The Princess of Wales‘ affinity for barely-there, natural manicures is well documented. The royal rarely veers away from a milky pink base or nude, unless for special occasions when a pop of red might be employed. For the Wimbledon final, Kate Middleton opted for a near invisible manicure, which she paired with a sage green Emilia Wickstead crepe midi dress, proving that sometimes the best manicure is the one that favours health over aesthetic.
Her polish-free, pearlescent manicure is reminiscent of the trending Japanese manicure, an ancient technique gaining traction that harnesses natural ingredients, strengthening the nail bed as opposed to concealing with polish or gels. The result is a polished, well-groomed manicure that looks naturally glossy, but acts as a long-term treatment helping to repair brittle, damaged nails.
‘We are seeing a major shift towards wellness and natural health in beauty, and nails are finally having their moment. People are tired of the damage cycle: getting gels, watching nails deteriorate, taking breaks to recover. The Japanese manicure is a simple solution to this,’ Yana Galiyeva and Maria Sharova, co-owners of So.Shell, previously told ELLE UK.
Karwai Tang
The Japanese manicure is growing in popularity in salons for a number of reasons: firstly, it uses beeswax and keratin to penetrate into the nail plate and rebuild structure from within, replenishing damaged nails with a boost of nourishing ingredients. Secondly, it offers a natural-looking shine. The pearl-like natural finish is integrated into your nail structure, meaning you won’t get the grow-out phase synonymous with gels either. It’s also free of any synthetic ingredients and chemicals, and omits the need for curing your nails with a UV lamp.
‘A Japanese manicure is a completely natural nail treatment gaining global recognition for its health-focused approach,’ agrees Galiyeva. ‘It’s also referred to as P.Shine and uses a two-step process: a vitamin-rich paste is massaged into the natural nail using specialised leather buffers, followed by a protective powder that seals in nutrients.’ While there are P.Shine sets available for at-home use, it’s advised to head to a nail salon as professional technicians will understand exactly how to apply the nourishing paste and mineral powder.
If you’re looking to follow in the footsteps of the Princess Of Wales, this natural manicure will guarantee a chip-free, glossy finish for summer – without any of the drawbacks of gels.
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