, despite being quite simple, costing well over $100. It pays to do research!!!! |
How much does it cost?
This depends on what you get done. The more intricate the design, the more expensive it is. If you like bedazzled nails with a bunch of rhinestones and studs, expect to pay more. Most salons charge a per item or per nail fee. Hand drawn characters also cost more. The longer it tastes the artists to do your nails, the more expensive it is! Basic designs are usually between $50-$70 and more complex designs can be well over $100. You can also expect to pay a fee to remove your previous gel polish. This typically ranges from $15-$20 and some salons charge more if you had the gel done at a different salon.
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| My second nail art experience in 2016. I did my research and paid less than $60 for these! Done by @etars.nail |
How do I find and book a nail artist in Japan?
One of the best ways to find artists that you like is to go on Instagram. Follow nail art hashtags. Some popular ones Japanese tags are:
#ネイルアート
#itanail
#指甲
#美甲
#個性派ネイル
#インスタネイル
Most artists will have the name of the salon in their bio or their email. Sometimes they even have the link to the salon's Beauty Hot Pepper link. Beauty Hot Pepper is a booking service for salons (nail, hair, spa, etc.) in Japan. You can book appointments directly through the website and it will tell you if the salon accepts credit cards, general pricing, and which dates and times they have availability. You can also use Beauty Hot Pepper to find a salon in your area and can pick one from there. Most salons offer a coupon on Beauty Hot Pepper for first-time visits, so make sure you select the coupons before making the appointment. The site is only in Japanese, however, you can use Google Translate to help you. I don't speak Japanese and I've never had an issue!
What if I can't speak Japanese?
Most people in Japan do not speak English (or they're too shy to) so you can often feel scared to go to a salon out of fear. My suggestion: Use Google Translate! I use it to talk to artists through email or DM and just advise them that I don't speak Japanese so please bear with me. It does help to know a few keywords. They are:
Color - Caraa (カラー)
Thank you - Arigato Gozaimasu (ありがとございます)
Sorry - Gomen'nasai (ごめんなさい)
Excuse Me - Sumimasen (すみません)
Is credit card ok? - Caado daijobu desu ka? (カードだいじょぶですか)
Do you speak English? - Eigo o hanasemasu ka? (えいご お はなせますか)
Do you have a point card? Pointo caado arimasuka? (ぽいんと カードありますか)
Also learning color names is a good idea, although they usually understand English names for colors.
This is in very simple easy Japanese. It may not be perfect, but it's easily spoken and understood by native speakers!
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| From March 2018. Completely hand-drawn (and still cheaper than my first experience). Done by @fujiiiiiii_ |
How can I save money at the salon?
One easy way is to use a point card. Most salons (and business in general) have a point card system in Japan. They will give you one on your first visit and you bring it back each time. Once you get enough points (depends on the store), they will give you a discount. It's usually quite a big discount ($10-$20 off) and it's completely free. You get an extra discount and they get a loyal customer - works out for everyone! Other ways include simplifying your design. It's usually a lot cheaper just to get a design on one finger on each hand and keeping the rest of the nails with just a gel color versus a design on each finger. You can also ask the artists for a quote if you're budget conscious! They are usually happy to provide one for you and you can adjust your design from there.
Should I tip the nail artist?
NO! There is no tipping in Japan. Tipping is considered rude in Japanese society. So that's another way you save some money and why you're paying a higher price for quality work.
What if I don't have a design idea?
That's ok! Most salons have a "menu" with their designs on fake nails. You can ask to see it (simply say "menu" or "nail menu") and they will show it to you. From there you can you point to which design you like. The prices will also be listed so you know how much it'll cost beforehand.
I think that's all the tips I have for now! I'll be posting my designs and thoughts each time that I get them done. I just recently got my latest set so I will be posting up my review for these shortly! If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment and I'll do my best to answer them!
