After watching hours of youtube videos watching people do their own nails I wanted to do it myself. And what better opportunity to get started than on my upcoming trip to South Korea. I’d heard all about the nail mail however when I tried to watch videos about it or read about I struggled to find information.
Here’s a complete guide based on my experience and other shoppers’ tips.
Contents
Getting to the Nail Mall
The nail mall is located in Dongdaemun which can be access by bus or the subway. The entrance is down a side street next to the outlet mall. Take the lift to reach the nail mall.
This video shows you exactly how to get to the mall.
What To Expect
Exit the lift to find the nail mall entrance on your left, with bathrooms nearby. The door is guarded by two pink security posts so you won’t miss it.
Inside the nail mall there are a few different sections:
- nail polish
- cuticle care items (including scented cuticle oil!)
- nail files
- chrome powder
- brushes
- 3d gels
- charms
- stickers
- gelx nails
- storage
- and more!
Send me an email if you have a query about a specific item 🙂
A few popular nail polish brands you’ll find at the nail mall are Yoghurt Gels (but these were almost all sold out when I went), Bessie, YAAA, and more!
Mistakes To Avoid At The Nail Mall
- Buying a sample/tester nail polish
At the front of each row of nail polish is a tester/sample bottle! The tester bottle will have a white label on its lid in Korea. Don’t buy this one and instead look for an unopened bottle behind it.
If you do happen to pick up a tester the staff are really friendly and will let you know!
2. Not having a list
Having a list helps you stay focused and avoid buying things you don’t need.
I forgot to buy dark blue polish while I was there and wasn’t able to find it at any other cosmetic store. So having a list would have saved me from this unfortunate mishap.
I also bought the wrong type of 3D gel because I couldn’t remember what the one I wanted was called!
3. Buying too many similar colors
It’s easy to get excited and buy multiple shades that look different in the store but end up being very similar once you get home. Compare swatches carefully before purchasing.
You don’t need to start with every colour. It’s possible to mix polishes to create the colours you would like.
How To Get Free Charms
By spending over $200 you can get 10 free charms! I hadn’t purchase any charms while I was there so I was very excited when I was told I could now pick 10 packets for free.
However you don’t have access to all the charms. Just the charms on the wall next to the counter however this was still a huge selection and 10 felt like a lot to pick haha!
Note: This information about free charms was based on my personal experience in May 2024. Promotions and offers may vary throughout the year, so it’s best to check with staff during your visit for current deals.
You may also want to ask about any ongoing promotions or special offers when making your purchases, as they sometimes have seasonal deals.
The specific threshold for free charms and the number of charms offered may vary throughout the year.
Things to Do In Dongdaemun
1. Hyundai Outlet – A popular department store in Dongdaemun featuring fashion, accessories, and lifestyle products. They also have popups inside and outside of the mall.
I got a really cute pastels portrait of me and my cat done while I was there 🙂
2. Dongdaemun Wholesale Market – Including the famous beads and accessories market section
3. Nyu Nyu Store – Popular Korean accessories and lifestyle store
I could spend hours at this store alone with their variety of clothing and accessories.
The bottom floor is all jewellery while the next two are clothing, hair accessories and more jewellery.
4. DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) – Known locally as “the donut” – features rotating pop-up stores and exhibitions
When I was there there was a really cute Hello Kitty pop up as well as a free makeup experience that we could walk through.
These locations are all within walking distance of the nail mall and make great additions to your shopping trip.
