Move over gels! There's a new (old) nail trend making a resurgence, and it's one that the Princess of Wales appears to be rather fond of. Enter: the Japanese manicure – a centuries-old technique that leaves your natural nails buffed, gleaming and, importantly, resolutely bare.
And the timing couldn't be better. New UK regulations have just come into effect banning the use of TPO (trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide), a photoinitiator used in some gel nail products to help them cure under UV or LED light. To be clear, this isn't a ban on gel manicures themselves, but TPO-containing products can no longer be placed on the UK market, with existing stock able to remain available until 2027.
So, if the news has you wondering what to book for your next manicure, allow us to point you towards Kate Middleton's nails...
The Princess of Wales has long been a fan of keeping things polished (pun very much intended) but minimal, often opting for barely-there shades or going completely polish-free. So yes, even without a lick of varnish, your talons can also look immaculate. Which is precisely the point of the Japanese manicure.
What is the Japanese manicure?
The Japanese manicure is a multi-step treatment that focuses on nourishing the natural nail rather than coating it. Instead of layers of lacquer, session and celebrity manicurist Sophia Stylianou tells us that "the treatment is designed to strengthen and improve the health of your nails using ingredients like beeswax and sea minerals." No UV lamps. No acetone soak-off. Just your nails, but better!
"Instead, the nails are gently buffed to create a smooth, glossy finish that looks naturally shiny and healthy," Sophia adds.
Everyone's clicking on...
The effect is deceptively simple: healthy, slightly rosy nails with a mirror-like sheen. More crucially, however, it's also restorative. "One of the biggest benefits is that it nourishes and strengthens the natural nail without using harsh chemicals. The beeswax and mineral paste help restore moisture, reduce peeling, and improve overall nail condition," says Sophia.
So, if gels have left your talons brittle and remorseful, this is the rehab programme for them. And if Kate's immaculate, polish-free nails are anything to go by, you don't need colour, extensions or elaborate nail art to make your manicure look expensive.
And not only that, it's low-maintenance (the shine lasts up to two weeks), strengthens over time, and requires nothing more than cuticle oil to maintain. There's no chipping because there's nothing to chip. And because it enhances what you already have, grow-out is effortless and natural.
In short, the Japanese manicure is nail care disguised as a high-shine mani. Work smarter, not harder, folks.
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
