Ways to use symbols in a bio
A few well-placed symbols make a bio easier to scan. Some ideas:
- Bullets at the start of each line: ⋆ ceramics ⋆ workshops ⋆ studio sales
- A frame around your name or a headline: ✦ Maya ✦ or 【 new drop 】
- An arrow pointing at your link: shop here ↓
- A divider between sections in a caption or about page
- A kaomoji to show some personality without an emoji: (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)
Ready-made lines to start from
Copy one of these and swap in your own words, or build your own in the tray above:
- ✦ ceramic artist ✦ lisbon ✦
- ⋆｡°✩ new drop every friday ✩°｡⋆
- ╰┈➤ shop the collection
- ꒰ commissions open ꒱ ♡
- ── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── booking for spring ── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Symbols or emoji?
Most of these are text symbols, not emoji. They take on the color of the text around them, so they look calmer and match your words, which is a big part of the aesthetic look.
A few characters, like ❤ and ☀, can show either way, and phones often turn them into color emoji. The ❤︎ in the hearts group has an invisible marker after it that asks for the plain text version, though not every app follows it.
Whichever you use, pick two or three and stick with them across your bio, highlight covers and captions. A small, repeated set looks deliberate. A different symbol on every line looks busy.
Keep it readable
Screen readers read symbols by name, so a row of sparkles can become "white four pointed star, ring above, degree sign". Use symbols to decorate words, not to replace them, and go easy on repeats.
Symbols also use up your character limit, and some count as two. If space is tight, paste the finished bio into a length checker before you save.
If a symbol shows as a box
Each symbol needs a font on the reader's device that includes it. The common ones here (stars, hearts, arrows, bullets) show almost everywhere. Some kaomoji and decorative pieces borrow from rarer alphabets and can show as empty boxes on older phones. If that happens, swap in a simpler symbol.
Frequently asked questions
How do I copy and paste symbols?
Click a symbol here and it's copied straight away. Then open the app, tap where you want it, and paste.
Do aesthetic symbols work on Instagram and TikTok?
Yes. They're standard Unicode characters, so they work in bios, names, captions and comments on Instagram, TikTok, X and most other apps.
What is kaomoji?
Kaomoji are Japanese-style faces made from text characters, like ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ or (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶). You read them straight on, unlike sideways emoticons such as :).
Why does a symbol look different on my phone?
Each device draws symbols with its own fonts, so shapes and sizes vary a little. Some, like hearts, can appear as color emoji on one phone and plain text on another.