Taylor Louise | @taylor_louisem
On May 11, SM Entertainment’s newest girl group, æspa, dropped some bomb teaser images on their socials. Just as their comeback title states, the teasers were Next Level. Each of the shots featured beautiful, futuristic, fairy-like imagery, with crisp CG surroundings, innovative costumes, as well as amazing hair and makeup to match.
aespa 에스파 〖Next Level〗
➫ 2021.05.17 6PM KST#aespa #æspa #에스파#NextLevel pic.twitter.com/ODv0mmkRym— aespa (@aespa_official) May 10, 2021
Giselle, Ningning, and Karina were photographed with sparkling hair gems alongside their lustrous nails and twinkling eye accents. These gems were reminiscent of 90’s hair jewels, nostalgic of a time where everything was bejeweled and butterfly clips reigned supreme. The members seemed to breathe new life into the popular trend, and the stylists modernized the look by using adhesive gems in place of the older twist-jewels.
While Giselle’s hair carried distinctive sparkly lines matching her neat bangs, Ningning sported sporadically placed gems with her fiery side-swept bangs, and Karina’s jewels flowed neatly behind her ear and into her headdress.
aespa 에스파 〖Next Level〗
➫ 2021.05.17 6PM KST#GISELLE #지젤 #aespa #æspa #에스파#NextLevel pic.twitter.com/0zxNh4KWK2— aespa (@aespa_official) May 11, 2021
aespa 에스파 〖Next Level〗
➫ 2021.05.17 6PM KST#KARINA #카리나#aespa #æspa #에스파#NextLevel pic.twitter.com/r9aqlGov4N— aespa (@aespa_official) May 11, 2021
aespa 에스파 〖Next Level〗
➫ 2021.05.17 6PM KST#NINGNING #닝닝 #aespa #æspa #에스파#NextLevel pic.twitter.com/Uxbzqu8ryg— aespa (@aespa_official) May 11, 2021
Although the fourth member, Winter, didn’t match the others’ hair gems, she wowed fans with her two-toned locks and large, statement accessories– perfectly framing her face and adding extra sparkle to her images.
aespa 에스파 〖Next Level〗
➫ 2021.05.17 6PM KST#WINTER #윈터#aespa #æspa #에스파#NextLevel pic.twitter.com/WTIWaj5xz3— aespa (@aespa_official) May 8, 2021
Likewise, Taeyong, leader of NCT, also wore similar hair accessories on various stages during the Resonance title track “Make A Wish” promotions.
이제 첫주가 끝났는데 너무 재밌었어요 엄청난 스케일의 무대세트들과 멤버들과 촬영을 하니깐 너무너무 재밌었어요 ~~#TAEYONG #MakeAWish#NCT #NCTU #RESONANCE#RESONANCE_Pt1#NCT_RESONANCE #인기가요 pic.twitter.com/9quTvy3z53
— NCT (@NCTsmtown) October 18, 2020
???#DOYOUNG #TAEYONG#NCT #MakeAWish #RESONANCE#NCT2020 #RESONANCE_Pt1#NCT2020_RESONANCE #뮤직뱅크 pic.twitter.com/cEXSfXAyDo
— NCT (@NCTsmtown) October 16, 2020
90’s trends are fast becoming prominent again, the Y2K trend proving to be a great example. With SM artists regularly proving to be ahead of trends too, we are sure that hair gems will be a widely successful hair trend of 2021.
Let us know what you think of these hair jewels by tagging us on socials @ncity_mag and using the hashtag #EnVi.
Loved reading æspa Brings Back the Gems? Check out EnVi’s coverage on the storyline behind “æspa ep1. Black Mamba – SM Culture Universe.”
Thumbnail courtesy of SM Entertainment.
