Love the jelly nails trend that was booming in Korea and on TikTok and Instagram but was never able to try them? 💅
As a social media fanatic, one of my favorite things to watch is a nail glow-up. 😍 There's something so empowering about getting your nails done. When someone I follow online shows before and after pictures of their glamorous nail job, I get so inspired.
Recently, I decided to try the jelly nails trend from Korea. These press-ons have been popular with many social media influencers, so I thought I'd give them a chance for myself. If you're curious about them, too, I've detailed everything I learned below! ✨
It's true that there are a ton of nail care products out there for us to navigate. While cosmetics is a huge industry on its own, nail care products specifically still made a whopping $5.68 billion in 2021 throughout the world.
That's why I take the time to try out products like these jelly nails, so you know if they’re worth it before trying them out too! 💖
Keep reading, then, to see if they're worth your time and money!
💅What Are Jelly Nail Press-Ons?
Most of the time, "jelly nails" refer to a nail polish that's more transparent than other cream-based polishes. These jelly nail press-ons from Korea, though, aren't polish-based.
When applied, they look like jelly nail polish in that they're partially translucent. Instead of painting your nails, though, you stick them right on.
Also, all jelly nails are different from gel polish. Gel polish is painted on, too, but it requires a special UV light to harden it onto your nail. Regular jelly nails do not need this UV light treatment.
You might also be wondering about acrylic nails in comparison. They're a mixture of a special liquid and powder applied to the nail that is able to immediately harden and dry without any equipment. Acrylic nails essentially become stronger, false nails that replace your natural ones.
While acrylic nails might last longer and shine brighter, be warned. Gel nails are easier to remove and healthier for you and are, therefore, better in my opinion.
All of that to say, I still think the less-invasive jelly press-on nails from Korea are worth trying. They're cute and so much easier to apply than either gel nail polish or acrylic nails. 😍
💅How to Apply These Jelly Nails from Korea as Press-Ons
The main draw of these press-on nails is supposedly their ease of application. Let's take a look at how I applied them. (For more guidance, check out some nail care tutorials.)
💅🏻1. Matching the Size: There are around 9 different sizes to hopefully match your nail size. This might take some trial and error to figure out.
💅🏽2. Line Them Up: Before gluing without a plan, ensure all ten fingers have press-ons lined up. I will say that I found some of the sizes a little bit off (for my ring and pointer fingers), so I had to make do when aligning them.
💅🏼3. Cleaning: For any kind of nail art, it's smart to start with clean nails. Use acetone or polish remover to be thorough.
💅🏿4. Stick Them On: I first got these press-ons about a year ago and used adhesive nail stickers to apply them. Instead, for this recent time, I used a specific nail glue gun that I would recommend for any nail art that needs adhesive. It's much more secure.
💅🏽5. File Them Down: As mentioned, not all of my press-on jelly nails were a perfect size. Filing down still helped with their overall shape, though.
💅Quick Facts About These Jelly Nails
There is actually no specific brand to reference here. Social media platforms just call these the "jelly nails from Korea." For more details, go to TikTok, Instagram, or even Pinterest and search for "jelly nails from Korea" to see what I'm talking about.
Since these are a DIY (do-it-yourself) self-care project, you can save money by not having to go into the salon. All you'll need is attention to detail and some time on your hands ("on your hands"- get it?). Remember, 💖self-care is important💖 to invest in for the sake of your overall mental health.
💅Key Factors That Might Affect Your Purchase Decisions
If you're still not sure if you want to try out these jelly nails, that's okay. Perhaps you simply like to use clear nail polish to show off your gorgeous natural nails.
Even still, it's okay to get creative with nail art beyond clear polish sometimes! Either way, I've compiled some key factors that might help you decide about these press-ons.
🍭Colors
Since the point of jelly nails is to be somewhat transparent, your color options for these press-ons might be limited. I've mostly seen them in pastel colors since they're light enough to be see-through, but maybe you can find other options. Search around online to see if you can!
💅🏻Material
Because we don't know the specific brand or manufacturer, it's hard to know how these press-on nails are made. We can assume they have some kind of plastic in them. If you like to be socially conscious about your purchase, though, it's worth noting that we're not sure whether these nails have any products derived from animals.
🏪Accessibility
A quick Google search should be able to show you just where you might be able to purchase the jelly nails from Korea. You can buy them on Shein like I did. Or, you can go through Etsy or maybe even Amazon.
💲Price
Buying these from Shein is probably your cheapest option. A full kit from Shein with 24 pieces only costs $1.50. For something so cheap, you might as well give them a shot!
😍Overall Appearance
Remember, be prepared for a transparent aesthetic with these nails. The ones I tried were mostly translucent towards the bottom of the nails and then more opaque at the top. This created a cute appearance that I did enjoy.
