This time of the year, nail trends get a little extra sparkle. From metallic foils to cozy plaid patterns, Christmas manicures can be as bold or understated as you like.
Maybe you want a design that’s Instagram-ready for holiday parties. Or perhaps you’re after a versatile look that works long after the decorations come down.
The beauty of Christmas nails is that they can fit your personality and your plans. Below, you’ll find 59 Christmas nail art designs—plus pro techniques, must-have products, and easy at-home tips—to help you create a festive manicure you’ll love wearing all season.
1. Classic Candy Cane Stripes
Nothing says Christmas like bold red and white candy cane nails—they’re festive, fun, and instantly recognizable. The color palette pulls directly from holiday décor, pairing bright cherry red with crisp white in a timeless stripe pattern.
You can achieve this using ultra-thin striping tape for clean, even lines over a glossy base. At home, try OPI’s Big Apple Red with Alpine Snow for the stripes, sealing with a high-shine top coat for durability.
2. Snowy White Glitter Fade
This frosty design captures the magic of fresh snowfall on a December morning. The look works beautifully with almond, square, or round shapes, using a white-to-silver glitter gradient. Use a sponge to apply the glitter on the tip for a soft fade. You can simply do it yourself with Essie’s Blanc as your base and China Glaze’s Fairy Dust layered from mid-nail to tip. Add silver foils or gems to one or two accent nails for a luxe and sophisticated look
3. Red Velvet Matte
Matte crimson nails feel luxe and warm, just like a slice of Christmas red velvet cake. This deep red hue complements gold jewelry and cozy holiday outfits. To achieve the velvety finish, use a matte top coat over two coats of rich red polish. You can recreate this look at home with Zoya’s Blair and Essie’s Matte About You top coat.
4. Holly Berry Accents
This design adds subtle, tiny holly leaves and berries painted on a nude, sheer pink or blush base. The pop of green and red is a classic Christmas décor without overpowering. Use fine detail brushes and green gel polish to paint holly leaves for precision. Try Sally Hansen’s Pine Shine and Red-iance for the red berry accents over a sheer pink base while painting the rest of the nails with a glittery red and green polish.
5. Silver Bow Nails
Make your nails look like wrapped presents with this shimmery silver bow design. The metallic silver pairs perfectly with cool-toned holiday outfits and snowy winter days.
Try layering a silvery glitter polish as your base, then use a metallic carving gel to create 3D metallic bow and ribbon lines, and then press it on your nail center using your paint brush and a dotting tool.
You can place the bows on one or two accents, so it doesn’t look a bit too much. This design requires professional skills and can’t be done at home unless you’re a pro.
6. Evergreen French Tips
A festive twist on the classic French manicure, swapping white tips for rich evergreen polish. The deep green mimics Christmas tree branches and works beautifully on short or long nails.
You need a freehand for the tips, or you can use French guide stickers for precision. To do it yourself, try Essie’s Off Tropic over a sheer nude base like OPI’s Bubble Bath.
7. Gold Foil Glam
Gold foil nails look luxurious and catch the light beautifully at Christmas parties. The warm metallic tones pair well with both red and green outfits. Apply irregular gold foil pieces over a cured gel base and seal with a top coat. At home, grab gold nail foil flakes from Amazon and layer them over Sally Hansen’s Pure Vegan Pink Cardamon.
8. Gingerbread Man Accents
Playful and cozy, gingerbread man nail art adds a whimsical touch to your holiday look. The warm brown and white icing details work best on a neutral or pastel background. Use dotting tools and fine brushes to paint the tiny cookies and red hearts across each nail. For DIY, use OPI’s It’s a Piazza Cake for the gingerbread and Alpine Snow for the icing.
9. Icy Blue Snowflakes
Cool icy blue nails with delicate white snowflakes give a frosty winter wonderland vibe. The pastel blue feels fresh and slightly unexpected for Christmas while still seasonal.
Apply icy blue glitter polish on your pinky nail or an accent nail, while painting the rest with ILNP UP ABOVE creamy pastel sky blue flakie shimmer nail as a base and stamp or hand-paint snowflakes for precision. To take it the next level, add the glitter polish at the cuticle line and glitter swirls or tips.
10. Red Glitter Ombré
Perfect for holiday dinners and New Year’s parties, this design fades glitter from the tip to mid nail for a dramatic sparkle. The nude base gives it a festive warmth while using a sponge to blend fine, deep red glitter polish into the base color seamlessly to create an ombre effect.
