12 Squid Game-Inspired Nail Art Designs

Trending Looks for 2025

Squid Game's impact has extended far beyond television screens, inspiring creative trends in fashion and beauty. The show's distinctive visual elements have captured the imagination of nail artists worldwide, leading to a surge in Squid Game-inspired manicure designs.

These nail art creations allow fans to express their love for the series while showcasing intricate and eye-catching designs on their fingertips. From the iconic shapes featured in the show's deadly games to the bold color palette that defines its aesthetic, Squid Game nail art offers a unique way for enthusiasts to engage with the cultural phenomenon. Nail salons and DIY manicure enthusiasts have embraced this trend, developing innovative techniques to recreate the show's most memorable visuals in miniature form.

1) Red Light, Green Light Gradient

This nail art design draws inspiration from the iconic "Red Light, Green Light" game featured in Squid Game. The gradient effect mimics the tension and anticipation of the deadly children's game.

The base of the nails starts with a vibrant green, symbolizing the "Green Light" phase where players can move. As the gradient progresses, it transitions into a deep red, representing the "Red Light" when all movement must cease.

To achieve this look, nail artists use a sponging technique or airbrush tool to create a seamless blend between the two colors. The gradient can be applied horizontally across each nail or vertically from cuticle to tip.

For added flair, some designs incorporate small decals or hand-painted elements. These may include the robotic doll's eyes or silhouettes of players frozen in motion.

This nail art style appeals to fans who want a subtle nod to the series without overt imagery. It's versatile enough for everyday wear while still capturing the essence of the show's most memorable game.

2) Player Uniforms Minimalist Patterns

The iconic green tracksuits worn by Squid Game players inspire simple yet striking nail designs. Nail artists recreate the uniform's clean lines and muted tones on a miniature scale.

A popular approach features a solid teal base coat on each nail, mimicking the tracksuit color. White stripes or numbers are then added to represent the player identification tags.

Some designs incorporate small white squares or circles to evoke the button details on the uniforms. These minimal elements create a subtle nod to the show's aesthetic.

For a bolder look, artists may use negative space techniques. They paint green shapes on a neutral base, leaving gaps to form the outline of a stylized tracksuit.

Texture can add depth to these minimalist designs. Matte top coats give nails a fabric-like finish, while glossy accents highlight specific elements.

Advanced artists might include tiny painted zippers or pockets for added realism. These intricate details showcase the versatility of Squid Game-inspired nail art.

3) Dalmatian Eyes Bloodred Drips

This nail design combines elements from the Squid Game's iconic dalgona challenge and the show's intense atmosphere. The base features a stark white polish reminiscent of the sugar candy discs used in the game.

Black spots are dotted across the nails in a dalmatian-like pattern, symbolizing the holes players carefully carved into their dalgona treats. These spots also evoke the masked guards' uniform buttons.

The focal point of this design is a pair of wide, staring eyes painted on select nails. These represent the constant surveillance and tension players felt throughout the games.

To capture the show's darker themes, blood-red polish is applied in drips from the nail tips. This creates a striking contrast against the white base and adds a touch of drama to the overall look.

The combination of innocent white, watchful eyes, and blood-red accents effectively conveys the juxtaposition of childhood games and deadly stakes central to Squid Game's premise. This nail art allows fans to subtly showcase their appreciation for the series.

4) Shapes of the Guard Masks

The guard masks in Squid Game feature distinctive geometric shapes that have become iconic symbols of the series. These shapes - circles, triangles, and squares - appear on the front of each guard's mask.

The shapes represent different ranks within the guard hierarchy. Circles denote the lowest-ranking workers, who handle basic tasks and grunt work. Triangle masks are worn by armed guards who oversee the games and enforce rules.

Square masks signify the highest-ranking managers who make key decisions. This simple visual system allows viewers to quickly identify each guard's role and authority level.

The stark white masks contrasted against pink jumpsuits create a memorable aesthetic. Many nail artists have incorporated these shapes and color schemes into Squid Game-inspired manicures.

Popular designs include recreating the guard masks on accent nails or using the shapes as abstract geometric patterns. Some nail art features all three shapes, while others focus on a single iconic symbol like the circle or triangle.

5) VIP Animal Masks on Black Base

This nail art design draws inspiration from the enigmatic VIP characters in Squid Game. It features intricate animal mask patterns painted on a sleek black base.

The design incorporates golden animal masks resembling those worn by the VIPs in the series. Common motifs include deer, eagle, lion, and bull masks, each meticulously detailed on individual nails.

