Last week, second-year students from ECC Beauty College in Osaka, Japan, stopped by INM’s headquarters in Anaheim, Calif., to attend a seminar on the U.S. nail market. Spanning over the course of two days, the seminar featured a mix of lectures and nail art demos given by INM educator Julie Parker, who speaks fluent Japanese, as well as a guest celebrity nail tech.

   Julie Parker, INM educator and owner of Julie Parker Nail Salon in San Diego, Calif.

According to Parker, a nail license isn’t required in Japan and aspiring manicurists will work their way up the ranks at a salon — the system is similar to an apprenticeship.

"Style in Japan is different from here too," Parker says. "For example, Japanese clients might favor lighter pastel colors whereas here, people are into bolder hues."

Ayana Nishi, a student in attendance, agreed: "I liked learning how to do American nail art with bright colors that we don't see in Japan."

Demos included how to make a 3-D acrylic bow to lay atop Gelavish gel-polish and how to create a clear acrylic tip with 3-D flowers.

At the end of the first day, students went on a much-anticipated hour-long shopping spree at INM's beauty supply store.

—Brittni