About This Treatment
This set was done by Nami at lull. in Harajuku. The menu was Magnet, booked together with removal and a full rebalance — in this case the removal of acrylic and extensions (no 3D parts). Ten nails were extended during the session, and four charms were added as options. The guest was visiting from Germany.
Design Points
The base is a single-color magnetic gel, applied across all ten nails. Magnetic gel carries fine metallic particles, so passing a magnet over the surface pulls them into one bright band of light. Because the whole set shares one colour, the shimmer reads as a continuous line that shifts as the hand moves, rather than as ten separate patterns.
The ten extensions set the length and the shape first, which gives the magnetic line a longer surface to travel along — the effect is more visible on an extended nail than on a short natural one. Four charms were then placed as the only points of contrast, so the eye lands on them without competing with the base colour.
The Visit
The appointment was originally booked as a soft gel removal, but the nails turned out to be extensions, and taking them off took considerably longer than a soft off. To keep the finish within the remaining time, the plan was adjusted from a full light design to a single colour.
The charms went on last. Once they were placed, the guest said the result had turned out cuter than the inspiration photo she had brought — a nice ending to an appointment that started with a change of plan.
Care and Style Notes
A few things worth knowing about this kind of set:
- Removal is its own appointment. Hard gel, acrylic and extensions cannot be soaked off the way soft gel can. They need to be filed down, which takes time. If you are not certain what is on your nails, mentioning it when you book — or sending a photo — lets the salon set aside enough time for it.
- Magnetic gel is a finish, not a pattern. The line of light depends on the angle you hold your hand at, so it looks different indoors, outdoors and on camera. It suits people who want something that reads as plain from a distance but catches light up close.
- Charms need a little awareness. Raised parts sit above the nail surface, so hair, knitwear and bag linings are the usual culprits for catching them. Placing them nearer the cuticle side or in the centre, rather than at the free edge, reduces that.
- Extensions and growth. As the natural nail grows, the gap at the base becomes visible, and long extensions shift the balance of pressure on the nail. A rebalance every three to four weeks keeps the shape and the base line looking clean.
This combination works well if you want length, a colour that moves in the light, and a small amount of decoration rather than a full painted design.
Comment from Nami
With magnetic gel, the direction you draw the magnet in decides everything — the band of light lands wherever you stop, so I set the line on all ten nails to run the same way so they read as one set.
Switching from a full design to one colour meant the charms had to carry the whole look, so I spent the time on where they sat rather than adding more of them. Four is enough when the base is quiet. I’m glad the shorter plan ended up being the version she preferred.
Book with lull.
Reservations can be made online.— please let us know if your current nails are extensions, hard gel or acrylic, so we can allow enough time for removal. Our staff can assist in English.
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