Source images: Courtesy of @b.by_you and @eve_nailSave this storySave this story
If you’re someone who gets your nails done often, it’s easy to fall into a rut. You’ve probably tried all the trendy designs, like frame nails and velvet aura nails. You have classics like French tips on rotation, and you’ve even gotten quite good at mixing and matching trends in one manicure. But if you’ve hit that wall where you don’t know what nail design to get next, allow us to put you on to a new trend: barcode nails.
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.
Courtesy of @miatanails
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—as you bend your finger, the line appears to move up and down.
Chloe Jeong, a nail artist in Arizona, says she started seeing barcode nail art on social media last spring. “While the design isn't something every client is asking for just yet, I’ve definitely seen a growing interest,” she says. Yoshiko Yamaguchi, a nail artist in New York City, echoes this, noting she’s 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.
Courtesy of Chloe Jeong
Velvet nails were more popular than ever in 2025, so it’s no surprise that people are finding ways to remix the effect. Says Jeong, the look “feels modern, slightly edgy, without being overwhelming.”
In South Korea, barcode nails are being paired with maximalist nail adornments like rhinestones and decals, but “the clean, one-line look seems to be more popular stateside,” Jeong adds.
How to get barcode nails at home
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.) “Hold a rectangular magnet horizontally along the nail bed for about 30 seconds with the thin edge facing upward,” says Jeong. “As the magnet is held in place, the metallic particles within the gel are pulled into a fine, linear formation, creating that signature barcode effect.”
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.
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. “These 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,” says Jeong.
Below, discover barcode nail designs we’re saving for our next manicure appointment.
Silver stripe barcode nails
Courtesy of @nail_nid
Black cherry barcode nails
Courtesy of @b.by_you
Star-spangled barcode nails
Courtesy of @eve_nail
Courtesy of @nail.nuha
Green and silver striped barcode nails
Courtesy of @b.by_you
Green and gold striped barcode nails
Courtesy of @_moodnail
Galaxy barcode nails
Courtesy of @beambeam.nails
Purple and black ombré barcode nails
Courtesy of @nailsbycindyxo
