A Guide to Choosing a Nail Salon for Bridal Nails: Perfect for Those Who Don't Usually Get Nail Art

2019.12.05 published

Booking a nail salon is tough...

For those planning to go to a nail salon for the first time to get "bridal nails" for their wedding day.

It's nerve-racking and uncertain, and the reservation process can be quite challenging, right?

When you look at the reservation site, the first major hurdle is that you need to decide on a menu by yourself.

You have to choose a 60-minute course or a 90-minute course, but as a beginner, how can you know how long it will take? ><

Should I worry about my short nails? Or should I mention that my nail is broken...? There are many things I want to ask, but with online reservations being the norm now, I don't even know where to write my questions.

What if I click to reserve and then on the day, I get told, "Huh? We didn't hear any of your requests! This is what your reservation is for, and that's all we can do." That would be scary...

Doesn't this make you hesitant to book a reservation?

(I’ve experienced this! I couldn’t book anything because I didn’t know where to go...)

@YUKI.k0506

There are many decisions to make!

Do I have to decide on the art from the start?

They have options like simple course / art course, but what’s the difference?

Are the sample images on Hot Pepper Beauty all there is?

Do I have to choose from those?

Can I change the colors?

What kinds of parts are there???

and so on.

It takes courage to book a nail salon you’ve never been to.

Be careful when asking others for recommendations on salons!!!

However, asking friends “Do you know any good nail salons?” may not be the best idea.

Normally, several nail artists are affiliated with one salon, and the quality and sense can vary greatly depending on whom you get.

The only things you can evaluate based on the “salon” itself are price and the variety of parts.

“Do you know any cheap salons?”

“Do you know a salon that has this part or can do this art?”

“Do you have any recommended nail artists?”

Asking these questions is fine, but asking if they recommend a salon might not lead to satisfying results.

A way to book a nail salon without anxiety.

I have visited several nail salons, but when it comes to booking one I've never been to,

I absolutely believe that the best method is to "choose what you want from the sample menu and book it."

Of course, at any nail salon, you can show a screenshot of an image you found online and ask to replicate it.

However, how well they can reproduce that ideal image varies greatly from salon to salon.

☑ No colors available

☑ No parts available

☑ Lack of skills

☑ No time

☑ Prices can become very high

and so on.

In most cases, you’ll likely be disappointed, so it’s safer to avoid showing images from other salons and asking, "Can you do this?" at your first visit.

Especially if it’s for important wedding nails, I definitely wouldn’t recommend it.

If you go to the salon that posted that image, you'll likely have a 100% chance of getting it done similarly (though nail shapes do vary from person to person), so that's much more reassuring!

It's reassuring to go to a salon where you 100% love the sample menu ♡

Trying to have them replicate an image can lead to a high likelihood of failure, so

a reliable salon selection method is to look at "Nails of the Month" or "Past Nails" that the salon has posted online,

and say, "I want something exactly like this!" when making your reservation.

If it’s from the same salon, it’s also fine to say, "Please combine the thumb art from this image from a year ago with the recent design."

If you have specific parts you want, let them know in advance, like “I want to use this part from the photo,” so they can prepare it for you.*

To find a nail salon that does nail art you like to visit,

☑ Search on Instagram with “location + nail salon” (e.g., #OmotesandoNailSalon)

☑ Search on Instagram using “#BridalNails” to find local shops with art you like

☑ Look at sample images of each salon on Hot Pepper Beauty

☑ Check images posted on Nail Book

Those are good methods.

Instead of searching for images that evoke desires like "I want to change this a little,"

"I want to make it simpler," or "I want to add more parts,"

try to find images that make you think, "I want to do this art!"

that way, you’ll likely be very satisfied with the results when you actually visit the salon for the treatment. ♡

Alleviating anxiety about booking a nail salon.

When booking a nail salon you’ve never been to,

☑ Will the design turn out just as I imagined?

☑ If I add colors or stones, how much will it ultimately cost...?

There are plenty of concerns, both financially and in terms of design.

Therefore, to alleviate both of those worries, finding an image that you can confidently say "I want to replicate this perfectly" and booking directly with that salon is the most reassuring approach.

While images of nail art may not always show prices on Instagram, Hot Pepper Beauty often includes prices, so you can have an idea of “approximately how much it will cost” from the start, which adds to your peace of mind.*

Also, at most salons, changes to the "color" of stones or gels typically don't incur additional charges, so you can feel assured about that.*

Bridal nails are special nails where even people who usually don’t get their nails done often try gel nails.

To avoid making mistakes when choosing a salon, it’s crucial to go in with at least some decisions made!

I hope this helps to alleviate even a little bit of the anxiety about choosing a nail salon. ♡