Tag Archives: japanese nail art

NAIL ART: stick a feather in it!

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apologies — i fell behind on my nail posts (been traveling for work). this is a design i had from a few weeks ago.

DETAILS
  • LOCATION: STUDIO L, 247 W 38th Street, Ste 1603; (646) 499-5357
  • Nail Stylist: Manami (naturally)

when i first saw what could be done with feathers at Studio L, i just knew i had to try it on a design soon!

 ←hotness, no?

NAIL LOGISTICS:

  • Manami recommended laying a color down as a base, so the feathers would show more prominently, i decided to change up the base colors a bit to mix it between a peach / light grey / dark grey
  • lay down a clear layer of Calgel, then while sticky, position the full feather tip across the nail
  • once in place, cure under the UV, place another layer of clear Calgel over, cure again, then cut off excess. ultimately you can file off the extra excess until it’s perfect!
  • afterwards, Manami added a few accents of glitter to the feathered fingers to bring it out!

i think this is one of my all-time favorite designs i’ve done. the feathers looked so sophisticated, but it still had personality!

FINISHED PRODUCT:

Return to Nail Art: reviving the White Matte Marbled nail design

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it’s been nearly 2 years since i last got a crazy nail design.  unheard of, considering i’d gotten a new design every two weeks for a full year straight. but my recent trip to Japan has re-ignited my need for the nail art.

i noticed all the super-polished women rocked beautiful calgel designs, even if it was just a simple gradation! even at the mass drug stores, they had a full section dedicated to nail art:

i chose Studio L for my triumphant return to nail art — mostly because i know & trust the skills of Manami, the owner.  i know she can always execute any crazy idea i have — very rare when you’re trying to be creative with your nail art!

despite flipping through all the Nail Venus & Nail Max magazines in the salon, i had my heart set on a white-ish design in anticipation of Spring, so i revived an older design i had done a couple years ago: my marbled white design.

NAIL ART DETAILS:

  • calgel base
  • PEARL calgel color in a reverse french shape
  • took White Matte calgel color to create marbled effect

  • add rhinestones, gold micro-beads & turquoise as needed around accent nails. :)
final effect:

STUDIO L

247 West 38th Street (between 7th & 8th Ave), 16th Floor

(646) 499-5357, nailstudionyc.com

Meet the new Nail Art Studio in town! – introducing Studio L!

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the nail art craze isn’t going anywhere. i should know…i used to be an addict for a solid year (in my younger days).

in the early years of nail art in NYC, there were two very formidable places: Sakura & Marie Nails. but, as all things do — the city & the scene have both evolved. now there are a bevy of places & players from which to choose.

since i didn’t know any of the technicians at Sakura anymore, and you have to book weeks in advance to get something at Marie Nails, I asked my friend & Nail Art Junkie Keri Blair for suggestions….and so i booked an appointment at Studio L.

Studio L is a small nail art salon, tucked away on the 16th floor of a commercial building in the garment district.  it’s owned by Manami, who happened to be one of my all-time favorite nail stylists from the Sakura glory days. she is one of the most talented as far as flat art design, creativity and technical skill.

Studio L is relatively small: they only have 4 mani stations and two pedicure stations. but it’s nice that it’s not a storefront — you’re removed from the hustle & bustle of the street.  they are equipped with all the latest nail art magazines, as well as a bevy of shades — including NEON ones!

my first visit was this past Sunday — post to follow.  but here’s their info (and some nail art designs to tie you over):

STUDIO L

247 West 38th Street (between 7th & 8th Ave), 16th Floor

(646) 499-5357, nailstudionyc.com

Marbled White Matte Nail Design, @ Marie Nails NYC

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Saturday, I ventured back down to Marie Nails for the 2nd time.  Some quick observations from my last visit:

  • Despite the fact that Marie Nails didn’t have Biogel available for a base, my nails held up pretty well.
  • I only had slight lifting on one nail (my thumb)

As far as design, I didn’t know what I wanted, but I knew I wanted white.  It’s hard for me to commit to a color on my nails, so for winter it’s usually black…but maybe for summer, it’ll be white!  I thought “maybe I’ll go simple this time” (yeah right!).
I remembered this design from my last visit.  It was one of Sayo’s original creations:

So we went with it!
But first we had to remove my old set. **Reminder: Removal is FREE at Marie Nails, provided you got them done there.  Before wrapping my nails in the Calaway foils, Sayo used this machine to file the top layer of the nails off first:
←fast!
Afterwards, she put 1 layer of clear Calgel as a base, followed by a “Pearl” Calgel:
→ 
Then she pulled out the “Ice” Calgel and the Matte White Calgel.  She applied the Ice first, in order to provide a more stark contrast for the Matte White:

Then, came the fun part!   Sayo basically “blobbed” a few spots of Matte White Calgel on the nail…then proceeded to “swirl” them with her brush:
→
→

COOL, right?!
Then we added the Turquoise stones, mini gold beads and gems on the ring fingers & thumbs.

