shefinds | May 21, 2007

Japanese Nail Art: Trendy or Tacky?

imageAccording to GrooveEffect, a Japanese nail art company is leading a trend that’s starting to trickle stateside. You might have seen nail art popping up on big celebrities like Fergie, Gwen Stefani, Lindsay Lohan and even Paris Hilton, but Japanese nail art has a bit more to it than ultra-long claws painted in pretty colors.

These increasingly popular Japanese manicures actually involve the application of 3D flowers, anime figures and other designs that wind up resembling a work of art more than actual nails. Something so elaborate and intricate may look pretty in pictures, but I also think it might be borderline tacky. Nonetheless, salons, like this one in California, are starting to offer Japanese nail art as one of their manicure services and it’s only a matter of time before this becomes a full blown trend.

For me, a girl who mainly sticks to subtle polish, I’m truly not a fan — at least on my own nails. What do you think? Is it wearable in a pretty, unique way? Or is it really just a tacky nail trend that you’d rather see get buried like over-sized shoulder pads from the ’80s?

by SheFindsTara  |  Tagged in :   

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comments
  • Tamara

    I like this kind of art, but to do it myself and with very short nails and very little touches mainly in black or red. Long nail art might seem a little too much for the hand :P

  • pikipak

    This is nothing new and has been alive in the states for at least 12 years. it has yet to show any signs of slowing down.

  • Michiko Kawashi

    i really love japanese nail arts..
    it’s simply amazing and very pretty

    how about teachin us some D.I.Y?
    i wud really like to learn some tricks though

    anyway.. KAWAII~~ ^^

  • Robin Wright

    I love it on my toes and have it done at least once a month at this wonderful salon downtown here is the web site check it out http://www.cocok.net/index.html

  • Kita

    It’s fantastic, if you’re ghetto fabulous that is. I just think it looks rediculous. It’s like makeup, less is more…and this is just TOO tacky and WAY overdone.

  • Emily Girl

    I love Japanese nail art. Way hot, way trendy. Who would ever call it tacky? No style is ever tacky unless your on the corner of fifth and broadway. The nails are different and extreme, thats what makes them interesting. Everyday fashion is experimented everyone wants there own flavor. i vote hell yah so this talents sexy nail art. :)

  • Mitsuko

    I’ve loved Japanese nail art for a while and it’s really expensive and time consuming to do. I went to Japan last Summer and fell in love with it and came back home and started to up my own nail style. I know there are extremes to nail art and it can get to tacky, but you can make it more casual. It’s very addicting and easy to get carried away with though ^^;

  • dara

    Japanese nail art is wonderful!! I don’t think I can live without it. It gives people like me a way to express ourselves.
    There’s a good and bad side to it however. Good: beautiful and eye catching. Bad: expensive and time consuming.
    This art form is addicting but also a stress reliever. I do it myself and I just love it!

  • Lim

    The pictures shown as an example are not very good examples of “kawaii” nails. Those are more tacky than cute. But the true kawaii style is simply adorable I must say.

  • Lena

    I like this style of nails. Although these nails have been seen in the USA. Usually african-american girls were seen with this style, but not recently. It has now arisen as to be something new and popular of Japan, but I think this style has been around for awhile in general. Where it originated, one would have to do some research.

    The above pictures really serve injustice as to how creative and gorgeous these 3D nails can get.

  • finaface

    nail art is the shit. if youre not feeling it, youre stupid and uncreative. and you are probably really fucking boring, especially in bed.

  • Kumiko

    Love Jap nail art so kawaii
    and NOT TACKY
    those pics arent what Japanese nail art is really like the ones in Japanese magazines are so cute

  • Bratt007

    Are there any salons doing it in New York and the rest of the states?

  • Ulrike

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT about time we get some flair up here!!! I wear it.

  • Americangirlinjapan

    As an American who now lives in Japan, I can tell you that I would have NEVER had my nails like this until I moved here..now I get them done every 2 weeks. The art here is amazing. The artists are amazing. It can take 30 minutes or more to find a design b/c there are so many to choose from. They have all kinds of magazines on the subject that are on the shelves like our regular beauty magazines. Some of my favorites are Nail Venus and NailUP!

  • PINKY

    I LOVEEEEEE JAPANESE NAIL ART…!!!….I WEAR IT ALL THE TIME AND ITS NOT TAKKY AT ALL…AND JUST SO U NOE NEW IS OUT OLD IS IN…THE 8O’Z OR MORE THAN EVER IN…AND SO R EXAGERATED NAILZ…….I WEAR THEM ALL THE TIME…EVERYONE IN FASHION SKOOL OR AHEAD OF THEIR GAME ANYWAY IS DOIN IT…SPECIALLY THE UNDERGROUND SCENE IN LOS ANGELES

  • Sasorisa

    Yes – it’s tacky but I LOVE it. This does not scream high fashion but it’s unique and very fun. More downtown than uptown…

  • gaijin

    As you should know, there are extremists in everything and everywhere, and Japanese nail art is the same. I live in Japan, and often get nail art done, but I pick and choose it and tone it down to suit my style and tastes–that is the beauty of fashion. I wish people were more broad minded and not so judemental, especially with regards to something so innocent and personal as nail art.

  • Jess

    There is one place I know that does this in NYC. It’s in a trndy little hair salon in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. My hairstylist had them done by her friend and everyone loved them so much that she is now there every Sunday. She just moved from Japan and its amazing!

