Syrup nails shine with a thick glossy finish that makes them delicious to look at. This deceptively simple style came out of Korea and quickly caught on for its versatile elegance. Artists layer sheer polish to build depth, often concentrating pigment in the center or at the tip. The technique creates ombré effects or blushing fades. It used to take custom mixes to get the right look, but jelly gels like the Lavis collection now make it quick and consistent. Just add glitter or chrome to make a manicure even more flavorful. Although syrup nails suit everyday wear, they can just as easily anchor a statement set. Let’s have a look at some tasty syrup nail ideas.
Syrup Nail Ideas
Cheek Nails
First, it’s uncommon to see Korean nail art on extensions. Long nails are gradually catching on, but most artists work with small canvases. Still, it’s absolutely amazing what they can create on short nails. Visit any Korean nail artist’s Instagram and you’ll likely see at least one example of cheek nails. This is a version of the syrup nail that looks like a flushed cheek. The pink or red pigment is concentrated in the center similar to aura nails. Here the artist has added a delicate little heart on the ring finger.
A key point of syrup nails is how the polish is super glossy and still looks wet even after it’s dried or cured.
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A Quick History of Syrup Nails
To be fair, it’s likely that syrup nails originated in Japan about a decade ago. The look migrated to South Korea and then overseas by 2021-2022. It continues to be popular worldwide Perhaps because it fits right into the “clean look” or quiet luxury aesthetic.
American nail artist Julie Kandalec explained that when she visited Seoul a few short years ago, the trend was to have a sheer nail bed with the lunula visible, and the pigment concentrated on the tips almost like a French manicure. Korean and Japanese-made syrup polish was lightly pigmented and extra glossy so that artists didn’t have to custom mix their own products. She compared the texture to maple syrup: thick and shiny, see-through, yet still amber colored.
The good news is that brands like Lavis have released jelly polishes that perfectly fit the requirements for syrup nail ideas. Layering the polish intensifies the color but the effect still remains sheer.
Chocolate Syrup Nails
Here’s a recent post on the Unistella Instagram account. (This popular salon was started by Park Eunyung of South Korea. She is responsible for several trendy styles over the past decade.) It shows off chocolate syrup nails to prove that this trend doesn’t always have to be sheer. What matters is the thick, glossy, syrupy result. It’s much faster to achieve with gel polish or dip powder, but doable with lacquer and a shiny top coat.
Cat Eye Syrup Nails
Syrup nails can be any color. In the beginning, it was common to layer translucent nail polish over an opaque color at the tip for a gradient look. But now you can combine various shades and variations like milky, glittery, or cat eye polish. The latter creates a glass nails effect. In fact, the subtle shimmer of cat eye polish makes for dazzling syrup nails designs.
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LAVIS Set 6 Colors Crystal Cat Eye Gel - Universal Cat Eye Collection
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Syrup Nails and Chrome
Here’s an interesting gradient across nails combined with chrome tips and accents. Even the metallic parts look like they are freshly poured syrup. The slight variation in color reminds us of how some glasses gradually increase in tint depending on the amount of light.
Watercolor Syrup Nails
Have you run across syrup nail art that resembles watermelons? There’s usually a hint of green curving around the tip and a blush of pink in the center. Then, there are floral nails that embrace the watercolor effect of syrup nails to make this tulip design.
Pearls and Syrup Skittle Nails
Test run all your favorite shades at once with Skittle nails. We love the soft gradient on each fingertip. The tiny pearls make them even more luxurious.
If you were a Korean nail artist working on someone’s natural nails, you can even add a little length, strength, and shine with builder gel in a bottle.
Fig Nails
Can you see how these syrup nails resemble the gradient coloration of fig peels? Blooming gel is ideal for when you want to blend colors but still keep some parts distinct. It disperses the pigment slowly and you can direct the process.
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Chunk Nails with Sparkle
Just like cheek nails, chunk nails (blob nails) are another fashionable Korean nail trend. The result is hypnotic when you combine it with syrup nail art, cat eye polish, chrome, and crystals.
Aura Syrup Nails with Shimmer
Can you guess how they created these syrup nails? You can see the pop of color in the center and the glittery curves around the tips. Each nail has a tiny star floating on the surface. We’re guessing that a high-quality top coat came in handy here.
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Quail EggNails
Quail egg nails are another Korean favorite that has caught on worldwide. As you can see, it’s simply syrup nails with speckles. They could be hand-painted spots, glitter, or sometimes a special polish creates this effect.
Also, notice the ring finger. Does it remind you of bubble bath nail art with the strawberries submerged in the milky syrup? This creamy look is also a very popular syrup nail idea.
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Conclusion
You can make quite a visual impact with syrup nails. They are beautiful and versatile. A single shade can build a sleek, dimensional look in just a few layers. Artists who want more can build on that base with details and effects. It’s an easy trend to love and even easier to achieve with the right products. Shop our store to find jelly gels and everything else you need for your next syrup nails set.
