According 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?
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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
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.
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~~ ^^
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
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.
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. :)
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 ^^;
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!
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.
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.
nail art is the s***. if youre not feeling it, youre stupid and uncreative. and you are probably really f***ing boring, especially in bed.
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
Are there any salons doing it in New York and the rest of the states?
I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT about time we get some flair up here!!! I wear it.
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!
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
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…
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.
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
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! =]
There are very beautiful designs and it´s and art by itself but surely I if had them my hands would be useless!
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
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.”
i love nail art………can you share some experience.
Love2 it..I become so addicted to it..=D
i love Japanese nails!
their so cute!
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!
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.
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!
Black girls been doin’ this for years…and now all of a sudden instead of “ghetto” it’s “trendy.” Puh-lease.
You guys haven’t been around much if you think this Japanese exclusive.
Black Americans and Koreans have been doing this for years.
“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.
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.
I think they are beautiful!!
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! :)