With actual jelly nail polishes, you can kind of create a 3D effect. You'd apply one coat of the jelly nail color, then add some art like a flower or art with cream-based polish, then finally cover that up with the same jelly color again. This would give your nails some really cool 3D depth that might be worth considering over these come-as-they-are press-on nails.
💅The Pros and Cons of These Jelly Nails
Pros:
✔️Affordable - It's hard to beat the price when it comes to this nail art, which is a significant pro worth considering.
✔️In style - The fact that so many popular social media influencers use these nails means they're in style, which is another big pro.
✔️Easy to apply - I also like that they're so easy to apply as long as you can be detail-oriented. Avoiding the nail salon saved me a ton of anxiety - and money.
✔️The right length of nails - - The nails aren’t too long! They’re the perfect medium length - it doesn’t get in the way of me doing my everyday activities but I can still look stylish!
✔️Cute ombre effect - The tips are more opaque with a pink color while the bottoms are a bit more translucent. Together, they combine to give a cute ombre effect.
✔️Natural-looking nails - I loved how these press-ons give off a natural classy put together look.
✔️Easy to pair with any outfit - I find these nails beautiful and a great pairing for any outfit because the colors are not too overpowering!
Cons:
✖️White spots after applying glue - One downside to these jelly nails, in my opinion, would be how I did notice white spots underneath the nail after I glued them on. This tells me that the stick-on nails aren't ideal enough to smooth out the glue underneath.
💅Similar Nail Art Products
It's worth comparing these Korean-made nail products with other brands we're more familiar with. Here are some pros and cons of similar nail art products.
1. 💖Jelly Belly + Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color - Strawberry Cheesecake
I like that this nail polish dries quickly and that you don't need to add either a top or bottom coat with it. That makes the application super quick. Plus, it's cute that they partnered with Jelly Belly!
Unfortunately, though, this product does contain acetate. Also, it'll wear off much sooner than the jelly press-ons.
2. 💖ILNP Blackest Holographic Nail Polish
If you're looking for cruelty-free, non-toxic nail polish, this is your brand. This high-quaity brand also comes in some gorgeous, long-lasting colors that will really shine and go with any of your favorite clothing items. I only wish you didn't need to apply multiple coats for the color to really stick, which is a con of this brand.
3. 💖Cirque Colors Holographic Jelly Nail Polish - Crushed Ice
This brand is also great for being vegan, cruelty-free, and non-toxic. In contrast to ILNP, though, the color are more limited and not as vibrant.
✨My Final Conclusion✨
Overall, I think I would recommend trying this product at least once. The nails are adorable, and their ease of application make them great for busybodies who need a nail upgrade pronto.
It's also great that they can last up to two or even three weeks, depending on your level of activity. This is comforting for clumsy people like me!
Still, because there were white spots underneath the nails that I noticed, I would purchase this product with caution. Since it's super cheap, though, you might as well give it a shot if you're still curious!
💯Trust Me - I've Researched a Lot of Nail Products💯
So, I've tried the jelly nail products about a year ago, and I tried them recently - with specific nail glue this time. And I can tell you, while they might not be perfect like regular jelly nail polish, I think the price and ease of application make them worth trying.
I'm saying this because I've compared them directly with the three comparable brands listed above as well as many others. After all, nail art is an important part of my self-care routine - and it should be yours, too!
✨Get Your Ideal Nail Polish and Other Products Today✨
While these jelly nails from Korea might be worth trying, there are still a ton of other products that might interest you. I've done my duty in compiling all the details you might need about nail care, self-care, and more.
I hope you take some time to browse through other product reviews on this site to see if anything catches your eye. Then, get your own nail products to start investing in your self-care as soon as possible. 💖
FAQs❓
💅How do you do Korean jelly nails?
It’s actually a bit complicated to do the Jelly nails if you’re not using press-ons. Some people use gel polishes directly, with or without color, to make the 3D effect. Others build the structure with the same extensions used for fake manicures, then strengthen them with a gel resin and shape them with a brush. You can use the builder gel directly on the nail polish and work it in with a stylus or brush. This is another method that is often used.
💅How do you make 3d jelly nails?
Aside from using press-on jelly nails, you can create this look by mixing different colors of sheer polish to make a rainbow-jelly, ombré base, and then putting different iridescent film decorations on top (hexagonal sequins, cut-up strips, and shards). A top coat is a natural way to end this manicure.
💅Are Jelly nails the same as gel polish?
Gel polish and jelly nails are not the same thing. Gel polish is applied on with a brush, and it has to be hardened with a special UV light. This UV light treatment is not needed for regular jelly nails.
💅How long do Jelly nails last?
Just like acrylic nails, jelly nails may last for up to four weeks.
💅Where did jelly nails originate?
Jelly nails were inspired by jelly sandals, which were popular in the 1990s. The buckled shoe was a must-have for most kids growing up in that decade. It had a clear finish, and some of them were glittery. The name of the new nail trend comes from how the nails look alike.
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