    Check out

    Hello Beautiful Salon
    Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York

  • Icy

    I love the fashion in japan including nail art, it is a piece of art, it is a trend for youngsters everywhere now i see alot of people doing manicure etc… i think doing your nails makes you look different and brings more unique to it i love it and i will never get bored of it! =]

  • trick

    There are very beautiful designs and it´s and art by itself but surely I if had them my hands would be useless!

  • buriburee

    Japanese are so detail oriented and particular. I truly appreciate the art. I think it will take someone like Paris Hilton to make it popular. Anyway, my first time was a great experience. I went to this small place run by a very small staff. Maybe just 2? They were very attentive. If you’re in the area..

    GLAMOROUS Nail (inside Marukai Plaza)
    1836 W 182nd st Torrance CA 90504
    tel. (310)366-5951

  • shytide

    whenever i go to asia, i NEED to get my nails done in this fashion; love it.
    meanwhile, the U.S. is still stuck on boring, uncreative nails–and asking for $$ for such simplicity. somehow, a single vertical line down your nail is considered “trendy.”

  • don

    i love nail art………can you share some experience.

  • Angel

    Love2 it..I become so addicted to it..=D

  • taytay

    i love Japanese nails!
    their so cute!

  • marisa

    i love nail art! still in the process of learning all the new things, some of it is tacky and too much but most is great. always open for new things.. in nail art!

  • Kymberlyn

    To call something “ghetto fabulous” is totally ignorant. Japanese nail art may not be everyone’s “cuppa”, but don’t denigrate an entire style just because YOU don’t happen to like it.

    By the way, a lot of Japanese Visual Kei bands have members whose nails are done in this fashion (such as Jasmine You of Versailles), and I think they look awesome! I’m having mine done in black with roses and lace–sort of gothic style.

  • Dolly

    I do my own 3-D/Japanese Nail art and i think it’s a nice touch-up. Sometimes you need it to spice up a Lolita outfit or Decora outfit, or even evening wear!

    It’s just something to make you feel a bit more special and pretty. i dont think it will catch on too quickly because it is too time consuming. Since i work without professional things it takes me a bout a week to finish a set of nails!

  • MJ

    Black girls been doin’ this for years…and now all of a sudden instead of “ghetto” it’s “trendy.” Puh-lease.

  • unico

    You guys haven’t been around much if you think this Japanese exclusive.
    Black Americans and Koreans have been doing this for years.

  • Unico

    “if you think this *is”
    Minor Typo.

    But to continue. It’s rather annoying how people fond all over Japanese things, when there are plenty of interesting things within their own culture and city.

    So I agree with “MJ”
    How is having graphic nails, all of a sudden “Trendy” and “Japanese”. When it has been done, and still continues to be done?!

    Give some credit where it’s due.

  • Kevin

    Bury it! Dating japanese girl, looking on internet to find anything positive to say when discussing her nail art, but coming up dry. Totally gross looking, but I have to take the nails with the girl. Why? this is the overwhelming question I have.

  • Amt

    I think they are beautiful!!

  • name

    There is nothing better than Japanese nail art! i love it so much. I do admit that some designs are not my style, and over the top, but over all, they are so much fun to look at. I am traveling 7hrs away just to go to a salon that does this! :)

  • Pineapple

    NO & YES;

    I THINK THESE NAILS SHOULD STAY IN THE “KAWAII” CATEGORY WHERE HARAJUKU’S & OR UNIQUE PEOPLE CAN PULL THIS OFF.

    IT’S NOT AN EVERY DAY TREND FOR THE DULL OR GRETTO FABCULOUS

  • Candace

    “Black girls been doin’ this for years…and now all of a sudden instead of “ghetto” it’s “trendy.” Puh-lease”.

    I second that.
    I was at work one day, describing some of the nail designs my friends and I used to get in high school, and noses were turned up and it was thought of as “ghetto”.

    A few weeks later, when a similar story about the Japanese women doing it now, appeared on wgsn.com…. the article was circled around the department and called “amazing”!

    Double standard, anyone?

  • Yane22

    I think it is awsome ok who the hell would ever think it’s tacky maybe people who don’t knoe fashion or love there nails
    peace:)
    glad u wrote about it dough

  • Samantha

    I absolutely LOVE Japanese nail art!!! I mean, it’s not for everyone, but considering that my personal style is rather basic, having some funky, crazy designs on my nails (a place so small compared to the rest of my body). They’re so intricate and fun. Perhaps not practical, but if you can’t make art, you can wear it!

  • sarah

    Love ‘em! Have a few pairs too! They actually look pretty amazing on!

  • yoki

    I love the way the nails look.Sometimes I wish my nails were like that.

  • Optional Kitten

    The images listed above aren’t really true Japanese nail art – simply having patterns painted on the nails (as some ladies have already mentioned) is much, much older than the current trend. True “Japanese Nail Art” consists of miniature three-dimensional sculptures built up on the nail using acrylic, the designs are not flat. Impractical yes, but oh so lovely and perfect for special occasions, especially if you get the removable/reusable falsies. So let’s keep our definitions straight, and give credit where it’s due (I’m talking to *you*, media).

    And for you ladies who have been wearing the painted art designs for ages, I always thought they looked cute on you. :) Ignore the haters, their mothers clearly never taught them the golden rule of “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”.