In a word the entire experience was fantastical. A month out from departing for Tokyo, my husband and I did a bit of Googling separately to find nail bars in the area; when we compared notes, DISCO was at the top of the list. I clicked through to their Instagram account, handily the salon pinned booking instructions for international visitors as the business’ first post. A couple of direct messages back and forth was all it took to secure a spot.

The start of a beautiful thing

DISCO is tucked in Jinnan, a hilly neighbourhood located between Harajuku and Shibuya. Tip: getting there via Harajuku is heaps easier to navigate as the train station is free of construction and only services one line (JR Yamanote). Upon arrival at DISCO they ask for your name and get you to fill in a form (personal details – name, best contact no., and address). I was then shown to comfy nail station; after being seated, a blanket was tucked atop my lap, and a space heater was nudged in close. Kaori then walked over to introduce herself and started working within a few minutes of my arrival. We first went through my inspiration album and settled on five different looks that would be sprinkled across all 10 digits. Follow-up questions covered nail length (file or trim) and shape (square, round, soft square, etc.).

As this was my first visit, Kaori took the time to get to know me (as much as one can in 90 minutes). Eventually, the conversation trailed off so she could focus on the task at hand (forgive the pun), plus I didn’t mind the quiet because I was equal parts comfy/dozy and in awe of her artistry. Once my nails were shaped, filed, and cuticles tidied (each artist uses their own dedicated electric nail file kit, as well as a metal nail file), Kaori made a start on painting my nails, often two at a time to ensure the opposite nail complemented the other. Some looks were quite intricate, often requiring her to dig through baskets brimming with jars upon jars of sparkles, metallic confetti, powders, gems, and metallic bits and bobs. The same went for gel polish. No two nails were the same, but wow were they beautiful.

One of my favourite nail looks involved laying down a pale pink polish as the base, a thin stroke of dark blue polish in a crescent moon shape (near the cuticle) followed, the blue sliver of polish was finished with a copper foil finish. She was methodical in her approach, switching left to right, and in between paint applications nails were cured under the UV lamp (one for each hand, plus a handheld UV lamp for flash cures).

Finishing up

As our appointment was winding down, Kaori asked me to run my thumbs over each nail to make sure the finish was smooth to the touch; she then repeated what I had done as a final quality check and came across a problem nail (in her mind). A quick buff of the nail, reapplication of clear gel polish, and 30 seconds under the UV lamp was all it took to meet her high standards. Kaori then placed a dollop of moisturiser on the back of my hand and asked for me to rub my hands together to massage in the product. As the last step, oil was rolled onto each cuticle.

Before paying, the team asked if I needed to visit the bathroom (a considerate touch after a 90-minute appointment); little acts of kindness and hospitality go a long way with me. From start to finish the appointment knocked my socks off and I’m dreaming of my next appointment. Truth be told, I went back to have my nails redone by Kaori near the end of our month-long holiday and I’m so happy I did.

DISCO also sells their own range of polishes, hand balm, and nail oil in-store and online. THAW gives off Aesop vibes – the ‘Spicy’ scent profile (vetiver, sandalwood, and cinnamon) diverges from DISCO’s salon pop-pink, high-fashion aesthetic, but it works.

Final tip: come prepared with nail looks and inspiration to maximise your time in the chair; you will thank your past self for doing the homework.