COURTESY
Deck the halls and your nails in detailed Fair Isle patterns, simple half-moons, and festive negative designs. Here, 23 nail art ideas for the holiday season and beyond.
Winter Color Block
Try a two-color block mani for an artsy twist. Use winter shades, like deep purples, blues, and creams, to add a wintery appeal to it.
Design by @aliciatnails
Seeing Stars
Stars aren’t just for tree toppers. Paint your nails a pretty caramel base and apply small gold stars for a bright finish.
Design by @nailsbymh
Sapphire Shine
Shine bright with this jeweled nail. Pair it with a matching sapphire dress, like Busy Philipps, and live your most regal life.
Design by@nailjob
Purple Shine
Manhattan nail salon Paintbox called this manicure an “oil spill with a lavender winner’s circle.” The iridescent sparkle on the light purple base makes for a pretty contrast.
Design by @paintboxnails
Moody Marble
The pairing of the white, black, purple and pink makes for a gorgeous nail art that looks like you’ve trapped a solar system’s worth of celestial bodies on your fingertips.
Design by @vanityprojects
Fairy Dusted Tips
Channel your inner glitter goddess with these sparkly gel nails.
Design by @wahnails
Emerald City
Try two-tone nails in the color of the season, green. Before you know it your nails will look like a Christmas tree, wreath, or even dangling mistletoe.
Design by@painboxnails
Winter White
Silver panels are an easy way to add some shine to basic white.
Design by @paintboxnails
Go For The Gold
Shine the brightest at all your holiday festivities with this gold leaf look. First apply a gold base paint color then top with gold flakes like these ones.
Design by @theillustratednail
Half and Half
Can’t decide between minimalist and attention-seeking nails? Compromise with this split nail look. Start by taping off one half of your nail, and then paint in your basic color. Let dry and remove the tape, revealing a clean half to embellish.
Design by @theillustratednail
Pine Tree Green
Choose your favorite holiday colors—here, Christmas-tree green and snowy white—and work them into this quick and easy stripe design.
Design by @reinasnails
Gold And Silver
For this fun and festive nondenominational mani, paint one hand in gold polish and the other in silver.
Design by @paintboxnails
Shetland Sweater
Match your nails to your favorite holiday sweater with a northern Fair Isle look. You can try hand-painting the design, or you can take the easy route with premade appliqués.
Design by @theillustratednail
Stained Glass
Add a statement nail or two in the form of a stained glass design, either hand-painted or with the help of a nail stencil. It’s a subtle way to add personal details, seen here in the form of dainty stars of David.
Design by @chinaglazeofficial
Snowflakes
Update a classic red nail with the delicate snowflakes. Just add holiday-themed nail decals and seal with a clear topcoat.
Design by @nailsbymh
Wrapping Paper
This easy negative nail can be made with the help of varying nail tapes. Start with a clear base coat. Once the lacquer is tacky, set alternating strips of metallic horizontally. Seal the look with a topcoat.
Design by @naominailsnyc
Starry Night
To get this celestial look, follow the steps outlined in the previous design, but with metallic star decals instead.
Design by @valleynyc
Festive Plaid
For this design, paint your nails in your desired base-coat color. Choose two lacquers to crosshatch over to create a plaid design, and then finish with a topcoat.
Design by @zoyanailpolish
