How did Korean nail art originate?
Interest in Korean nail design has spread beyond the country's borders, largely thanks to Unistella. The girl, whose nails are trusted by world K-pop stars, including members of the group Blackpink, was the first to use “broken glass” (glass nails), ultra-thin wire (wire nails), piercing rings and transferable tattoos in her works. Lovers of discreet manicures passed by, but those who adore eccentric, eye-catching designs appreciated the artist’s efforts and made her a star. In her works, Unistella skillfully combines several techniques at once, creates new forms from gel and does not skimp on rhinestones and crystals.
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How to do a Korean manicure
You can do a Korean-style manicure yourself at home. You just need gel polishes, a drying lamp and design details.
Korean manicure with voluminous stones
- First, perform a manicure and degrease your nails with a special product.
- Then apply the base coat and cure it in a lamp for 60 seconds.
- Next, apply the color in 1-2 layers. Dry each layer for 45 seconds.
- Apply a thick base or a drop of polygel to the place where the stones will be located.
- Move the stones to the prepared area and press down lightly with your finger. Dry for 60 seconds.
- Apply topcoat with a sticky layer to the nail and the side edges of the stones. It is important that the top does not get on the stone itself, otherwise the shine may disappear. After applying the top, dry the nail in the lamp for 60 seconds.
- Then, using a top coat without a sticky layer, repeat the action from step 6. Place your hand in the lamp for 60 seconds.
With wire
This design will require a thin 0.3mm decorative wire. You can find such wire in professional craft stores. Using wire you can create any miniatures and images.
- Bend the wire the way you like. For example, in the shape of a heart or a cloud. And put it aside.
- Apply base coat to all nails and cure them in a lamp for 60 seconds.
- Then apply the color coat in 1-2 layers, and dry each for 45 seconds.
- Apply a moderate layer of thick rubber base to the nails where the wire will show off.
- Place the wire in the desired location. Make sure that the edges of the wire do not extend beyond the boundaries of the nail. Otherwise, the wire will cling to clothing and quickly fall off the nail. Dry in a lamp for 60 seconds.
- Cover the nail with a thin layer of topcoat with a tacky layer. Dry for 60 seconds.
- Apply another, additional thin layer of topcoat without l/s.
Sometimes it is useful to plunge into the fashion of a different mentality. You can note a lot of useful things from it. And in the case of Korea and their tastes in manicure, you can find plenty of useful things. The ProstoNail team was with you, see you again!
What is Korean nail art?
This maximalist approach left its mark on the entire South Korean nail industry. Today, Korean women's nails look more like colored glossy candies. It's rare that a girl leaves the salon with a discreet finish: Korean manicure involves design on, if not all, then most fingers. Moreover, each of them is often made completely differently. On the first there is a 3D figurine, on the second there are large rhinestones, on the third there is a French pattern, on the fourth there is a “rubbed in” pattern, on the fifth there is a complex hand drawing. Cute images of fruits and berries, bears, gingham and hearts are all popular in Asia.
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Surprisingly, even such an abundant design in most cases does not look stupid or overdone. On the contrary, when looking at the efforts of nail artists and aesthetic photographs of clients, a desire arises to do something similar. Maybe due to the color scheme? Despite the maximalism in materials and techniques, most prefer a pastel range of shades that combine well with each other. And the design of all nails follows one theme and has overlapping elements that bring the idea together.
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Korean nail design is a real art
We, accustomed to laconic, minimalistic and moderate beauty, do not immediately understand what Korean manicure entails. At first glance there is too much design and accents. But in fact, if you look closely, you can see that Korean craftsmen pay close attention to every detail.
Korean style and their works are inspiring. And despite different tastes and mentality, our masters no longer look at Korean women’s manicures with skepticism. Of course, repeating exactly a Korean manicure is often not the best idea. Nevertheless, some examples can be very successfully adapted to our realities.
Korean women, unlike us, treat manicure as a piece of art and an original accessory. For them, it is a blank slate, a canvas on which they can express their feelings, tastes and style. It’s hard to argue with the fact that Korean manicure is a separate art form in the nail world.
For short nails
90% of Korean women prefer minimal nail length. But even at this length they manage to fit an impressive amount of design and accents.
What designs are at the peak of popularity in Korea:
- miniature drawings;
- stones and rhinestones;
- glitter;
- dried flowers;
- gradient;
- volumetric drops;
- stickers;
- wire.
Yes, you heard right, wire. It sounds unusual, but it looks simply stunning. Korean women also love everything shiny, and rarely miss the opportunity to add shining accents to their manicure.
Korean masters have also learned how to do manicures with dried flowers. These are real dried flowers. They help create a unique and natural manicure.
But Korean fashionistas don't always do a lot of design. They do not neglect a plain, cute manicure in feminine colors.
