The Korean blush nail trend is blowing up on TikTok—and yes, it actually includes your fave blush!

A new wintery-inspired manicure is joining the list of 2023 nail trends: the Korean blush nail trend actually incorporates our favorite blushes to bring a dreamy flush to our fingertips.

Much like that of Hailey Bieber's "glazed donut" nails (which have inspired many a "glazed" foundation look), our all-consuming love of blush seems to be spreading to our manicures. 

Now, lovers of the "cold girl" aesthetic—which is all about looking like you've just come home from a picturesque winter walk, 24/7—are jumping on the Korean blush nail trend and heralding it as the ultimate cold-weather manicure.

The look features a soft, pink aura on your nails that looks like your fingers have their own little blushy moment going on—and if TikTok is anything to go by, the design is actually quite easy to recreate, especially if you have a collection of blushes on hand...

So, if you're looking for your next manicure look, here's how to try out the trend at home or, alternatively, what to ask your nail tech for.

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What is the Korean blush nail trend?

As the name implies, this dreamy, minimalist manicure trend (which would make for the perfect Valentine's Day nail art design, FYI) was born in Korea. So, if you already swear by Korean skincare products, this nail look is also a safe bet.

The look, much like the "Lipgloss" nail trend, features a soft, baby pink base (usually on longer, oval-shaped nails) with a subtle, diffused dot of blush placed at the center of the nail—and yes, we mean actual face blush! Exhibit A: 

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The design is supposed to look almost like an aura of blush and you can also add a few cute decals, like gems or waterdrop-style stick-ons, if you really want to bring the "cold girl" vibe into it.

How to do the Korean blush nails at home:

Since at-home manicures are rising in popularity, this trend is a good one to start with, if you want something super pretty but straightforward, especially since you can just dive into your makeup bag and don't need to purchase loads of pink polishes for the blush effect.

The "blush nail" hashtag itself already has over 39 million views, with users either showing their post-salon manicure or tutorials on how to create the design yourself. 

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1. If you're using gels or Biab, all you need to do is first prep your nails, by buffing them, tidying up your cuticles and applying a base coat, before adding your extensions (if you're wanting to keep your natural nail length, skip this step). You'll also want to cure between each layer!

2. Next, apply your preferred pink shade, cure, and then get a fluffy brush and your favorite blush (we'd recommend a hot pink or a coral shade). We're actually obsessed with the fact you can use face blush to create such a cute nail look—don't you just love a multipurpose makeup product?

3. Start tabbing and buffing in your blush on the center of your nail until you have that desired, diffused look, before locking it in with a top coat. You can then also add a few gemstones of decals if you prefer and voila! You have blush nails!

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Korean blush nails: what to ask you nail tech for?

If you'd rather leave it to the professionals, thankfully this nail trend is pretty simple and given its popularity, your nail tech will likely be familiar with the look already!

If you're getting acrylics or gel extensions, you'll want to request almond-shaped nails (like Hailey Bieber's nails) and a soft, pastel pink base coat, with a blush/ombre effect in the center of your nail using a slightly dark pink or red polish shade. But of course, it doesn't hurt to take a few reference pictures with you to show your nail artist exactly what you want!

If in doubt, though, simply discuss with your local salon the best way to achieve the look while also promoting healthier nails!