Name the three hottest nail trends of 2016 off the top of your head – got them, got them? Now let us guess what you picked! Chrome (or mirror) nails was probably the first, followed by shattered glass nails, and perhaps “shadow nails”, a technique incorporating the arrangement of tiny metal studs against a base colour for a chic, minimalistic look. The commonality among all three trends? They’re beautiful and bold, and originate from South Korea!
The mirror technique was a game-changer that took the beauty scene by storm along with hits like metallic and glitter make up, and loud, vibrant hues. “Futuristic” is the word we’d use to describe the past year’s beauty craze. Those hot metallic nails have been spotted on influential women such as Korean pop singer Park Bom, and American supermodel Gigi Hadid. The trend made its way around the globe real quick all thanks to the Internet, and you can be sure it’s not going to fade off anytime soon!
South Korea may be at the forefront of the nail game, but thankfully, you don’t have to fly over to spot the latest styles with these wonderful Korean salons right here in Singapore!
1. Iputa Nails
Are you a fan of glitzy, embellished nails that get your hands lots of attention? If so, you wouldn’t want to miss this salon out. “Iputa” means “pretty” in Korean, and there’s no better word to describe them, really.
They’re famous for their customised 3D nail art, where gorgeous rhinestones and moulded acrylic designs will have you falling head over heels.
Ms. June Jeon, a native Korean married to a Singaporean, founded the salon in 2002 and has been keeping a close watch of Korean nail trends ever since. Spot a K-trend on your news feed? The nail techs at Iputa Nails have probably mastered it!
2. Aresa Nails
Elaborate, jarring designs aren’t for everyone, we know. If simple and chic is your style, here’s our pick for you. Aresa Nails is located in the arty enclave of Joo Chiat and boasts a spacious, minimalist interior. It’s more of a contemporary than cutesy vibe here, which can be hard to come across in Singapore with many nail salons going for girly concepts inspired by Japanese and Korean trends.
At Aresa Nails, you’ll find stunning hand-drawn designs that almost look printed on.
3. Beaute Nails
They’re no stranger to the media – the goddesses of Miss Universe Singapore 2017 recently flaunted their work on stage, and they’ve bagged numerous prestigious awards over the years, including the Singapore Established Brands award in 2015.
Beaute Nails is hugely popular for their organic Gellyfit nail products from Korea, which pastel lovers will swoon over – check out their range if you haven’t already, it’s a paddlepop lover’s dream come true.
Promotion: Korean Gelish Manicure for $38! (U.P. $401)
4. The Glamourous Factory
If you follow the K-wave, you might have seen some of Ms. Shigeyama Ai’s nail designs on your favourite Korean celebs, including the members of Girls Generation. The South Korean-born nail artisan has worked with countless A-list clients and founded the BUB nail salon in Japan. 
Well, it might be hard to get Ms. Ai herself to do your nails, but you could always book an appointment at The Glamorous Factory, where founder Ms. Foo Yee Sin and her team have been trained by Ms. Ai herself to practise the BUB AI technique!
5. Leekaja
If there was any hairdresser who is more famous than K-pop stars, it would be Madam Lee Kaja. Leekaja Salon was established back in 1972 in South Korea. It is now an international salon with over 180 shops all over the world.
With beads, stones and pearls, their Korean nail artists will be able to transform your nails with the most up-to-date nails design from Korea. Not only will it be trendy, using products from Bandi Nail, the manicures will also be eco- friendly and harmless to your nails.
Head over to Vaniday, the #1 beauty online booking platform, to book your salons now! Enjoy SGD15 off your first booking with the promo code DAILYVANITY15!
