How to do a Japanese manicure?

The Japanese manicureis a technique that you can use when you want or are asked to achieve a particularly natural result and to pay careful attention to nail care and protection.

Also known as P-Shine, the Japanese manicure differs from other techniques because it assumes the use of all-natural products and tools: it is painless and can therefore be performed on those with particular allergies or on pregnant or lactating women.

This is an ideal treatment for your clients who have brittle, flaking nails that need to be strengthened and moisturized deep down. So let’s look at all the steps to do Japanese manicures and some tips to make this moment a true beauty ritual.

Wetting and caring for cuticles

The first step in doing a professional Japanese manicure is to wet and care for the cuticles. These thin layers of skin that protect the nail matrix must be carefully removed: soak the client’s fingers inside a bowl with warm water and leave on.

If desired, you can sprinkle the nail bed area with a specific oily product that usually contains extracts of seaweed, bamboo, vanilla, red tea, and lotus seed, often mixed with ylang-ylang oil. You can perform this step before you dip the client’s fingers in water or immediately afterwards.

Using a wooden cuticle stick and cutters, remove these excess skin from the nail bed.Where possible, we recommend that you do not use other metal tools to remain consistent with the Japanese manicure philosophy of using only materials of natural origin.

Make sure you have removed cuticles as completely as possible as they may undermine the adherence of the products you are going to use later.

File the surface of the nail

The second step of the Japanese manicure, or T-shape, is filing: to do this you need to get a two-sided buffer file with soft grits.

Begin by leveling the nail surface to regularize and give uniformity to the nail bed. At this stage you can use a buffer file first with a coarser weight and then the thinner one.

When you are satisfied with the shape of the nail, clean the surface well and take care to remove all residual dust with the help of a toothbrush or brush.

Spread the beeswax base.

You have arrived at the middle stage of the Japanese manicure, and to perform it best you need a specific file, covered with faux chamois leather.

Take a small amount of the beeswax base with the special file and spread it over the nail, applying gentle pressure to encourage deep absorption.

Make sure nail surface is totally covered with the beeswax preparation: to check you can work with a very strong lamp to immediately identify areas where the product is missing.

In fact, should the beeswax base be applied unevenly, you may not only compromise the final aesthetic effect, but also reduce the moisturizing effect that is provided by this treatment.

In some cases, you can combine a gentle massage of the fingers of the hands during this stage, which, by increasing blood flow to this area and stimulating circulation to the fingers, facilitates nail growth.

Apply beeswax powder.

Here you are at the last step. At this point you can apply beeswax powder , the purpose of which is to enhance the action of the paste previously used, creating a protective film over the entire surface of the nail. This product is a real calcium concentrate (ideal for strengthening and whitening nails) due to the presence of pulverized natural pearls and rice powder in its composition.

After applying the beeswax powder, use the chamois-covered file and run it firmly over the nails to remove excess product and make sure it is evenly distributed.

The Japanese manicure is an amazing technique for many reasons: not only is it extremely quick to perform, but it also has an incredible final result, especially when compared to the cost of the raw material to make it.

To recap, then, in order to do the Japanese manicure you need to get some necessary tools, including:

• buffer file;
• Wooden cuticle stick;
• file covered with synthetic suede leather;
• beeswax base;
• beeswax powder;

In order to perform it best, remember that P-Shine has a hybrid nature that mixes elements proper to beauty treatment with others belonging to rituals, such as the choice of uniquely natural ingredients, the solemnity with which the gestures are performed, and the healing properties of the selected ingredients.

Finally, keep in mind that doing a Japanese manicure can be a good option as an alternative to gel manicures because it allows you to strengthen and moisturize your nails. It is especially appreciated by those who are looking for a natural result, want to have tidy hands and take care of them, and also by those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Despite its versatility, it should be kept in mind that many people perform Japanese manicure first and then, a few weeks later, gel manicure. This allows you to enjoy the moisturizing benefits of P-Shape and later return to traditional gel manicures.