11. Peppermint Swirl
This design mimics peppermint candies with swirling red and white patterns. It’s cheerful, bold, and instantly recognizable as a holiday nail choice. Nail techs often use a water marble or fine striping brush for precision. At home, you can create the swirl using OPI’s Big Apple Red and Alpine Snow with a toothpick for detailing.
12. Champagne Sparkle
For a sophisticated holiday nail, champagne sparkle is perfect. The soft gold shimmer matches both warm and cool-toned outfits and feels festive without being over the top. Layer a fine shimmer polish over a nude base for depth. Try Essie’s Summit of Style over Ballet Slippers to do it yourself.
13. Reindeer Silhouettes
Minimalist reindeer silhouettes on a matte background make for a chic holiday statement. The earthy browns and whites fit both rustic and modern Christmas themes. Stencil or freehand the shapes. You can do it yourself using Essie’s Clothing Optional for the base and Blanc for the design.
14. Tartan Plaid
Inspired by cozy holiday scarves, tartan nails combine red, green, and gold striping over a neutral base. It’s bold yet classic. Use striping brushes to keep the lines crisp, and to do it yourself, go with OPI’s Got the Blues for Red, Christmas Gone Plaid, and gold striping tape.
15. Starry Night Sky
A deep navy base with gold stars creates a magical Christmas Eve feel. The celestial look pairs beautifully with winter outfits. Stamp stars or use dotting tools for constellations. For DIY, use Essie’s Midnight Cami with gold nail stickers from Amazon.
16. Frosted Tips
Think French manicure, but the tips are frosted with silver or white glitter. It’s subtle yet festive for minimalists. Blend the glitter inward for a soft fade. Try OPI’s Happy Anniversary! for the tips over a sheer nude base.
17. Red and Gold Half-Moon
A glamorous, retro-inspired design featuring gold half-moons at the cuticle paired with a bold red base. The color pairing screams Christmas luxury. Use a half-moon stencil for sharp lines. DIY with Big Apple Red and a gold polish like Essie’s Good as Gold.
18. Sweater Knit Texture
Mimicking the cable-knit pattern of holiday sweaters, this nail design adds cozy 3D texture. It works best in matte white, cream, or soft pastels. Nail techs achieve this with acrylic powder over gel polish. DIY kits for sweater nails are available on Etsy—pair with OPI’s My Vampire is Buff.
19. Mistletoe Accents
A soft nude base with tiny mistletoe sprigs makes a romantic holiday nail choice. The green and red pops feel seasonal without dominating the design. Use a freehand for the leaves and berries with gel paint, while the rest of the nails should be painted with a red gel polish. DIY with a detail brush, Essie’s Mojito Madness, and A List for the berries.
20. Winter Wonderland Scene
Miniature Christmas trees, snowmen, and snow-covered houses turn your nails into tiny winter landscapes. It’s detailed, whimsical, and a conversation starter. Use ultra-fine brushes for the details and layer over a nude or bare base.
21. Emerald and Gold Foil Tips
Deep green nails with gold foil tips feel regal and perfect for festive dinners. The jewel-tone green complements every skin tone while the foil catches light beautifully. Nail techs usually press foil onto a tacky top layer for an irregular, organic pattern. You can get a similar effect with Born Pretty Gold Foil Sheets — just press them into a slightly sticky top coat and finish with a clear sealer.
22. Snowy Mountain Silhouettes
Snow-capped mountains on a twilight or pale blue background bring a dreamy winter aesthetic to your nails. Blues and whites create a serene scene that feels like a Christmas postcard. You can use a sponge to dab on a blue shade to mimic the sky, then paint white peaks for snowy details. The image above adds snowy mountains on a blue base, with the other featuring a For DIY, use China Glaze Frostbite as your sky base and a small dotting tool dipped in white for the snowy details.
23. Gift Wrap French Tips
This works because it merges classic French elegance with playful holiday wrapping. The crisp white tips are lined with thin red “ribbons” and tiny bow accents, or you can use red tips and white ribbons to mimic a gift wrap. Use a fine liner brush for precision. At home, start with OPI’s Funny Bunny, then use a red nail art pen to draw the ribbon lines. Finish with Seche Vite for extra shine.
24. Plaid Accent Nails
Plaid patterns scream winter warmth and pair beautifully with deep reds or greens. This design works best as an accent nail to avoid looking too busy. Create a plaid by layering thin lines in alternating colors. You can do it at home with striping brushes and shades like Essie’s Berry Naughty and Good as Gold.
