There’s a certain je ne sais quoi that comes with the universe of K-pop, with each threat of a comeback.
The appeal of these groups go beyond the music as they come out with high-scale productions: music videos, concert experiences, dance practices, and, well, the parasocial aspect of it all. And while that in itself has earned its fair share of recognition, there’s a group of people (spoiler: us) who pay more attention to the creative concepts that come with it. Think Aespa’s “Armageddon,” NewJeans a la Min Heejin, Red Velvet’s “Summer Magic,” or Blackpink’s “Kill This Love.” World-building is another thing altogether, with elaborate sets, beautiful clothes, and all things beauty, of course—futuristic hair, colored lenses, and more. But if there’s one thing that hashtag niche group of people do not overlook, it’s the nails.
And one thing we love about these K-pop idols: you will never find them lacking in the nail department. Whether they’re on set, at Fashion Week, on Instagram, or simply enjoying life off-duty, there’s always something that stands out from the rest. With that, Allure Philippines rounds up 15 K-pop idol nail looks we’re definitely adding to our moodboard.
Jennie of Blackpink
Pierced nails? Check. Waterfall-esque nails? Check. The bona fide K-pop it-girl, Jennie Kim, has seemingly tried just about every nail look one could dream of, thanks in part to her longtime nail artist, Park Eunkyung. For Chanel’s Cruise 2026/2027 show, Kim wore her French tips with a pointed stiletto shape, black-and-white detailing, and a small camellia motif on her index finger.
Yunjin of Le Sserafim
Le Sserafim’s lead vocalist Huh Yunjin is no stranger to putting her own stylish spin on just about any fashion item she gets her hands on. This time, she’s trading the usual embossed 3D jelly florals of the nail art world for a matte take. The middle finger features delicate red floral and petal motifs near the tip, while the ring finger has a vertical arrangement of soft pink gradient dots running down its center.
Karina of Aespa
@katarinabluu on Instagram
While Aespa is no stranger to Kwangya-esque, futuristic concepts, their nail looks are just as worthy of a moodboard. Off-set, however, leader Karina likes to keep things simple with a soft Korean jelly manicure. Her nails sport a high-gloss, translucent neutral base in a milky nude color.
Minju of Illit
@illit_official on Instagram
The magical girls of Illit continue to bring even more joymaxxing to K-pop. For their latest comeback, they collaborated with a Seoul- and Shanghai-based manicurist for a Bambi-inspired nail look with coquette details, and maximalist 3D nail art, all set against a white porcelain base. A vibrant, translucent hot pink 3D charm shaped like a stiletto heel is attached to the edge.
Haerin of NewJeans
@newjeans_official on Instagram
NewJeans is back and better than before. Haerin, ½ of the maknae line, wears a sheer, syrupy pink that brings strawberry jelly to mind. The translucent finish lets her natural nail bed peek through, with just enough rosy color to give the nails a strawberry-inspired flush.
Lisa of Blackpink
Another bona fide K-pop it-girl, Lisa Manobal, knows her way around a good nail look. This time, she’s sporting a sheer nude base with deep-red French tips, finished with 3D hibiscus flowers in pink and yellow. Tiny gold studs, delicate linework, and gem accents bring the whole tropical-inspired manicure together.
Gawon of Meovv
Meovv’s Gawon goes classic with a silver chrome manicure. A translucent layer of silver chrome powder sits over a sheer base as it gives the nails an aurora-like, glassy sheen, paired with the raised, sculpted clear-gel droplets that catch the light.
Rei of Ive
@reinyourheart on Instagram
Rei of Ive is something of a sleeper fashionista in the K-pop scene. For this Valentino look, she pairs a mix of metallic plum, iridescent lavender, and silvery teal across her nails, each with a high-shine, chrome-like finish that shifts with the light.
Mark Tuan of Got7
If you know F-beauty, chances are you know Eli Jung, the artist behind Nadine Lustre’s nails on the Allure Philippines cover issue. She’s also had a hand in painting some nails in the K-pop scene, and Mark Tuan happens to be one of them. For this look, Tuan went for a futuristic mix of metallics and textures, with silver cat-eye polish, blurred chrome gradients, and a molten gold accent nail. There’s even a little seashell detailing thrown into the mix, giving the manicure an extra layer of texture.
Sui of KiiiKiii
@kiiikiii_official on Instagram
Sui of KiiiKiii quite literally takes the world into her own hands. Designed by South Korean nail artist @seoulthenailworker for the group’s WhyKiiiKiii project, the set shows a bright blue base with colorful continents in shades of green, yellow, and orange. The other nails get in on the fun, too, with tiny target markers, coordinate dots, and navigational details that give the whole manicure a playful map aesthetic.
Martin of Cortis
Cortis via Weverse
Martin of Cortis also likes to make a statement with his nail art. The mismatched set brings together graphic black-and-white motifs, a striking orange accent, and Brazilian manicure-esque polish across the remaining nails. Each nail has its own little detail, making for a set that’s anything but your usual manicure.
G-Dragon
When it comes to G-Dragon, even the nails have to make a statement. For his Cosmos tour, the King of K-pop enlisted renowned Korean nail artist Park Eunkyung (@nail_unistella) for a custom press-on set spelling out Cosmos. The designs alternate between glossy black and deep-red bases, molten silver chrome detailing, and colorful gemstones that look almost embedded in the metalwork.
Rosé of Blackpink
Rosie, Blackpink’s resident Saint Laurent girl, knows the appeal of a classic black manicure. We’ve seen time and time again how she gravitates toward the classics, whether it’s her blonde hair or her go-to black manicure. This time, it’s nothing more than a coat of glossy black gel polish, but sometimes that’s all a good nail look needs.
Jisoo of Blackpink
@sooyaaa__ on Instagram
Jisoo Kim gives the classic French manicure a little zhuzh with this black-and-white take. Set against a sheer nude-pink base, the nails feature black French tips dotted with tiny white accents. It’s a simple detail, but one that gives the otherwise classic manicure a playful, retro feel.
Sana of Twice
@m.by__sana on Instagram
Twice’s Sana is a beauty even with the simplest of details. Keeping things on the more natural side, she wears a sheer blush-pink manicure with a glossy, almost magnetic sheen. The medium-length squoval nails are finished with a subtle French-tip effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Korean jelly manicure features a high-gloss, translucent finish that lets the natural nail show through. Karina of Aespa wears a milky nude version, while Haerin of NewJeans wears a sheer, syrupy strawberry pink that gives the nails a rosy flush.
Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and Sana all put their own spin on the French manicure. Jennie wears pointed stiletto tips with a camellia motif, Jisoo adds black tips with white dots, Lisa pairs deep-red tips with 3D hibiscus, and Sana keeps hers subtle.
Simple looks are the easiest starting points. Rosé wears a single coat of glossy black gel polish, Sana wears a sheer blush-pink manicure with a glossy sheen, and Karina’s milky nude jelly base is a soft, minimal option for everyday wear.
Gawon of Meovv, Rei of Ive, and G-Dragon all wear chrome finishes. Gawon uses silver chrome powder over a sheer base, Rei mixes metallic plum, iridescent lavender, and silvery teal, and G-Dragon’s custom press-ons feature molten silver chrome detailing and gemstones.
Park Eunkyung (@nail_unistella) is the Korean nail artist behind both. She is Jennie Kim’s longtime nail artist and created G-Dragon’s custom press-on set spelling out Cosmos for his Cosmososmos tour, which alternates glossy black and deep-red bases with chrome detailing.
