Some people celebrate the holidays by donning a pair of Christmas PJs and watching the occasional holiday movie. I, however, go balls to the walls. We're talkin' a full-size Christmas tree in my tiny studio, nonstop Christmas music album on vinyl, covering my entire apartment in lights—the whole nine, bb. There is one thing both holiday minimalists (sry, can't relate) and full-on Christmas enthusiasts can agree on, though: Sporting a set of Christmas nails is the easiest and ~chicest~ way to feel festive during the holiday season.
Whether you're slapping on a nail sticker, decking the halls your nails in glitter, or covering your entire nail in a Grinch decal (see below!!), you can get all the festive vibes without going full cheese. Just check out this massive list of Christmas nails, including simple nail designs, accent nail ideas, winter nail art, and more.
1. Garland French tip nails
If you're all about classic, hometown Christmas vibes, try incorporating a lil garland into your standard French tip mani. I especially love how the garland follows the French tips—it keeps this look design simple and clean with a festive twist.
2. Gold bow nails
Honestly, this chic nail design is about to be my Christmas gift to myself. Go for a shimmery white shade for the French tips (try Cirque Colors in Moonbeam or Sally Hansen Color Therapy in Fleur-t), then stick on a gold bow decal in the center and layer on a top coat to lock it all in place.
3. Mint candy-cane nail design
Candy canes and mint chocolates are one of the most underrated part of the holidays IMO. This Christmas nail design finally gives them their moment—it's subtle with the French tips, yet still totally festive.
4. Minimalist Christmas tree accent nails
If you're into those minimalist Scandinavian Christmas trees, then you'll prob love these accent nails too. Nail artist Iram Shelton opted for green nails on the rest of her hand, but if you wanted an even more sleek look, you could just go with a sheer "Bubble bath" nail look instead.
5. Holiday hearts
You don't have to look like Christmas threw up on your nails to get in the spirit. Exhibit A: This heart nail design, which looks fresh but still a bit Christmas-y, all thanks to the color scheme. And it would be majorly easy to DIY with a set of nail stickers.
6. Christmas French tips
If your vibe is a bit more on the cutesy side, try creating a whole Christmas scene with your nails. Personally, I love how this design combines gradient French tips with a different design on each nail to match, but I also love the idea of just choosing one as inspo for a singular accent nail too for a more minimalist vibe.
7. Silver snowflake nails
I, for one, will be manifesting a white Christmas with these snowflake nails. I'll prob just paint on a base coat and add some silver snowflake stickers. But if you're heading to the salon, ask your artist to do the snowflakes in silver chrome for a shinier finish.
8. Metallic gold nails
What says "holiday cheer" better than holographic gold shimmers? Nothin'! This glittery set is still fairly subdued IMO, but if "more is more" is your vibe then def opt for a chrome effect by dusting on a gold chrome powder and a glossy top coat.
9. Tree press-on nails
Need some holiday cheer in less than 10 minutes? Pop on these evergreen tree press-ons from Olive and June. (Or if ya don't like Christmas trees, they've got hella options, like holiday plaid, snowflakes, and bows.)
10. Silver and gold flakes nail art
Listen, I'm a firm believer that no one should ever have to choose between gold and silver, especially when pairing them together looks this damn good. Just make sure to place the gold and silver foil flakes on your nails with a pair of tweezers to get a precise application, then layer on a top coat to set them (and if you really want to make 'em stay, opt for gel polish and cure under an UV nail lamp).
11. Short Christmas nails
Prefer to keep your nails on the shorter side? Try a design like this that makes use of the entire nail bed instead of French tips. It dresses up your nails without needing a ton of space to do so.
12. Poinsettia nail art
These lil poinsettias are so festive but look v different in a sea of Christmas trees and candy canes. So if you've tried nearly all of the usual suspects in years past and want a new vibe this season, bring this as inspo to your nail artist—and consider adding a matte top coat to give your nails some texture too, as shown above.