We decided against doing gold glitter outline, and just keep it simple.  Here’s the final look:

Couldn’t be happier! It was exactly what I wanted: white, clean, simple…but not really!
Here’s the most incredible thing:  TOTAL TIME = 1½ hours. That’s for everything: removal, new set AND design.
COST:  $55 for the Calgel & design + $14 for the rhinestones & acoutrements = $69 TOTAL.
I have been meaning to go back to Sakura to visit my girls there, but I’m really happy with the fact that it is cheaper (I mean, removal is FREE), and also THRILLED with the fact that Sayo is lightning fast.  Time is the most valuable commodity of all, and if I can get in & out in only 1½ hours…then that is Visa Card Priceless.

Marie Nails NYC – Soho
155 Prince Street (between W. Broadway & Thompson)
646.370.4170

My “Hipster” Nail Design from Marie Nails, NYC

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Saturday, I finally got to go to Marie Nails Soho for my first appointment there.  It’s been nearly 1½ months since I’ve had any calgel on them, so I was ANXIOUS and excited!
I’m going to be doing a FULL comparison between Sakura vs. Marie Nails in a separate post, so this is just a post for my nail design.
Being that Spring has Sprung…I wanted to try a colorful design (as opposed to my normal black & whites).  So while browsing, I peeped this cute “hipster”-ish design:

I looked to Sayo and after a few seconds of contemplating…she was OFF!!
FYI about Sayo: She’s been doing Calgel for over 5 years (3 in Tokyo, then 2 in LA), so she is a PRO.  My entire design took about 1.5 hours — impressive! She never second guessed herself, she just did it. It was pretty incredible to witness.
First, she filed & trimmed my cuticles, but she used this cute little machine to groom them…(unfortunately, I don’t think my cuticles came out as “clean” as they normally do when they’re just cut with clippers)

Then, after the Calgel base, she did 2 coats of white in the middle, then 2 coats of pink calgel (#14) on the tip.

Then came the “intricate” part.  She used acryllic paints to mix a lavender, light pink, dark pink and mint green shades for the middle section:

She filled the “mosaic” sections in one by one…

Then went in afterwards and applied the Glitter Liner for definition! Here’s the final look:

Overall, I was super-impressed with Sayo’s handi-work.  She never hesitated, never faltered — she just went in there and rocked it out.  There were little things that she did without me even asking — like making sure the final top coat of Calgel was thick enough so that none of the “graininess” of the Glitter Liner could be felt.
I am definitely going to give Marie Nails another try — especially since the removal when I go next time will be FREE! :)

Marie Nails NYC – Soho
155 Prince Street (between W. Broadway & Thompson)
646.370.4170

NAIL ART PR0N!!!! Nail Art Creations by Marie Nails NYC!

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So today, I popped over to Marie Nails NYC, and asked if they would let me photograph some of their fabulous nail art.  They generously obliged!!!
Thanks to Sayo who let me lay all the nails out to photograph!  This is just an example of the fabulous creations that the girls at Marie Nails can do.
Hope you enjoy!!

Marie Nails – NYC
155 Prince Street (btwn W. Broadway & Thompson)
646.370.4170
www.marienails.com






















NAIL LUST: Studded from Tokyo

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My friend @focrazio is in Tokyo this week for work, so she HAD to go hit up one of the local nail salons while she was there!!
It’s no secret that the Japanese LOVE nail art.  And I love them for loving it.
In Japan, they have SUCH a larger variety of nail accessories!  Rhinestones, studs, bows, metallic tape, metal hardware, nail piercings…all in different shapes and sizes!
Here’s Amy’s LUST-WORTHY NAILS!  (please excuse the photo — she snapped it from her BB to make me jealous!):

*sigh*
Maybe one day I’ll get some fly designs in Tokyo too!! :(
Until then, I have Nail Lust!!

Blackberry Bling Nail Design

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During Fashion Week, I read this article on Glamour.com about the “Blackberry Bling” manicure trend. Basically it’s the trend of having your Thumb be an “accent” colour or design, since it’ll stand out as you’re tapping away on your Blackberry device.
So naturally, I had to give this Nail Trend a whirl at my next Sakura visit.
Honestly I had NO idea what I wanted, but was just happy that I could get in with Megumi (after my last “solid colour only” nightmare).
I peeped this design as inspiration, but wanted it to be black (of course!):

→  NOTE: There are 2 Sakura Nail & Spa locations: UES & LES. Each location has different “accessories”.  The UES has 3D Acryllic Art.  The LES has nail stickers and Silver & Gold foil tape.
Megumi got started with a Biogel base + Black Calgel reverse french. Then she took the strip of gold tape and laid it across the lower portion of my nail:


After she laid down all the strips, she went back with embroidery scissors to cut off the excess from the sides. Like these:

Then came the bling! I put some on my ring finger and…on my Blackberry Bling finger!


Here’s the finished look!!

I think I took it a LITTLE too far with the “bling” on my thumb, but that’s the fun part about beauty — it’s whimsical and temporary!!  It’s a great reason to have a creative with it!

Sakura Nail & Spa — Lower East Side
35 East 1st Street, New York -212.387.9161