New nail trends are constantly popping up on social media. If you're on the hunt for your next fall manicure [2], we have just the thing. "Korean blush nails" are making waves on TikTok and Instagram, and the stunning minimalist nail look is easy to re-create at home.
If you're not familiar with blush nails just yet, allow us to explain with the help of two pros.
What Are Korean Blush Nails?
"Blush nails are a beautiful Korean style combining nail art and makeup," Jin Soon Choi, founder of Jinsoon Nails [3], tells POPSUGAR. The manicure usually features a light, neutral-coloured base with a spot of diffused pink or red polish — or in some cases, actual blush — to mimic the look of rosy cheeks.
"It's like a more toned-down and natural sister to the aura nail trend [4] we have seen everywhere at the end of summer, making this a nice transition into fall nails," Choi says. Given their existing popularity in Korea, this nail trend certainly isn't new, but it is finally getting some much-deserved attention on social media stateside.
Korean Blush Nails Tutorial
"The original trend is created by applying a sheer pink nude base and an actual blush or a pink eyeshadow that is lightly dabbed with an eyeshadow brush onto the centre of the nail, then sealed with another coat of the base shade to blend everything together," digital creator and manicurist Dayanna Sapiens [5] says. However, you can get a similar look by using only nail products, which is what Sapiens did in her Instagram Reel tutorial for the trend.
"To create this gorgeous nail look, I used two jelly pink nude nail polishes, Lights Lacquer Adaline and Marie, one lighter than the other," Sapiens says. "The lightest shade is used as a base." With these two colours, you'll want to start by applying your base colour, and then, "while the polish is still wet, with the brush of the nail polish, dab the deeper pink onto the centre of the nail while fading it slightly outward to create a more natural transition." Adding the pink "blush" to the nail while the base is wet is what gives it that diffused look — as if you're blending a blush pigment onto your cheeks.
If you so choose, you can also dress up this manicure by adding additional accents. "You can add gems, a french tip [6], or blob nail art — another popular Korean trend if you have the materials," Choi says.
With the rise of minimalist nails [7] that we're seeing for fall, we have no doubt that blush nails will become a huge trend. The manicure is a bit more unique than just simple "Parisian" or beige nails [8], while still being subtle and understated. Meaning, it'll still earn you those coveted "let me see your nails!" comments without making too much of a statement.
Get inspiration for the blush nails trend ahead and watch Sapiens's tutorial on how to re-create the design at home.