13. Green, glittery Christmas nails
You don't need an intricate design for a festive-as-hell nail look. Case in point: These Grinch-inspired glittery-green nails. Make 'em extra sparkly by swiping a gold-glitter top coat on top of your already-shimmery green nail polish.
14. Blueberry peppermint swirls
I am fully in the camp that blue is a Christmas color, and in these adorable peppermint swirl pattern, they scream cutesy holiday without the obvious red and green. It's giving sea of twirly-swirly gumdrops (IYKYK!).
15. Candy-cane French tips for Christmas
Just looking at these candy-cane nails is making me crave a peppermint mocha. I personally love the rounded, oval-shape as a contrast to the design’s diagonal, straight lines, but these would also look super cool with coffin nails or square nails to play up the sharpness.
16. Christmas nail colors
While these red-and-green nails are unmistakably Christmas-themed, they’re also not so obvious that you’ll feel the need to scrub them off on December 26. Feel free to swap in shades or tones you prefer more, like a candy-cane red, a deep emerald green, or even a crisp, winter-y blue.
17. Gingerbread nails for Christmas
This gingerbread mani with glittery-gold accents feels both statement-making and neutral, thanks to its mix of negative spaces and accent nails. Pro tip, tho: Instead of trying to draw a bunch of mini gingerbread men by hand, try sticking on a few gingerbread nail stickers instead for way less stress.
18. Plaid Christmas nails
My mom hasn’t let me open presents in anything but my “Christmas plaid” since I was able to dress myself, so this year, I’ll be really leaning into the requirement by incorporating plaid into my nail art too. I love this iteration with deep red, black, and silver, but any combo of festive shades will do.
19. Brown velvet Christmas nail design
If you’re on Instagram, you’ve definitely seen this “velvet” nail trend on your feed. Basically, it involves a few coats of hyper-shimmery polish, followed by a magnet to “activate” the sparkles. The result? A soft, fuzzy-looking texture that mimics your velvet holiday fit. You can opt for this look all over your nails, or stick with simple French tips with a mistletoe accent nail, like the above.
20. Gold snowflake nails for Christmas
Not a fan of the in-your-face Christmas vibes? I get it. Which is why I love these minimal gold snowflakes, which give me all the holiday feels without the red and green. Plus, these are easy AF to do at home: just two coats of white nail polish, a gold snowflake sticker, and a layer of shiny top coat to seal it all in.
21. Colorful Christmas nails
Switch up your Christmas mani this year by ditching the “classic” colors for bright pastel shades. This negative-space mani gives off a mid-century modern Christmas vibe without feeling dated or cheesy—basically, what I imagine West Elm would look like in nail-art form.
22. Glitter nails for Christmas
These glittery nails scream “holiday party,” which is exactly what I want from my December-through-January manicure. To DIY, grab an opaque glitter nail polish (not a glitter top coat, which tends to be sheer), layer it on, then seal with a clear and shiny top coat. Fwiw, I personally use three coats of Olive and June’s Exclamation Point or four coats of Deborah Lippmann Candy Shop to get the most megawatt finish.
23. Winter wonderland nail art
Want your nails to look like a legit winter wonderland? Show this nail design to your manicurist ASAP. Beware: A design this intricate will take some time and cost more than your average salon mani. But you could make it a bit cheaper (and potentially even a DIY) by popping on some nail stickers instead of painting.
24. Glitter Christmas ornament nails
The only thing more Christmas-y than regular ornaments is glitter ornaments. These ornament (and reindeer!) accent nails are an elevated take on basic Christmas nail art, thanks to its sheer base and shimmery, dark-red polish. To tie the look together, give a few of your nails the full glitter treatment, stacking on the layers for an opaque finish.
25. Chrome snowflake nail idea
Chrome snowflakes are exactly what I need to take me from my end-of-year review to my end-of-year Christmas and NYE parties. If you’re gonna try this look at home, grab a manicure set to clean up your cuticles and buff your natural nails first to make them look a lot more profesh. Then, dust silver chrome powder over your wet, hand-drawn snowflakes for a bright, chromatic finish.
