About This Treatment
Nail artist Mami handled this appointment at lull. in Harajuku. The menu was Magnet, applied to bare nails with no removal needed beforehand, and extensions were added to all ten fingers. The guest was visiting from the United States.
Design Highlights
Magnetic gel carries fine metallic particles that shift when a magnet is held close to the surface. Depending on the angle and distance, the particles gather into a band of light — the effect people usually call cat-eye. Mami set the magnet nail by nail, which is why the light line sits in a consistent place across the hand rather than drifting from finger to finger.
Because all ten nails were extended, there was more surface for that band of light to travel across. Longer nails stretch the shimmer into a slimmer, sharper line, and the reflection moves noticeably as the hand turns. Under indoor lighting the surface reads deeper and calmer; in daylight the metallic streak becomes much more obvious.
Her Visit
She was heading to Disney the following day — her first time ever visiting, and she was clearly counting down to it. Nails photograph a lot on a park day, which made a set with movement in the finish a good fit.
Somewhere in the conversation the Japanese phrase ラブ上等 (rabu jōtō) came up, roughly “bring on the love,” and she found it genuinely funny. She left looking happy with how the set turned out.
Care & Style Notes
A few practical things about magnetic gel and full-set extensions:
- Wear time. Gel extensions generally hold for around three to four weeks before regrowth at the base becomes visible. For a short trip, one set easily covers the whole stay.
- The shimmer stays put. The magnetic effect is locked in under the top coat, so the light line won’t fade or shift with washing. What changes over time is the cuticle area, not the finish itself.
- Everyday handling. Extensions add length beyond your natural nail edge, so give yourself a day to adjust to phone screens, zippers and bag clasps. Use the pads of your fingers rather than the tips when opening things.
- Who it suits. Anyone who wants impact without painted motifs. Magnetic gel does its work through light, so it reads as one clean colour up close and turns dramatic in photos. It’s also a solid choice for travellers who want something that looks finished from every angle without needing touch-ups.
- Removal. Extensions should be filed off properly rather than pulled or picked, which protects the natural nail underneath. Any salon in your home country can do this once you’re back.
A Word from Mami
Setting the magnet on a full ten-nail extension set takes a bit of patience — the working time is short, and once the gel cures the line is where it is. I checked each nail against the one next to it as I went so the light would read as a single sweep across the hand.
Hearing that someone is going to Disney for the very first time the next morning is a nice way to end a set. And I’ll admit ラブ上等 got a laugh out of me too.
Book with lull.
lull. is an English-friendly nail salon in Harajuku, and bookings can be made online.
Our latest work is posted on Instagram (@nail_lull.tokyo) and TikTok (@nail_lull.tokyo).
Magnetic cat-eye gel on a ten-nail extension set by Mami at lull., an English-friendly nail salon in Harajuku. See the design, care tips and how to book.
magnetic nails Tokyo / cat eye gel nails / Harajuku nail salon English-speaking / gel nail extensions Japan / nails for a Tokyo Disney day
