About This Treatment
This set was created at lull. in Harajuku by nail artist Nami.
The menu was Full Design Custom, booked with removal for an existing soft gel set. The guest was visiting from the United States, and the appointment was handled in English from consultation through to the finish.
Design Points
Full Design Custom is the menu we use when the design is built from scratch for one person rather than chosen off a sample sheet. Colour mixing, placement and the balance between nails are all decided during the appointment, so no two sets come out the same.
The work began with removal of the previous soft gel. Softening the old gel with remover and lifting it away gradually — instead of forcing it off — keeps the surface of the natural nail intact, which matters a lot when a new full design is going straight back on top. Once the plate was clean and lightly refined, the new set was built up from base to top coat, with the shape and length reset before any colour went down.
Care and Style Notes
A few things worth knowing about soft gel and custom design sets:
- Wear time. Soft gel worn on natural nails generally holds its look for around three to four weeks. Growth at the cuticle is usually what ends a set, not the colour wearing off.
- Removal matters more than application. Peeling gel off takes layers of the nail plate with it. Soaking it off — at a salon, or with proper remover and patience — is what keeps nails in good condition between sets.
- Daily habits. Cuticle oil once or twice a day keeps both the skin and the gel edge flexible. Gloves for washing up and cleaning reduce lifting at the sidewalls.
- Who this menu suits. Full Design Custom works well if you already have a mood, a colour, or a reference in mind but want it adapted to your own nail shape, or if you simply want something that isn’t on the standard menu. It also suits travellers who want their removal and their new set done in a single visit rather than across two appointments.
If you are coming in with gel already on, letting us know at booking helps us allow enough time for removal.
A Note from Your Nail Artist
Nami on this set:
“Removal and a new full design in one sitting is a rhythm I like. You get to see the nail bare for a moment, check its condition, and then decide how to build on it. Working in English through the design stage also changes the conversation a little — we tend to talk in terms of colours and feelings rather than product names, and that usually leads somewhere good.”
Book with lull.
Bookings can be made online.
We are an English-speaking salon in Harajuku, and visitors to Japan are welcome. Our latest work is posted on Instagram (@nail_lull.tokyo) and TikTok (@nail_lull.tokyo).
