Nail Files: Tokyo Manicurist Nagisa Kaneko Wants You to Keep Your Nails Short (And Wear Sunscreen)

With her encyclopedic knowledge of the runways, Nagisa Kaneko has become the go-to nail artist for Tokyo’s fashion crowd. “I always check out Dries Van Noten and Jil Sander every season. I love their playful use of color,” says Kaneko, who founded Disco, her buzzy nail salon in Shibuya, thirteen years ago at the height of Tokyo’s nail art craze. But fashion is not Kaneko’s only reference point when she’s coming up with subtle hand designs that feature 3D forms and colorful geometric lines, which have become catnip for the Instagran faithful. When describing the path that led her to a career in nails almost 20 years ago, Kaneko mentions “warm and serene” architecture, and the way our hand gestures can communicate with the rest of the world.

“My sister-in-law was a nail artist and hand model,” Kaneko explains, revealing that she would closely watch the way she moved whenever she did a manicure. “She would do my nails and I was really drawn to how she carried herself. Her mannerisms were so feminine and delicate.” Kaneko has applied these observations of the human body both to her work in the salon—as well as a jewelry brand, Maiden, for which she designs pieces that adorn and elongate the fingers she regularly paints. “This year, I’m planning to launch a new manicure line, as well as hand care products, too—please check them out!” Kaneko says, teasing the next phase of her career. For now, she is sharing the importance of an SPF hand cream here, as well as why sometimes, it’s nice to let someone else do your pedicure, even as a professional.

Manicures: Occasional treat or lifestyle?

Lifestyle. I try to redo my nails every two weeks, as I really don’t like seeing regrowth. I like to touch up the rough edges, too.

How should you feel leaving the salon?

At ease! I like getting a foot scrub at other salons, because there’s just something so soothing and relaxing about a person, other than yourself, doing it.

Favorite local salon, or nail artist that you look to for inspiration?

Recently, I’ve been very inspired by Betina Goldstein. She’s a nail artist based in Los Angeles, and her color combinations are just so exquisite! In Tokyo, I always look at Miho Miyakawa and Yuri Osuka’s work, which is phenomenal.