Japanese nail art designs SS 2017

These last weeks, we enjoyed the beautiful cherry blossoms and we know for sure now: spring is here! So, fancy adding some colors to your fingers for the new season?

What are the biggest nail trends for spring summer this year in Japan? Here are the freshest nail designs to inspire you!

Candle nailart

Candle nailart is a superposition of different shades. It looks a bit like a variation of marble nail art. It’s colorful in pastel tones; it perfectly fits the springy/summery atmosphere.

A post shared by nail salon Lehua𓇼Ayumi (@lehua.ayumi) on Apr 22, 2017 at 12:50am PDT

A post shared by runon_nail (@runon_nail) on Apr 14, 2017 at 5:13pm PDT

Nuance nails

Nuance nails have been popular since last winter. Although the definition is pretty vague, we seem to call nuance nails, any nail designs that don’t follow particular rules nor patterns in nailart. Each finger nail can be a different color or pattern, so the variety is wide!

A post shared by emi sejima (@emi_0916) on Apr 22, 2017 at 2:34am PDT

A post shared by junoquartz_opa (@junoquartz_opa) on Apr 22, 2017 at 4:10am PDT

By the way, the use of natural gemstones in nailart is also a recent trend in Japan.

Flower motifs

Not new to this year, every spring, flowers motifs come back but this year, pressed flowers/dried flowers seem to be particularly popular.

A post shared by NAILSALON SALAMANDRE サラマンドル (@manabu.kumakura) on Apr 20, 2017 at 7:13am PDT

A post shared by haru.m (@harunail_by_diva) on Apr 19, 2017 at 4:18pm PDT

So colorful and girly!

Every summer’s nail trends

Not specific to this year, nailarts with shells, paisley patterns or blue shades have been part of the favorite choices of Japanese women in summer for the last couple of years.

A post shared by nail salon Lehua𓇼Ayumi (@lehua.ayumi) on Apr 12, 2017 at 6:09am PDT

A post shared by AKI (@aki_i0312) on Mar 31, 2017 at 7:30am PDT

I actually chose the paisley pattern too to fit an outfit I wore for a special occasion recently! 🙂

Nail polish & home nails

While the gel nail popularity doesn’t seem to fade, “self nail” or home nails offers are multiplying.

RMK Nail Polish

RMK, one of the major Japanese makeup brand is renewing its total nail collection this month. 32 shades will be reborn on the 28th. Elegant, mode or feminine, one shade to fit every day’s mood!

RMK Nail Polish
32 shades, 7mL, ¥1500

Kose Nail Holic

Nail Holic is a home nail polish brand from Kose. They are reasonably priced and easy to get since sold in major drugstores. Nail Holic regularly launches new shades and new textures. The increasing sales show its popularity. Girls post proudly their self nailart created with Nail Holic polishes on the brand’s instagram account.

A post shared by NAIL HOLIC (@nailholic_kose) on Apr 11, 2017 at 5:37pm PDT

And Nail Holic website suggests pretty advanced nail designs that you can try to reproduce by yourself.

Nail Holic
129 shades, 5mL, ¥300

Whether you choose professional gel nails in salons, or self nails at home, one thing is certain: you have a big choice to have a unique design just for you. Japanese nails are continuously evolving through new shades, new textures, new techniques and today, there are so many micro-trends, I am not sure if we can really talk about trends anymore. I feel more like offers are more and more personalized. Japanese women don’t follow big trends anymore but require unique and customized nail designs, which, both salons and nail polish brand, make it possible.