A technician at Subconscious Day Spa polishing a customer's nails.

The humble manicure has been around for centuries. Accessorizing one of our most viewed body parts is nothing new, but styles, designs and patterns have all evolved over time. From simply painting our nails a single color, intricate designs, nail piercing and fake nails are now available to discerning manicure fanatics. Trends from all over the globe influence the hottest looks, and Shanghai is playing host to some of the world's most fashionable nails. Nail salons across the city are now offering Japanese-inspired nail art, this season's latest fad. 

Diva Life (266 Ruijin'er Road, 5465-7291 ext 22) offers a range of nail services. You can choose from their "bling bling" nails, complete with gems, rhinestones and diamantes. Bling bling nails are among the more flashy designs on offer, but if that's not your cup of tea, there's also a range of classic nail art. Marketing director Erly Yang said there's no style they can't do, and customers even bring in their own ideas or designs, which their technicians then set about creating. Floral designs are particularly popular, along with candy.

The salon offers 3-D nail art, with a range of motifs to choose from to add extra dimensions to your nails. If you're feeling wild, the salon also offers nail piercing, and can add chains or rings to your finished look for that added wow factor. As well as traditional manicures and polishes, Japanese-style nails are also on offer and are popular with younger customers.

Yang said: "The expats mostly come in for French nails and simple colors, while Chinese customers prefer to copy Japanese designs, and want the more complicated styles involving gems and flowers." Bling bling nails cost 580 yuan ($94) for 90 minutes, but if you're on a budget, nail art and chains start at 10 yuan per nail.

Subconscious Day Spa (458 Dagu Road) also offers designs and 3-D artwork on nails, creating beautiful designs, such as intricate rose petals. Each season brings new trends and August will see the introduction of the autumn collection, with a trained consultant picking out the best and freshest styles.

Three-D nail art is popular, but the Japanese-inspired 3-D nails are something else. Extravagant bows and ribbons are first created separately, and then crafted onto the nail. These nails are big and usually only worn for special occasions. Most people opt for just one nail to be done this lavishly, with the rest of the nails painted in more muted tones.

Japanese-inspired nail art is this season's latest fad. Photos: Cai Xianmin/GT

Nail stickers are a new method of getting the most detailed designs onto nails. The design is created on the sticker itself first, which allows for finer designs with more precision. These stickers are then heated and stuck directly onto the nail to produce stunning looks.

To create a truly unique look, combinations of different methods and patterns can be used. Part of a nail sticker can be applied, with diamantes or 3-D effects overlaid, all in a French-style manicure. As customers can decide how much of each style to use, it ensures no one has the same look. A full set of nails can take up to an hour to finish, with the more detailed designs taking even longer. Prices start from 10 yuan per nail for nail designs, and 30 yuan per nail for 3-D nail art.

Gina Lay, managing partner and co-founder at Subconscious Day Spa, said: "The customers can mix and match, so you can design your own unique style. It's mostly young people who want these kinds of styles. They particularly like the French manicure inspired look, as it's very fresh and clean this summer."

Tucked away on the second floor of Dapuqiao metro station is a small, off-the-beaten-track nail salon. Fashion Nails isn't well-known, but they have books overflowing with funky designs catering for all tastes. Yang Bao, nail designer at the salon, explained that as well as offering nail art and 3-D designs, one of the more popular looks is a mixed tone. Gradient tones are extremely popular, particularly with expats, she said. The white gradient is the best seller, closely followed by the pink range. "Many expats like the gradient look, but Chinese people prefer 'cute' or 'punk' styles, which are either different colors for each nail, or with hearts or candy," said Yang. The punk look often involves skeletons or dots.

The salon can create any design, and often customers come in with magazines or pictures from the Internet of designs they wish to copy. Funky motifs such as moustaches, lace, anchors, and animal prints are used to create a personalized look. A Japanese-inspired style is also one of the salon's best sellers. The designs take roughly half an hour to create with prices ranging from 60 to 400 yuan.