Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the beauty industry has experienced significant
changes driven by the expansion of non-face-to-face lifestyles and the rapid growth of the
home beauty trend. In particular, self-gel nail care has become increasingly ...
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the beauty industry has experienced significant
changes driven by the expansion of non-face-to-face lifestyles and the rapid growth of the
home beauty trend. In particular, self-gel nail care has become increasingly popular among
women in their 20s to 40s due to its affordability, accessibility, and flexibility in time and
place. This trend suggests that self-gel nail care is no longer merely an alternative to
professional nail salon services, but rather an independent form of beauty consumption that
reflects individual lifestyles and aesthetic values. Accordingly, there is a growing need to
systematically examine the characteristics of continuous self-gel nail users and the
psychological meanings associated with their sustained usage.
The purpose of this study is to analyze the usage patterns and consumption motivations
of continuous self-gel nail users and to empirically examine the effects of self-gel nail
usage on self-satisfaction. The participants were women aged 20 to 40 residing in the
Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam regions who had used self-gel nail care at least once a
month for more than three months. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey,
and after excluding incomplete or insincere responses, a total of 275 valid samples were
used for the final analysis. By focusing on continuous users, this study aimed to capture
consumption perceptions and psychological characteristics formed through repeated usage
rather than one-time experiences, thereby expanding the analytical scope of previous
self-nail research.
The questionnaire consisted of items measuring demographic characteristics, self-gel nail
usage patterns, consumption motivations and perceptions, and self-satisfaction. All items
were measured using a five-point Likert scale. The collected data were analyzed using
statistical software, employing frequency analysis, cross-tabulation, t-tests, analysis of
variance (ANOVA), and regression analysis. Through these analyses, the general
characteristics and usage behaviors of continuous self-gel nail users were identified, and the
relationships between consumption motivations, psychological factors, and self-satisfaction
were examined.
The results revealed that continuous self-gel nail users were predominantly younger
women, particularly those in their early to mid-20s and students. Major consumption
motivations included economic efficiency, convenience, enjoyment, and the desire for
self-expression. Furthermore, self-gel nail usage was found to have a statistically significant
effect on self-satisfaction. In particular, self-management awareness, a sense of achievement,
and psychological satisfaction emerged as key factors contributing to higher levels of
self-satisfaction. These findings indicate that self-gel nail care functions as a form of
self-directed beauty consumption that positively influences individuals’ self-perception and
psychological well-being beyond simple aesthetic management.
This study holds academic significance in that it empirically clarifies the relationship
between consumption motivations and self-satisfaction among continuous self-gel nail users.
In addition, the findings provide practical implications for the development of safety
education programs, product design strategies, and customized consumer-oriented content in
the self-nail industry. By conceptualizing self-gel nail care as a form of self-directed beauty
practice rather than merely a beauty service alternative, this study also suggests the
potential for expanding research on self-beauty practices within the field of beauty arts