I know most of the readers of this blog are from overseas, but in case you stay in Tokyo now, I’ve got a good news! 
Now, I’ll show you my own experience with her the other day.
First of all, I have to confess that it was my very first nail experience. I’ve never had my nails done by someone else. The reason is simple. I thought that I had to grow my nails or adhere some artificial long nails on my natural nails, which I don’t like. Secondly, when nails grow in 3 weeks and I must pay nearly 10,000yen, it’s just too much for me. Thirdly, I simply don’t have time to do that.
But when my good friend needs some models and it’s offered at a discounted price from their original price, I cannot ignore her. I wanted to help her whatever! Moreover, I just learned I don’t have to grow my nails or add extra length on my nails if I choose Calgel nails. The good news about Calgel nails is that it’s not going to damage my natural nails. Finally I can see my friend and chat with her while I have my nails done by her. This sounds good. 
This is the nail booth within the total beauty salon. It’s an AVEDA total beauty salon with spa, nail, hair, headspa, eyelash, and make-up services. I like such inclusive service and the atmosphere of the salon is really nice!
***This is the foot booth where foot care, pedicure and foot gel services are done.
This time I had hand care and Calgel for my fingernails, so it was done in this place.
Here’s my BEFORE picture.
Lena suggests very nicely from a professional’s point of view. Whatever she suggests always make sense to me, but she never pushes you her opinions. I really like the way she is. Oh! You know how we became friends? She was a reader of TKE! We met 2 times when she visited Japan before, but who knew then that she was moving to Tokyo later? ^_^
She shortened and shaped my fingernails, did cuticle care, buffed the surface of my nails with a very gentle sponge buffer, then after carefully wiping the nails with antiseptic and a special preparatory liquid, she started to apply the clear gel base.
If you don’t like to apply any colors on your nails, you can just ask for this transparent one (clear gel). She told me some men also like to do this. But I liked to apply something kawaii, of course! ***Nail design samples in the below picture are photoshopped (blurred) to protect the copyright of their design. Thank you for your understanding.***
These days I somehow like blue color. So I asked her to make a blue color between two different blue colors I saw from the sample. The good thing about this nail salon is that they can create nail colors that are not found from the sample colors. Some nail salons do not offer that service, according to Lena. It looked so fun to create a new color from some different color powder.
Finally my desired color was painted.
I was asked to cure my nails under UV light every time she applied, so that the gel hardened. You must be familiar with such if you have experienced Calgel before. But everything was the first experience to me, I was delighted and excited at each step, which must have seemed like a child to Lena! Haha!!
Now colors were applied. I chose a different color for only forefingers.
Then she applied glittering dots and stones, but unfortunately I couldn’t take photos then because other hand was always under the light. ^ ^;;
Look, how she did it!
I totally loved these nails she made for me! Now I think I know why people get so crazy about nails. Every time I look at my own nails, I feel so great! I never thought nails can bring me such joyful moment. I’d love to frequent if only I can afford it so often. Everything was so perfect and I had such a comfortable and relaxing 2.5 hours at the nail salon.
So who is next? Please ask her for the price and all the details you want to know. She speaks English, Hungarian, and Japanese.
Posted by: kirin on 
Apr 7th, 2012 | 
Filed under: Book Review, Health & Beauty
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