For long nails
Long nails are not often seen in Korea. But if a Korean woman decides to wear length, she will choose maxi. On long nails in Korea you will not find a plain nude with a modest stretch. There will definitely be a lot of detail and color.
With rocks
If in our country this design is often done for a holiday or event, then in Korean manicure it is a classic. Rhinestones and stones can be found on every second manicure in Korea. As we already said, Koreans love glitter on their nails. And this really has its own charm. At the same time, they find beautiful both the moderate placement of stones on the nails and the largest and most voluminous stones.
Gradient
Korean gradient is special. It captivates and creates the impression of a light veil. Most often, a Korean woman makes a gradient with a transition from a shade to the natural color of the nails. Especially in Korea, gradients in cool shades such as purple, blue and blue are popular.
Where to do Korean nail art in Russia
On the one hand, if there are references, the design can be repeated by any experienced manicurist. It is important that he knows how to draw, has a sufficient amount of different materials and is not afraid of long, painstaking work. On the other hand, it is a definite plus if the artist himself loves Korean nail art and has an eye for observation, then he will be able to bring his own vision, offer a unique design and support any experiment. Today in Russia there are masters and entire salons specializing in this type of design - which means that the wave of popularity has reached us.
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Peculiarities
In the Korean manicure technique, nails have a natural shape and short length. The bet is placed on several elements that serve as decoration. Nails do not look vulgar, rather, quite the opposite - naive, sweet and innocent.
Koreans do not strive for clear lines - their popular manicure is easy to perform even for a beginner. The patterns do not repeat each other and do not look cliched.
This type has earned popularity for its variety of designs and imagination.
Seeing some of the designs on the nails, you might think that they were made by a child - according to Korean women, this gives the image a special charm and naivety.
A manicure can look defiantly careless; any means at hand are suitable for its creation, be it beads or glitter, a marker or a brush - the more extraordinary the artist’s idea is, the more it will correspond to this technique.
This type of nail decoration is designed to emphasize the girl’s individuality, her style, unlike others.
Koreans prefer light shades, which reflects the optimism and cheerfulness of this people. This manicure can contain several different colors at the same time - the main thing is that they are in harmony with each other.
Examples for inspiration
If after reading this text you want to try the trend on yourself, be careful: it will be difficult to return to a monochromatic covering. We have prepared several ideas for you with which you can come to the master.
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Materials
Rhinestones and feathers are suitable for decoration using this technique; even jewelry is used to decorate nails.
Korean women often use non-standard materials in their manicure, for example:
- shell fragments;
- ribbons;
- LEDs;
- pieces of mirrors and CDs.
Using special glue, they decorate their fingers with beads and rhinestones, trying to complement their manicure and reveal an unexpected side to their image. Girls also decorate their cuticles with wire, creating a personalized design and making an unforgettable impression.
Fashionistas have come up with a new trend in nail design - dried flower petals are placed under transparent varnish. This makes the girl's image more romantic.
Korean idols manicure
A special word needs to be said about the manicure of Korean idols. An idol in South Korea is a teenager who has signed a contract with one of the country's largest star producing companies. Such agencies turn teenagers into competitive artists who can not only sing, but also dance, speak competently, and behave well under camera guns. These are ready-made pop stars, with ideal parameters, from vocal to external characteristics. Producers pay attention to every detail that makes up an idol's image, because everyone's attention is focused on them, and one of these details is manicure. The well-groomed hands of musicians have long been one of the objects of interest for the paparazzi.
Editor's choice: Nail design for a wedding in 2022: photos of trends, French and lace manicure
So, the nails of idols in Seoul are sometimes a work of art: perfectly decorated, with impeccable design. Teenagers who follow the work of Korean groups dream of getting the same masterpiece of nail art. Below are photos of the manicures of the girls from the band BLACKPINK: Lisa, Jannie and Rosé.
Today Seoul dictates fashion trends to the whole world, and for good reason: the rapidly developing beauty industry there produces more and more new products every day. Korean cosmetics are of the highest quality, and the skill of nail art industry specialists never ceases to amaze. Nails inlaid with exaggerated rhinestones, with pieces of velvet and denim; space design; broken glass technology brought to perfection - this is not a complete list of what Korean craftsmen offer girls today. If you want to create the perfect nail design, you should definitely pay attention to the peculiarities of manicure in this eastern country.
Korean manicure products and tools
When talking about manicure, most people imagine an attractive design. But women know that the beauty of nails begins with care, which involves various techniques - hardware, European or combined. To put the nail plate and surrounding skin in order, manicurists today are increasingly resorting to Korean-made products and tools.
South Korea has established itself as a manufacturer of quality products that uses an innovative approach and constantly improves its products, as well as expanding its range. Starting from masks, creams, strengthening liquids for nails, and ending with files, polishing buffs and manicure devices, Korean companies have won the respect and recognition of nail service professionals.
