Kintsugi Nails Are on the Rise
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If you're looking for fresh nail-art ideas that go beyond single-color looks, a regular french tip, or the occasional clear-droplet texture, why not look to other art forms for inspiration? Exhibit A: kintsugi nails. Featured on Joey King's engagement nails back in 2022, kintsugi nails are actually a nod to the famed Japanese pottery style.
"Kintsugi is a Japanese art that is centuries old," celebrity manicurist Mar y Sol Inzerillo says. "When you have broken pottery, you don't throw it away — instead, you mend it by dusting on gold or silver leaf."
"Kintsugi and nail art coincide because it is very easy to have an imperfection, a grown-out manicure, or a chipped nail — and they can all be easily mended with gold or silver leaf to give your manicure a whole new life," Inzerillo says. She adds that the style takes on special significance in light of the pandemic: "We are all healing from the impact of the pandemic, and this is a beautiful reminder that whether it's on pottery or on your nails, you should embrace your imperfections and make something beautiful of it."
The shattered effect also makes for a great conversation starter — a win-win in our book. We asked Inzerillo to break down everything you need to know about kintsugi nails, including the products you might need to DIY them.
What Are Kintsugi Nails?
There are actually different types of kintsugi nails. "You can look at kintsugi nail art from two perspectives," Inzerillo says. "One is a nail-art design with gold leaf purposely put in to mimic cracks over a marble or tile design over a solid nail, and the other is to touch up your [chipped] nails using gold leaf or a gold or silver nail-polish color."
How to Get Kintsugi Nails at Home
If you want to get the manicure at a salon, you can ask for "marble nails with chrome lines and ask the artist to fuse the two designs together," says Simone Francese, nail educator at Vanity Projects in New York City. Kintsugi and cracked marble have a similar effect.
If you want to get the look at home, Inzerillo has some tips. Start with a solid base color (you can re-create the matte, clay-like effect with a matte topcoat afterward). Inzerillo recommends greens and whites or a classic black like Lights Lacquer in Jefa ($11), OPI Nail Lacquer in Alpine Snow ($11), and UN/DN Lacquer in Depressionist ($18).
You can play around with your base color, but Inzerillo says nonnegotiables for this nail-art style are a base coat, a topcoat, a nail-art brush, and gold or silver chrome flakes; she likes the ones from Valentino Beauty Pure ($18).
After adding your base coat, use the flakes with your nail-art brush to make lines that "resemble your favorite tile, pottery, or marbleized look," Inzerillo says. For a more "intentionally carefree" look, aim for a design that resembles uneven cracks. Top it off with a topcoat, which can be shiny or matte, depending on the look you're going for.
Kintsugi Nails Inspiration
Looking for inspiration for your own kintsugi nails? Read ahead to fill your "nail ideas" Pinterest board.
Pastel and Gold Kintsugi Nails
If you love softer-colored manicures, the design of this kintsugi nail is for you. The colors play well together and almost look like flowers.
Blue and White Kintsugi Nails
Blue and white is an elite nail-color combination. Add in a dash of gold for the kintsugi design, and you get this masterpiece.
Jade and Black Kintsugi Nails
Jade and gold scream royalty, but the black accent nail in this manicure adds a bit of edge to the look, making it great for fall and winter.
Pink Kintsugi Nails
If you prefer more neutral nail looks but still like something fun, these pink kintsugi nails with gold detailing are the perfect way to jazz up your next manicure.
Green Kintsugi Nails
This muted-green color makes the gold used for the kintsugi design pop, but in a subtle way — a perfect manicure for work, school, or a more formal occasion like a gala.