25. Frosted Glitter Ombré
This works because it’s versatile — you can pair it with almost any outfit. Use a sponge to dab glitter polish onto the tips of a pale nude base, like Essie’s Ballet Slippers.
26. Red Velvet Matte Nails
Velvety matte red nails feel rich, warm, and luxurious — like wrapping yourself in Christmas elegance. The matte finish tones down the shine but keeps the boldness of the red. Apply a deep red gel, then seal it with a matte top coat. At home, try Deborah Lippmann’s Single Ladies topped with Essie’s Matte About You.
27. Candy Cane Swirl French Tips
Classic red and white candy cane stripes paired with a French tip never miss in December. The curved placement along the tip keeps it playful yet polished. A steady hand and stripping brush make all the difference for neat lines. DIYers can use Orly Striping Brush and OPI Big Apple Red with Essie Blanc for clean, crisp candy cane curves.
28. Snowy Mountain Ombré
White fades into icy blue like a snowy peak at dawn—ideal if you want something seasonal but not overly Christmas-themed. A sponge ombré application ensures a soft gradient without harsh lines. Lock in the frosty look with China Glaze Frostbite and Sally Hansen White On.
29. Red Chrome Nails
Bold, reflective red chrome screams Christmas glamour and catches every bit of party light. Chrome powder buffed over a red gel base is how nail pros get this ultra-smooth, mirror-like finish. You can mimic it at home with Born Pretty Red Chrome Powder and a gel base coat.
30. Peppermint French Manicure
This twist on the French manicure replaces the white tip with a swirl of peppermint red and white. The diagonal swirl keeps it modern while still nodding to tradition. Use Beetles Gel Polish in red and white with a fine art brush for best results.
31. Holly Berry Tips
Classic nude nails with tiny holly leaves and berries at the tips give a subtle festive nod. Dotting tools create perfect berries every time. Try Dotting Tool Set from Makartt with Essie Going Incognito and OPI Big Apple Red.
32. Burgundy Swirls
Burgundy swirls are perfect to glam up your Christmas outfit. You can use any base of your choice and use a fine detailing brush to paint thin, sweeping burgundy lines over the base.
33. Festive Sweater French Tips
The sweater nail trend gets a seasonal twist with French tips in a cozy knit pattern. Use any color of your choice or combine colors to create the knit pattern over a nude base. Create this look using 3D gel for raised knit details on the tips.
34. Gold-Dipped Red Nails
Red nails scream Christmas, but a gold-dipped effect turns them into instant party nails. This gradient is created by sponging gold glitter polish from the cuticle halfway up. Use Essie’s Fishnet Stockings for the base and Summit of Style for the glitter.
35. White Glitter Snowfall
Clear or pale nude nails with cascading white glitter mimic snow falling on a winter’s night. Layer chunky and fine glitters for depth. Try Sally Hansen’s Disco Ball glitter over a sheer pink base for an easy DIY.
36. Cranberry Chrome
The metallic cranberry shade feels luxurious and perfect for Christmas parties. This mirror-like finish is achieved using chrome powder over a red gel base. For at home, pair a deep red gel polish with a cranberry chrome pigment.
37. Santa’s Belt Accent Nail
Playful yet chic, this features classic red nails with one accent nail painted as Santa’s belt. It’s done by painting a black strip across the center, with a gold square buckle. Use a gold nail pen like Sally Hansen’s I Heart Nail Art for precision.
38. Golden Holly Leaves
A rich emerald base decorated with gold holly leaves feels regal and Christmassy. Nail artists often use stamping plates for precision. Try MoYou London’s festive stamping kit for easy at-home application.
39. White Chrome with Snowflake Stamping
Nothing says “winter wonderland” like pearlized white nails. Chrome powder gives them a luminous sheen, while snowflake stamps make the look seasonal. Pros use silicone stampers for precision. Try Born Pretty White Chrome Powder paired with their Snowflake Stamping Plate BPL-032 for a foolproof DIY.
40. White Matte with Silver Foil Lines
Matte white nails feel understated, but silver foil lines add dimension and interest. Nail pros apply transfer foil over gel adhesive for crisp, shiny lines. Grab Foil Transfer Gel by Beetles and a silver foil roll for easy home application.
41. Pearl White Base with Silver Leaf Pieces
A pearl base feels elegant, while bits of silver leaf make it festive. Press foil into tacky gel and top coat twice. Modelones Silver Nail Foil is easy to tear into small, delicate pieces.
