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Glass Nails Are the Prettiest New Beauty Trend You're Probably Never Going to Try

So glam. So impractical.

By Lauren Valenti
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Instagram

Just as we were coming around to bubble nails—just kidding, we'd sooner claw our eyes out with razor-sharp talons—there's a new trend that has the internet double tapping their digits. 

Enter glass nails, which are exquisite 3D and glass-inspired creations born out of Korea—because, obviously. The brainchild of South Korean manicurist and founder of Unistella salon, Eun Kyung Park, she's been sending Instagram into a tizzy with her dazzling designs, from holographic patterns, to Art Deco mosaics, to more streamlined negative space looks. 

While these MoMA-worthy looks are surely at the forefront of a whole new guard of nail art (we foresee RiRi and Kylie Jenner jumping on the bandwagon first), there's no denying that these dainty looks bring a whole new level of panic to our fears of breaking a nail. 

Check out some of the most swoon-worthy glass nail looks below:

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Faceted iridescent jewel nails Can't get enough of these jewel nails! Inspired by @nail_unistella's diamond glass nails, which has 9 facets. I simplified mine to 7 facets, reminiscent of @chalkboardnails' Precious Gems. I won't lie, these nails take time. To start off, I needed the exact outline of my nails for the facets. After taping washi tape to each nail, I traced the nail onto the tape. Then I transferred the tapes to my working surface and traced the outlines onto a piece of paper. When I had all 5 digits, I made each nail smaller, shrinking it about 2mm (1/8") inwards on all sides. This is so the facets sit just within the nail, but not right at the edge. Next, I drew facets into each nail outline, starting with the middle facet. With the 'blueprint' done, I placed the iridescent cellophane over the drawn nail facets, and used an Exacto to scratch the facets and nail outline onto the cellophane. I used an Exacto instead of a pen so the lines wouldn't show up on the nail art. Edward Scissorhands time. As I snipped out each facet, I placed it on my working surface according to its position, like a jigsaw. Naturally, working near an open window or fan will make you 😖😢😱 #facepalm, so plan accordingly. Now to attaching the shimmery goodness to your nails. I used gel polish for these, starting with a thin layer of powder pink as the background. You can just see it in the middle facet of my pinky, 😥 as I had mysteriously shed the iridescent cellophane during an aggressive shopping trip. Working one nail at a time, I painted a clear gel over the previously cured pink gel. Using tweezers or a wax pencil, I placed each facet in its position on the corresponding nail on the tacky gel, and cured it. Then another coat of gel and cure to seal it in. Repeat on all digits. If there are facet pieces poking through the polish, you could snip these off or paint on more gel and cure. Bonus, the iridescence gets more 💎 brilliant as the thicker layer of polish acts like a magnifying glass. Enjoy your own personal 💖🌈 shiny jewels! Prompts: Honor nails you love for #31DC2015

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