Brand Spotlight: ungu

Meet ungu nails, a Japanese nail brand designed for professional and DIY nail artists. Created by Japanese nail artist Uehara Nagisa, the brand’s name, “ungu,” comes from the Latin word unguis, meaning “a nail, claw, or fang.” Ungu represents Nagisa herself, connecting her identity as a nail artist with the brand’s essence. 

With over twenty years of experience in the nail industry–-including product design, brand collaborations, editorial work, international workshops, and more–-Nagisa describes herself as an “all-rounder” in nails. Her work has been featured in style and beauty magazines, including Vogue Japan.

Ungu is a celebration of Nagisa’s love for all things sparkly and Gyaru (or “Gal”), a fun and bold Japanese fashion subculture that originated in the 1990s. Iridescence, shimmer, sparkle, and uniqueness defines ungu’s fashion gels and nail powders. Users can find products and materials to create aurora, holographic nails, and more! Ungu products are made in Japan and created with cuteness and desirability in mind, setting a standard that blends quality, charm, and modernity.

When creating ungu products, Nagisa aims to catch trends just before they hit mainstream. She also ensures each item comes with user-friendly how-to guides to make them accessible even for beginners. If you are just starting your nail art journey, it can feel overwhelming to know what products you need and how to make the most use out of them. Nagisa’s advice: “If you’re unsure where to start, try ungu first.” Ungu delivers professional-level quality that is easy to use for professional and DIY nail artists. 

Ungu also focuses on functionality. Its multifunctional gel product solutions are created to resolve common issues in nail art application techniques. For example, the Ungu Wrap Wrap Gel formula is designed to cure with minimal to no heating, resist forming bubbles, self-level without running, and dissolve easily in acetone during removal. Like many of ungu’s multifunctional gel products, Wrap Wrap Gel was created with unique properties to serve a variety of nail art purposes that Nagisa could not find elsewhere in the market. In addition to product feature description, users can also learn more about various uses for ungu products and how to troubleshoot possible application issues when using the product. Through ungu, Nagisa brings into existence products that make nail art processes better and easily usable for nail artists of any level. 

With two decades of nail industry experience under her belt, Nagisa created ungu as a thoughtfully curated brand that reflects her personal standards of excellence. Whether you are a nail professional or a DIYer, ungu offers trend-forward, easy-to-use products designed to elevate your nail artistry.