What Are NFC Nails? The Techy Mani Trend, Explained

As it turns out, there’s one thing that Zenon Girl of the 21st Century didn’t prepare me for about being a girl of the 21st century. Chatting with besties on FaceTime? I’ve done it. Funky hairstyles and an affinity for bright colors? Absolutely! But no one ever could’ve predicted we’d be able to tap our nails to a phone and have our favorite song start playing. Technology is, in fact, incredible.

In case you haven’t heard, NFC Manicures are poised to be—to borrow another phrase from the best Disney Channel original movie heroine—gigundous. Short for “near field communication,” NFC is an ultra-tiny tech format that plays off the signals on your phone to make something amazing happen, like a light-up pinky finger.

“Just like tapping a phone to pay or exchange a virtual business card, with a programmable sticker embedded in your press on, you can tap your nail,” explains Jana Bobosikova Jr., the CEO and Founder of Kiki, who’s spreading the NFC gospel around the world with their products.

“It’s kind of similar to a QR code where it takes you to a digital place, but it’s even simpler than that,” adds nail artist Lori-Ellen Howe. “There are two types of NFC nail chips that I’ve been using. One is like a microchip that you can encrypt with data: a website, a Spotify song. I have one that links my Instagram so if someone compliments my nails I can tap on their phone and it will open.”

The other? A blinking light that will start shining whenever your phone is unlocked. And no, it’s not nearly as complicated as it sounds.

Ahead, everything to know about the NFC manicure trend: What exactly it is, why it’s growing, and how—without a major data engineering background—to make it work for you.

The Trend

In an ever so techy world, it only makes sense that our manicures would get smart. “No one is pulling out credit cards anymore for small purchases, and it’s the same thing with a business card,” says Howe, who explains that an NFC chip is like a completely flat sticker, no different than any other nail decal sticker you’d put on.

“They’re paper thin and about the size of an Advil,” she adds. “They’re weightless, painless, and don’t heat up or anything.” They’re also reusable, as long as you remove them delicately. What’s not to love? (Except incessant blinking in the night if you go the light-up NFC route, but you shouldn’t be sleeping with your phone on next to you anyway.)

Another reason NFC nails are gaining popularity: Tech and creativity have always gone hand and hand, and nail artists are especially good at capturing what’s new and cool. While Howe may be ahead of the curve with NFC manicures, they’re bound to get big. Soon.

“The chips are going to get smaller and there’s going to be more and more,” the LA-based artist says. Eventually, the one-link data maximum will probably expand, and you might even be able to program light shows in your nails.

Lastly, there’s the social component. A nail tap to bring up an Instagram profile is an incredible flirting move. Or a business move! (You choose.)

Kiki has even utilized the technology to create their own social media platform. They add embedded, encrypted NFC tags to each product they create, so when tapped they lead to the member’s unique profile (and reward use with points). “Because these tags are authenticated to be tapped in person only, they create ‘social graph’ and a connection with all your friends and their profiles,” explains Bobosikova Jr.

How to Get the Look

If you’re looking to DIY an NFC manicure, you can buy the stickers online and program them through an app.

“I would put on base coat, and then the sticker, and then the color on top,” says Howe. “If you’re using a light-up sticker, leave a little area where the light can shine through. It’s a little yellow in color so I like to cover it with opaque polish.” You can also buy press ons like Kiki’s. The brand’s next set? A butterfly chrome design created by Morgan Gilbertson of Haus Of Nails.

And if, when at the salon, your own nail artist doesn’t know about them, show them (with a tap of your finger, perhaps?). They’ll learn soon enough, anyway—and you’ll get to hear them say “zetus lapetus” in real life.