Christmas Nails: 14 Ideas to Get in the Festive Spirit

With the Christmas holidays afoot, there are numerous ways to participate in the festivities. Some people will play Christmas music on their speakers, while others are setting up their holiday tree if it’s not up yet. A more lowkey but chic way to be more jolly is Christmas nails. 

Whether you’re looking for a green or red palette, all kinds of ideas are on the table. You can apply them yourself during December when you just need some quiet alone time. You could also head to a salon and show the inspiration to your nail artist. That way, you’d support a small business while quickly getting your dream festive nails.  

When to Wear Classy Christmas Nails

Honestly, you could wear classy Christmas nails any time of the year. They are a great pick-me-up that can steer your mood into a jollier one. However, it’s much more appropriate for December and January. You can wear them while mingling at a holiday party in your hometown or visiting Christmas markets in another country. It’s also great to have them for yourself with no particular occasion. 

Keep in mind that nail polish doesn’t last forever. Regular polishes will likely last only three to five days, even with great care. It’s important to be mindful of your application if you want the color to remain on your nails for a specific event. Wait until they get longer or just grow them to a shorter length before applying your Christmas nails. 

Cute Ideas for Your Christmas Winter Nails

Tons of creative Christmas nail ideas truly bring out the holiday cheer. You can certainly create your own variation or combine these designs. Here are a couple of suggestions to inspire you.  

1. Festive French Tip

There are few things more classy than a French tip manicure. Make it more festive by forgoing white and using seasonal colors like bright red, deep green and winter blue instead. Most people freehand the line of paint to achieve the colorful tips. However, you can also take a silicone nail stamper and press it onto the tip to create the curve. While it takes some practice, it can be quite a time-saver for people. 

2. Silver Holographic

Christmas is one of the shiniest seasons. Draw inspiration and paint your nails a beautiful silver metallic. You can add a holographic top coat to mimic the rainbow shimmers that most Christmas bags have. To make it more fabulous, add stars and sparkles with white polish before the final glossy top coat. 

3. Christmas Lights

Christmas lights are an iconic part of the holiday season. Recreate this nail art with a nude base layer, adding black squiggles afterward. The lines don’t have to be perfect, and you just need to leave enough space for the different-colored lights, from pink to gold and more. You can take it up a notch by using neon nail polish to glow in the dark. 

4. Snowflake Season

Whether it’s a white Christmas or not this year, it never hurts to add a few snowflakes to your nails. Some people may prefer a deeper blue, but there’s something so magical about the light sky blue. You can use silver glitter or white when adding the snowflakes. 

5. Candy Cane Nails

Candy canes are such a sweet Christmas treat that always puts a smile on people’s faces. Bring the stripes to your nails with just two colored polishes. To make it more creative, you can contrast matte and shimmer polishes to make the red or white pop out. 

6. Presents Galore

Give yourself a Christmas present by making gift-inspired nail art. You can make your nails look like they’ve just been wrapped in red before adding the little ribbon decals. Glue on a gem in the middle of the bow for that extra sparkle. 

7. Santa and His Elves

Whether you believe in Santa or not, he and his elves are an undeniable part of the Christmas aesthetic. You can freehand some art inspired by the North Pole gang. If you want a more subtle look, the red-and-white and red-and-green Christmas hats are also a nice symbol. 

8. Glitter Ornaments

Remember hanging up Christmas ornaments onto a three? While there have been many iconic variations, those classic glittery orbs are still among the best. Recreate the design onto your nails with equally vibrant polish. You can even draw a little green tree if you wish. 

9. Shadows of the Tree

If you want a more minimalist nail art design, consider creating a snowy landscape. You can add black tips for the grown and make the shadow of a tree with a squiggle. Add little dots to mimic snowfall and a top coat. 

10. Festive Garlands

Another simple yet pretty Christmas element to incorporate into your nail art design is Christmas garlands. Using a long, skinny brush, draw lines of light and dark green interchangeably to mimic the leaves. Add stripes of white and black for dimension, too. 

11. Gingerbread Nails

Gingerbread men are the perfect Christmas nails, especially when you have a tradition of creating and decorating a gingerbread house with your loved ones. Make sure to use a precision brush as you draw smaller details like its buttons, eyes and smile. 

12. Golden Reindeer

More experienced nail artists would love to recreate this golden reindeer nail art. You can have fun freehanding the shadow. However, you can also utilize a stencil and fill it in. Do them for every nail or just have one main one. 

13. Christmas Notes

If you love singing holiday songs like “All I Want for Christmas is You” or “Last Christmas,” consider creating this festive musical note nail art. The frosted blue and white background looks like a snowy and starry sky, and it’s just classy yet cute all at once.  

14. Frosty the Snowman 

Snowmen are another fun part of Christmas, from gathering all the snow, sticks and stones to assembling them with your loved ones. Bring this memory to your nail art design with your most opaque white polishes. 

Make Your Nails Sleigh

Getting into the festive spirit is easy for some people. If you need a little extra sparkle to feel more jolly, Christmas nails are the way to go. From snowflakes to Christmas lights, the possibilities are endless. Get creative and recreate these designs.