Courtesy of @by_soan and @ooko_nail_studioSave this storySave this story
If you want to know what’s going to be popular in beauty next season—and beyond—you go to South Korea. Seoul, specifically, is known for its range of futuristic treatments and innovative cosmetics, many of which are offered at a lower cost than in the United States. That’s exactly why I visited in November.
At the top of my itinerary was the Seoul Nail Expo, a yearly gathering of nail professionals showcasing the latest in Korean nail technology. With South Korea’s unofficial beverage (an iced Americano) in hand, I walked through the Seoul Trade Exhibition and Convention Center, taking in what the country’s biggest nail brands had to showcase.
Looking at the wide range of upcoming products and nail sets pre-painted in some of the prettiest trends—syrup, cat-eye, and blush nails—I was inspired to speak to brand representatives and manicurists about the nail art they expect to make it stateside in 2026. I used Google Translate and my subpar ability to speak Korean to get the scoop on the five biggest soon-to-be nail trends.
Soft Waves
Like gossamer silk or a babbling brook, this look features a whisper of texture—lines, waves, and swirls atop hard gel are made using a textured brush (more on that in a moment). The effect is often created over a metallic base or beneath chrome dust to accentuate the ridges.
This trend originated in Japan, says Yanguju-based nail artist Yoonsun Lee, but Korean nail artists have perfected their version of it. And Minseo Kang, a Seoul-based nail artist, notes that “textured gel is currently very popular. It works beautifully as an accent [and has] a refined, expressive finish.”
At the expo, an artist with the brand Diami demonstrated how to get this look using its No.18 Texture Flat Brush. The small, flat brush has bristles that are dense toward the base and thin toward the top, resembling a wide-tooth comb. The long, clustered strands create grooves along the nail, resulting in a look that is reminiscent of a slow-moving stream.
If you’re no artist—we hear you!—reach for the JIN.B IVYFixcara Gel. This no-wipe gel formula comes with a short, easy-to-finesse spoolie applicator that can make stripes, waves, and ripples.
Courtesy of @tsibsnailsd
Courtesy of @ooko_nail_studio
Courtesy of @seisaikobo
Nail Ink
Nail art ink is to manicurists what watercolor is to painters: It’s the ultimate medium for layering colors. “It’s great for soft, delicate effects or drawing cute little illustrations,” says Lee, who showcased her work at the convention. The watery formula gently unfurls across your nails and dries on its own, so you don’t need an LED lamp; you do, however, need patience as you’re layering different colors and waiting for them to dry, plus a topcoat to seal in your work.
Before nail ink existed, artists primarily used alcohol inks, which have a high concentration of alcohol, says nail artist Eunkyung Park (a.k.a. Unistella). “Ink has become one of the most important materials in the Korean gel-nail market over the past three years,” she adds.
Try your hand at the trend using Yogurt Nail Kr.’s Maltifu Collection, which sweeps on in thin layers with a regular polish brush.
Courtesy of @seisaikobo
Sweater Nails
Typically, we don’t want fuzz in our nails, so you can imagine my surprise—and immediate fascination—when I heard that sweater manicures were trending. They can resemble striped mohair scarves and cashmere crewnecks with designs—texture included. Says Kang, “Clients tend to prefer designs that feel warm, soft, and cozy during the cooler months.”
To achieve the effect, artists use a syrupy gel swirled with finely-shredded velvet fibers, like Yogurt Nail Kr.’s Muffler and Nekogel’s Hug Me. The nails feel smooth once topped with a clear coat, but maintain their soft appearance.
Courtesy of @nail_yellu
Courtesy of @nail_yellu
Courtesy of @nail.nuha
Courtesy of @peoni.a_nail
Barcode Nails
Unlike the utilitarian vibe of a barcode on the back of a cereal box, barcode nails are ethereal, created with shimmery, magnetic gel polish. “You can make various shapes with magnetic gel, but using different colors to create stripes or check patterns is popular these days,” says Lee. A magnetic wand is placed horizontally against the pads of your fingers (where your fingerprints are), resulting in a sleek, shimmering line.
Barcode nails can be created in countless ways. The look can feature two lines running across a base of shimmery blue glitter or multiple lines beneath stickers and 3D appliques.
Courtesy of @by_soan
Courtesy of @nail.nuha
Courtesy of @nail.nuha
Hello Kitty
Despite her Japanese origins, Hello Kitty is a pillar of South Korean pop culture. The Sanrio character appears in themed cafés (including the Hello Kitty Apple Café in Seoul) and serves as the face of limited-edition product collaborations across industries, such as makeup brand Amuse’s Daisy Collection and luxury tea brand Osulloc’s Tea Garden Edition cold brews.
It’s no surprise, then, that the famous cartoon cat has also made her way onto nails. According to nail artist Kang, Hello Kitty began appearing in nail art in the early 2000s, driven by the rise of character art and the culture’s affinity for all things cute.
“‘Cute’ is a really important aesthetic in South Korea,” says Park, who adds that Hello Kitty designs also feel nostalgic. “You can reinterpret the character in so many ways—with trendy colors, glitter, or 3D elements—so it still feels personal.” Designs are also often placed on the thumbnail, due to its larger surface area.
Courtesy of @by_soan
Courtesy of @peoni.a_nail
