{"id":1411334,"date":"2026-01-23T23:28:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T20:28:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1411334"},"modified":"2026-01-23T23:28:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T20:28:24","slug":"barcode-nails-are-the-latest-south-korean-trend-taking-over-our-feeds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1411334","title":{"rendered":"Barcode Nails Are the Latest South Korean Trend Taking Over Our Feeds"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Nails<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Barcode Nails Are the Latest South Korean Trend Taking Over Our Feeds<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
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Scan the prettiest inspiration, ahead.<\/div>\n
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By <\/span>Annie Blay-Tettey<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

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Source images: Courtesy of @b.by_you and @eve_nail<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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If you\u2019re someone who gets your nails done often, it\u2019s easy to fall into a rut. You\u2019ve probably tried all the trendy designs, like frame nails and velvet aura nails. You have classics like French tips on rotation, and you\u2019ve even gotten quite good at mixing and matching trends in one manicure. But if you\u2019ve hit that wall where you don\u2019t know what nail design to get next, allow us to put you on to a new trend: barcode nails.<\/p>\n

Like many trendy nail looks, this design originated in South Korea and is now becoming mainstream in the United States. Barcode nails have a thin horizontal line (or multiple lines) that resembles the LED light that shows up when you scan a barcode.<\/p>\n

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Courtesy of @miatanails<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The barcode design is yet another way to use magnetic polish to achieve a mesmerizing shimmer effect. Instead of the traditional vertical line in cat-eye nails, the barcode design features a horizontal stripe that shifts with movement and light\u2014as you bend your finger, the line appears to move up and down.<\/p>\n

Chloe Jeong, a nail artist in Arizona, says she started seeing barcode nail art on social media last spring. \u201cWhile the design isn’t something every client is asking for just yet, I\u2019ve definitely seen a growing interest,\u201d she says. Yoshiko Yamaguchi, a nail artist in New York City, echoes this, noting she\u2019s been asked to do the trend on a client only once in the past year but predicts more people will be asking for it in 2026.<\/p>\n

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\"Barcode<\/span><\/div>\n
Courtesy of Chloe Jeong<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Velvet nails were more popular than ever in 2025, so it\u2019s no surprise that people are finding ways to remix the effect. Says Jeong, the look \u201cfeels modern, slightly edgy, without being overwhelming.\u201d<\/p>\n

In South Korea, barcode nails are being paired with maximalist nail adornments like rhinestones and decals, but \u201cthe clean, one-line look seems to be more popular stateside,\u201d Jeong adds.<\/p>\n

How to get barcode nails at home<\/strong><\/div>\n

Barcode nails are simple to create. First, apply a magnetic gel polish to the entire nail. We love the magnetic polishes from Kokoist and DND for their glossy finishes and durability. (For a non-gel option, try the magnetic nail polishes from Mooncat, which come in an array of mystical colors.) \u201cHold a rectangular magnet horizontally along the nail bed for about 30 seconds with the thin edge facing upward,\u201d says Jeong. \u201cAs the magnet is held in place, the metallic particles within the gel are pulled into a fine, linear formation, creating that signature barcode effect.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you go the gel route, cure the art in place with an LED lamp. Repeat this process to create multiple barcode lines before sealing with a topcoat.<\/p>\n

You can keep the design simple with a single line on each nail or get fancy with multiple stripes, a dash of glitter, chrome stickers, or rhinestones. \u201cThese details allow the design to range from ultra-minimal and understated to more dimensional and statement-making, while still maintaining the clean, refined feel that characterizes the trend,\u201d says Jeong.<\/p>\n

Below, discover barcode nail designs we\u2019re saving for our next manicure appointment.<\/p>\n

Silver stripe barcode nails<\/h2>\n
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\"Barcode<\/span><\/div>\n
Courtesy of @nail_nid<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Black cherry barcode nails<\/h2>\n
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\"Barcode<\/span><\/div>\n
Courtesy of @b.by_you<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Star-spangled barcode nails<\/h2>\n
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\"Barcode<\/span><\/div>\n
Courtesy of @eve_nail<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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\"Barcode<\/span><\/div>\n
Courtesy of @nail.nuha<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Green and silver striped barcode nails<\/h2>\n
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\"Barcode<\/span><\/div>\n
Courtesy of @b.by_you<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Green and gold striped barcode nails<\/h2>\n
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\"Barcode<\/span><\/div>\n
Courtesy of @_moodnail<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Galaxy barcode nails<\/h2>\n
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\"Barcode<\/span><\/div>\n
Courtesy of @beambeam.nails<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Purple and black ombr\u00e9 barcode nails<\/h2>\n
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\"Barcode<\/span><\/div>\n
Courtesy of @nailsbycindyxo<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Discover more nail trends:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  • Fiery Orange Is the Winter Nail Trend We Didn’t See Coming<\/li>\n
  • The Biggest Nail Trends of 2026 Upgrade the Classics<\/li>\n
  • This Winter\u2019s Nail Art Trends Are All About Maximalism<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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    Now, watch Selena Gomez’s cover shoot:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

    Source URL: https:\/\/www.allure.com\/story\/barcode-nails-trend<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Nails Barcode Nails Are the Latest South Korean Trend Taking Over Our Feeds Scan the prettiest inspiration, ahead. By Annie Blay-Tettey January 26, 2026 Source images: Courtesy of @b.by_you and @eve_nail If you\u2019re someone who gets your nails done often, it\u2019s easy to fall into a rut. You\u2019ve probably tried all the trendy designs, like […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[52],"class_list":["post-1411334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-allure-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411334","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1411334"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411334\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1411334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1411334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1411334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}