Korean Job Discussion Forums

Enigma · Joined: 20 Mar 2008

Over the last couple of years I've seen quite a few students who've painted their nails (and sometimes the tips of their fingers) with puke orange nail polish. I've asked several of them to explain why they do it, but I've never gotten a satisfactory explanation.
Can any of you enlighten me?

Thanks

NYC_Gal · Joined: 08 Dec 2009

I always thought it was henna.

Patrick Bateman · Joined: 21 Apr 2009 Location: Lost in Translation

kmp317 · Joined: 27 Dec 2009

my kinder girls do that a lot too. It's dye from a flower (bongsunghwa). It lasts for a long time. It also can really dye your fingers.

Missihippi · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Location: Gwangmyeong

Yeah, my student said they wrap their fingers in this flower and leave it over night.. it dyes the skin at first too, but that wears away faster than the nail itself.

eslville · Joined: 21 Apr 2010

They say if it stays until the first snowfall then they will get to meet the person of their dreams (soul mate).

I could be wrong on this, but that's what I seem to remember...

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toniyellow · Joined: 30 Sep 2009

Yes i've heard you dye your nails in summer when the plant flowers and its good luck if its still in your nails by the first snow. It should soak into the nail so it will grow out slowly and look like a french manicure, thats why sometimes it is just the tips.

0ju · Joined: 30 Sep 2009

I'm more curious about the "only paint the big toe" trend (I've also seen the inverse... paint every nail but the big toe!)

nomad-ish · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 10:43 pm Post subject:

peacemaker · Joined: 19 Sep 2006

I'll second not letting your students do this to you. I let them talk me into putting it on my pinky finger during the school festival several weeks ago, and my fingernail is still quite orange...

iselynjenniep · Joined: 01 Jul 2010 Location: bundang

i actually just did this with my friend two days ago! you can buy it in in powder form (mix with water to get a paste and put on your nails with a q-tip).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bongseonhwa_fingernail_dying

InOtherWords · Joined: 12 Jun 2010

eslville is right. It's about the true love and snowfall tradition... We did it at a summer camp. I think it looks cool.
Definitely not about strict appearance code loopholes, though that reminds me of when a guy in high school got a tattoo on the top of his shaved head. Tattoos were not to be visible and no hats in school... Funny dilemma. For a while they made him wear a ton of band-aids over it. After a while it became old news and his hair grew out a bit, but still it was stupid/funny.