Turn Art Into A Manicure With Kintsugi Nails

Taking the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, or kintsugi, and translating it into a manicure makes for a lovely set of nails with an impactful meaning. It's not often that something as seemingly fun and straightforward as a manicure would hold such poetic significance, but that's what kintsugi nails have accomplished. "Kintsugi is a Japanese art that is centuries old," celebrity manicurist Mar y Sol Inzerillo shared with PopSugar. "When you have broken pottery, you don't throw it away — instead, you mend it by dusting on gold or silver leaf."

By adorning your manicure with fine gold lines to metaphorically fill in the cracks, you're wearing a piece of art that reminds us all of the power of resilience. "Wellness is about the practice of resilience, overcoming challenges and being a better version of yourself with all of your golden cracks," author and chef Candice Kumai told NBC News. If you're looking for a manicure trend with depth and beauty, look no further than kintsugi nails. And if you're unsure where to start, here's some inspiration to fill the empty space with glittering hope.

The kintsugi manicure leaves a lot of room for creativity and expression. The hues and patterns are up to you or your nail artist. You can opt to use your go-to color for the base, and you're also not limited to gold when filling in the perceived cracks –- silver, copper, or bronze are also lovely options.

Ideal for the minimalist, neutral-toned, golden kintsugi nails are sleek, ethereal, and eye-catching. Keeping the glittering lines on the thinner side and making them unique to each nail is just the method to go for with the look. It also goes without saying that gold jewelry suits this trend beautifully.

Just as a broken ceramic dish may hold multiple colors, your kintsugi manicure can also be multi-toned. Using a couple of shades to complement the gold lining creates a stunning vibe. The trend also works on short and long nails, so go with the option you're most comfortable wearing.

Long, sheer, and fit for a queen, clear kintsugi nails capture the trend. You may not think to repair a broken glass with gold leaf, but the look is elegant and heartwarming. A big, chunky gold ring is also a great accessory to make this type of manicure shine.

Classic, patterned dishware translated into a manicure? Yes, please. Adding this detail will make your kintsugi nails even more idyllic, unique, and captivating. Your gold lines can serve as a subtle accent to a primary pattern or stand out. Either way, the message rings out clearly.

Want to go with thicker, more defined gold lines for a kintsugi manicure? Pair a powder blue or gray base with gold layered in between a black outline. The effect will really pop and create a more exaggerated kintsugi manicure, almost reminiscent of bare tree branches. A light base will also make for a beautiful contrast behind the gold cracks.

For a more abstract iteration of the kintsugi trend, use glittery nails to showcase a less defined gold line that truly shimmers and shines. If you aren't sure you have the nail art skills to get the thin gold lines of the look down, you can always opt for something intentionally conceptual.

We love a deep and moody manicure and pairing an emerald green with the kintsugi trend will provide a lovely backdrop for the metaphor exemplified by the golden cracks. Something bolder and deeper will offer a brighter contrast than the paler blue and neutral-toned kintsugi manicures we've seen. Explore the world of kintsugi fashion by opting for this trend at your next nail appointment.