The contrast between the shimmering gold masks and the dark background creates a striking visual effect. This style allows for creativity in choosing which animal masks to showcase.

Nail artists often add small embellishments like rhinestones or gold leaf to enhance the luxurious feel of the design. Some variations include incorporating the Squid Game circle, triangle, and square symbols alongside the masks.

This nail art is perfect for fans of the show looking to make a bold statement. It combines the series' iconic imagery with a touch of elegance and mystery.

6) Glass Bridge Illusion Tips

The glass bridge challenge from Squid Game offers inspiration for a mesmerizing nail design. This look creates the illusion of a transparent bridge on your nails, mimicking the intense scene from the show.

To achieve this effect, start with a clear base coat on all nails. On select nails, apply thin, parallel lines using a fine brush and white nail polish to represent the glass panels.

For added depth, use a light gray or silver polish to create subtle shadows along the edges of the "glass" panels. This technique enhances the three-dimensional appearance.

Consider adding small cracks or fractures to some panels using a black nail art pen. This detail captures the suspense of the game and adds visual interest to the design.

For a finishing touch, apply a high-shine top coat to seal the design and enhance the glass-like appearance. This step is crucial for achieving the realistic illusion of a transparent bridge on your nails.

7) Marbles Pattern on French Tips

Marble-patterned French tips offer a sophisticated nod to the iconic marbles game from Squid Game. This nail design combines the classic elegance of a French manicure with the intrigue of marbled swirls.

Nail artists typically create this look by applying a nude or pale pink base coat. They then paint white tips and use a thin brush to add delicate marble-like veins in shades of gray or pastel blue.

For a bolder statement, some opt for emerald green or deep blue marbling to mimic the glass marbles from the show. Gold accents can be incorporated to add a touch of luxury and drama to the design.

The marbled pattern can be achieved through various techniques. Some use water marbling, while others prefer hand-painting or stamping tools for more precise control over the design.

This nail art style works well on both natural and acrylic nails. It's versatile enough for everyday wear but also eye-catching for special occasions. The subtle yet intriguing design allows wearers to showcase their appreciation for Squid Game in a chic, understated manner.

8) Honeycomb Shape Symbols

Squid Game's memorable honeycomb challenge inspires a unique nail art design. This look incorporates the delicate shapes from the show's deadly sugar cookie game.

Nail artists recreate the circle, triangle, star, and umbrella shapes on a pale beige base. The symbols are typically painted in a contrasting dark color for a striking effect.

Some designs feature a single large shape on each nail, while others include multiple tiny symbols. For added authenticity, artists may create a textured surface mimicking the brittle honeycomb candy.

This nail art style allows for personalization. Fans can choose their favorite shape or mix different symbols across their nails. The honeycomb design works well on all nail lengths and shapes.

To elevate the look, some artists add glitter or metallic accents. These embellishments catch the light and add dimension to the simple geometric shapes.

The honeycomb symbol nail art serves as a subtle nod to Squid Game. It's perfect for those who want a trendy yet understated reference to the popular series.

9) Player Number Accent Nails

Player number accent nails offer a subtle yet recognizable nod to Squid Game. This design incorporates the iconic green player numbers as accent nails among a set of solid color nails.

Choose a base color like white or pale green for most nails. Then add 1-2 accent nails featuring player numbers in the distinctive font used in the show. Popular choices include 456 for Gi-hun or 067 for Sae-byeok.

For added authenticity, use a matte top coat to mimic the look of the players' uniforms. This creates an interesting contrast with the glossy finish on the other nails.

The simplicity of this design makes it versatile for everyday wear while still allowing fans to showcase their appreciation for the series. It works well with both short and long nail shapes.

Consider pairing the number accents with subtle nods to other show elements, like tiny pink triangles or blue squares on the other nails. This ties the whole look together without being overly obvious.

10) Pink Soldier Silhouette Art

This nail design pays homage to the iconic pink soldiers from Squid Game. The look features a solid pink base coat on each nail, creating a canvas for the silhouette art.

Black polish is used to paint the distinctive outline of a Squid Game soldier on one or more accent nails. The soldier's mask and uniform are recognizable even in silhouette form.

For added detail, some nail artists incorporate the geometric shapes associated with the show, such as circles, triangles, and squares. These can be painted in white or black for contrast against the pink background.

To achieve a crisp silhouette, nail technicians may use thin brushes or nail art pens. Alternatively, decals or stencils can help create precise soldier outlines.

This design works well on various nail shapes and lengths. It can be customized by varying the number of nails featuring the soldier silhouette or by adding subtle glitter to the pink base for extra dimension.

