About This Treatment
This set was done by our nailist Nami at lull. in Harajuku. The menu was Magnet, our magnetic gel design, and the previous gel was handled with the fill-in method rather than a full removal. The guest was visiting from Luxembourg — our first guest from the country.
Design Points
Magnetic gel contains fine metallic particles that respond to a magnet. While the gel is still uncured, a magnet is held close to the surface, pulling the particles into a band of light. Depending on the angle and distance of the magnet, that band can sit straight across the nail, curve along the edge, or gather into a soft glow near the cuticle.
Because the light is built individually on each nail, the set reads differently as the hand moves. Under the salon lighting it looks sharp and linear; in daylight it softens into a wider shimmer. Nami placed the magnet nail by nail so the lines stayed consistent in direction across all ten fingers.
The base was rebalanced with fill-in, so the surface was re-leveled before the color went on. A flat, even surface matters more than usual with this technique — any dip or ridge distorts the line of light.
The Visit
Luxembourg is a country where people grow up using several languages, and the appointment ran smoothly in English from start to finish. Our menu and design options are explained in English, so guests can decide on the magnet direction and finish during the appointment rather than in advance. She looked genuinely pleased when she saw the finished set catch the light.
Care and Styling Notes
A few practical things about magnetic gel and fill-in:
- Longevity. Magnetic gel generally holds for about three to four weeks, similar to standard gel color. The shimmer itself doesn’t fade — what shows first is growth at the cuticle.
- Fill-in. Instead of removing everything down to the natural nail, the top layers are filed off and the base is left in place, then rebuilt. It reduces the amount of filing on the natural nail and keeps the surface stable for the next set. It works best when the existing base is in good condition and lifting is minimal.
- Daily habits. Cuticle oil once a day keeps the edges from drying out. Since the line of light sits in the gel, not on top of it, the design won’t rub off with hand washing.
- Who it suits. Good for anyone who wants something that reads as one solid color from a distance but shows movement up close. It’s also a low-maintenance choice for travel — no charms or raised elements to catch on bags or clothing unless you add them.
From Nami
Magnet looks simple on paper, but the finish depends almost entirely on where the magnet stops. Hold it a moment too long and the line goes hard and narrow; pull away too early and the shimmer stays scattered. Matching the direction across ten nails, so the light moves as one when the hand turns, is the part that takes attention. On this set I kept the lines angled the same way on both hands, which is what makes it look intentional rather than accidental.
Book Your Visit to lull.
Appointments can be booked online.— English is spoken, and walk-in availability varies, so booking ahead is recommended. We also post recent work on Instagram (@nail_lull.tokyo) and TikTok (@nail_lull.tokyo).
