Hongdae nail salon free gel removal, checkered art in 30 min: Byuazeu

Hongdae's go-to for monthly nail art: Byuazeu Nail

Right as summer was winding down and fall was starting, it felt like the perfect time to change up my nails. I'd gotten a nice set in Da Nang, Vietnam, but it got me searching for something more affordable back home. Byuazeu Nail in Hongdae turned out to be pretty famous, so I'm sharing the location, prices, and this month's art all in one place!

Byuazeu Hongdae Nail location & hours

• 📍 Location: 19 Hongik-ro 2-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (1st floor) — 266m from Hongik University Station Exit 9
• ⏰ Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00
• 💅 Naver reservations available
• 🎁 Naver notification perk: free removal of nails from another salon

Location, booking, and the vibe inside Byuazeu Nail

You can get there straight from Exit 9 of Hongik University Station, or from the Seogyo-dong bus stop. I came in the evening after work, and the building had that distinct Hongdae atmosphere going for it.

You come in, switch into slippers, confirm your reservation at the counter, and wait in the waiting area until you're called. Same-day slots fill up fast, so make sure to book ahead!

How free gel removal from another salon works

Just signing up for notifications on Naver gets you free removal of nails done elsewhere. And on repeat visits, leaving a review on Naver or Google also gets you free removal costs..! It's such a nice touch since removal fees can add up more than you'd think.

While waiting, you can grab water or a drink from the fridge.

The moment I stepped in, a whole wall of nail polishes caught my eye. They're neatly organized by color, which made browsing pretty fun too.

Removing my old set and picking September's monthly art

There were so many sample designs to choose from, so even if you don't have an exact design in mind, you can just look through the options in-store and decide.

Byuazeu September monthly art prices

There were so many nail tips perfect for that in-between summer-fall moment, it was hard to choose.

While waiting, I'd already shortlisted three designs — a brown-tone dot pattern and a gray-tone star pattern, aren't they so cute? These must be popular too, since the customer next to me chose the same star design! Both of these designs are ₩59,000.

The other option was none other than this month's pedicure-style art — a watercolor checkered pattern that looked like it had just soaked up water. It was so cute I went back and forth before finally picking it! It's ₩49,000.

I was honestly shocked at how fast her hands moved. When I got my nails done in Da Nang it felt like it dragged on forever, but here there wasn't even a moment to get bored. Look at those neatly cleaned-up nails! Such a satisfying reset.

Since I'm on the shorter side, they gave me a cushion to sit on, and the lamp was positioned right at the perfect spot under the pad, which made the whole process a lot more comfortable.

Checkered thumb accent + a mysterious ink-black color

My nails were in a pretty rough state before, so seeing them look this clean now is almost emotional. Especially the thumb — it used to have a really busy design, so this simple but striking checkered pattern is genuinely so satisfying.

The thumbs got a checkered accent, while the rest of the fingers were filled with an ink-black shade that has subtle hints of green and blue mixed in — such a mysterious color. It's not a harsh cool tone or too dark, so it's an easy, wearable color, which makes me like it even more.

I'd forgotten my wallet, but luckily Naver Pay and Toss Pay were both accepted, which was a relief. You just pay the remaining amount after the deposit is deducted!

From removal to finished art in 30 minutes

My nail tech's hands were incredibly fast — everything from removal to this month's art wrapped up in just 30 minutes. If it had finished even sooner I could've caught the fireworks festival, but thanks to the timing I still made it to the pre-festival crowds with friends I'd just met!!

The finished nails in indoor and natural light

Isn't the thumb pattern so pretty? Every time I look at my nails now I just feel happy. It suits short, wide nail beds like mine perfectly! Made picnicking along the Han River feel even better too.

I'm a bit of a dopamine addict so I usually get really bored during nail appointments, but my nail tech worked so fast and so carefully that I left fully satisfied. If you're looking for an affordable nail salon in Hongdae, definitely give Byuazeu a try!