11) Coffin Nail Shape Squid Game

Coffin nail shapes provide an excellent canvas for Squid Game-inspired designs. Their elongated form offers ample space to recreate iconic elements from the series.

Nail artists often use the coffin shape to depict the guards' masks, painting them in vibrant pink with black detailing. The flat tip allows for precise rendering of the circle, triangle, and square symbols.

Some designs incorporate the show's numbered jumpsuits, using the length of the nail to display player numbers. Others feature miniature depictions of the giant doll or the glass bridge challenge.

The coffin shape's straight sides are ideal for creating clean lines and geometric patterns inspired by the show's set design. Nail technicians may use negative space techniques to contrast bold colors against a nude base.

For a subtler nod to Squid Game, some opt for a solid pink or green base color matching the contestants' or guards' uniforms. Small accents like tiny shapes or Korean characters can be added for extra flair.

12) Royal Guard Pastel Shields

This nail design puts a soft twist on the iconic Squid Game guards. Instead of their usual bold pink uniforms, the guards are reimagined in pastel hues.

Each nail features a miniature guard silhouette painted in pale pink, lavender, or mint green. The guards' distinctive masks are rendered in complementary pastel shades.

The background of each nail is a crisp white, creating a stark contrast with the pastel figures. This clean backdrop allows the delicate colors of the guards to stand out.

For added interest, some nails incorporate the familiar Squid Game symbols - circles, triangles, and squares - in matching pastel tones. These shapes are subtly placed around the guard figures.

This design offers a softer, more whimsical take on the Squid Game aesthetic. It's perfect for fans who want to reference the show in a less intense way.

The pastel palette makes this nail art suitable for various occasions, from casual outings to more formal events. It's a versatile choice that maintains its connection to the series while offering a fresh interpretation.

Symbolism in Squid Game Nail Art

Squid Game nail art incorporates powerful symbols and colors from the hit series. These designs convey deeper meanings through iconic imagery and strategic color choices.

Understanding Iconography

Squid Game nail art often features the show's distinctive symbols. The circle, triangle, and square shapes represent the masked guards' helmets. These geometric forms appear on accent nails or as part of larger designs. The infamous doll from the "Red Light, Green Light" game is another popular motif. Artists recreate her pigtails and orange dress in miniature on fingertips.

Player numbers also hold significance in nail designs. The number 456, worn by the main character Seong Gi-hun, is frequently incorporated. Some nail artists include multiple player numbers to represent different characters or storylines from the series.

Color Psychology

Colors play a crucial role in Squid Game nail art. The show's signature pink and green hues dominate many designs. Pink represents the guards' uniforms and the eerie staircases in the game complex. It conveys a false sense of playfulness masking danger. Green symbolizes the players' tracksuits and the cash prize. It represents hope, greed, and survival.

Red and blue also feature prominently in nail art. Red signifies danger and elimination, while blue represents relative safety. Some designs contrast these colors to highlight the life-or-death stakes of the games. Black and white are used for stark contrasts, mimicking the masked VIPs' formal attire or the final game's setting.

Design Techniques and Trends

Squid Game-inspired nail art embraces bold colors and iconic shapes from the series. Artists employ various techniques to create eye-catching designs that capture the show's essence.

Incorporating Minimalism

Minimalist Squid Game nail designs focus on key elements from the series. Artists often use a clean white base with simple geometric shapes in red, blue, or green. The triangle, circle, and square symbols from the show's player cards are popular motifs.

Nail technicians may opt for a single accent nail featuring one of these shapes. Alternatively, they might create a cohesive look across all nails using different symbols. Matte finishes are common in minimalist designs, enhancing the sleek aesthetic.

Some artists incorporate the show's numbering system into their designs. They use thin brushes or nail stamps to add delicate numbers to nails in a subtle nod to the series.

Using Negative Space

Negative space techniques allow artists to create striking Squid Game-inspired designs. This approach leaves portions of the natural nail visible, contrasting with painted elements.

One popular method involves painting the iconic shapes onto clear or nude nails. The symbols appear to float on the nail, creating a modern, artistic effect. Artists may use thin black lines to outline shapes, enhancing their visibility against the natural nail.

Another technique incorporates the show's masked figures. Nail technicians paint silhouettes of the guards or Front Man, leaving negative space to define their forms. This creates a bold, graphic look that instantly evokes the series.

Some designs combine negative space with color blocking. Artists divide nails into sections, painting some areas while leaving others bare. This technique allows for creative interpretations of the show's visual themes.