26. Shimmery Christmas ornament nails
The key to making your Christmas mani feel even more festive (without looking gaudy) is to start with a glitter base coat, rather than finish with a glitter top coat. These retro ornament nails have a sheer base of glittery white (reminiscent of the Internet’s favorite mani of 2022, Hailey Bieber’s “glazed donut nails”), which keeps the nail art from looking flat and dull.
27. Holly nail design
Whether you call them holly leaves or mistletoe (team mistletoe, over here), we can both agree that holly accents are an easy minimalist nail art idea for the holidays. Dot them on a few accent nails and leave the rest of your nails bare and shiny, or—my personal fave—pair them with bright-red nails for the full Christmas effect.
28. Muted Christmas-colored nails
Olive green, burgundy, ivory, gold—these are probably the fall nail shades you relied on last season. But when paired together, they make a super pretty and surprisingly toned-down Christmas manicure. And if you’re not feeling up to precise nail art today (relatable), skip the work and instead paint each nail a different shade.
29. Red and white nail design for Christmas
These nails remind me of candy canes and gumdrops. To try yourself, grab a nail brush and a nail dotting tool. Paint two coats of white polish (or until opaque), let it dry, and then dip your dotting tool in red nail polish then into a pattern on your nails. For the candy cane stripes, just brush on a few stripes with red polish and clean up any mishaps with a nail remover pen.
30. Mistletoe Christmas nails
Yeah, these mistletoe nails are fairly simple, but that’s what makes them perfect for lazy people. The key to this minimalist look is painting on a sheer base color that’s one shade lighter than your skin tone, so your mani feels both crisp and neutral. Feel free to use these nails to get free mistletoe kisses from any and all around you this Christmas.
31. Mint candy-cane nail idea
Mint-y blue nails for Christmas? Um, 100 percent yes. This turquoise mani looks like vintage Christmas wrapping paper, especially with the candy-cane design. But don't be fooled by the art—zoom in, and you'll see that each candy cane is actually just a series of dots that anyone can copy. Just grab a fine-tip dotting tool and carefully dot red and white polish in the shape of a cane across each nail, finishing with a top coat.
32. Red jelly nails for Christmas
If you prefer an IG-worthy manicure that only hints at Christmas vibes, try these red jelly nails that feel timely year-round (but especially in December). You’ll likely need to head to the salon for gel nail extensions, or grab a set of clear press-ons and paint them with a mixture of equal parts red nail polish and clear top coat to get that sheer, jelly-like effect. Optional: Add glitter on top of a few nails to punch up the festive factor.
33. Silver stars Christmas nails
These tiny iridescent stars add a festive touch to an otherwise minimal and sheer manicure—and, thankfully, they’re very easy to play around with at home. Just pour some star confetti on a paper plate and, while your nails are still wet, carefully place each star where you want it. Then, layer on a high-shine top coat to seal the stars in place.
34. Red gemstones for Christmas
TBH, with these nails, I’d feel like I belong in one of those royal holiday Christmas movies I just can’t stop binge-watching on Netflix. These red gemstones, especially in this unique shape across the whole nail, are giving major regal vibes, which is exactly the look I’m hoping to achieve for every holiday party.
35. Christmas nail idea: cranberry and gold marble
This nail design makes me think of holiday cranberry sauce, and I’m not mad about it. To copy, layer on a berry nail polish and—this part is key—while the paint is still wet, swirl on a sheer neutral polish to get that marbled effect. Or you can try doing water-marble nails: drip a few drops of nail polish into a cup of water, swirl it around with a toothpick, and then dip your nail straight into the polish/water mixture.
36. Winter-y Christmas nail idea
Not down to rock a bold Christmas hue? Don’t worry—this Christmas nail design is perfect for you. You’ll give off a chill vibe, thanks to the deep colors, while still showing that you’re very much into the holiday season, re: reindeer design.
37. White Christmas dove nails
This nail design is basically “The 12 Days of Christmas” come to life. But even though it’s screaming Christmas in your face, these nails stay pretty sophisticated and simple without having a base coat underneath the design and the short length. Definitely don’t forget five golden rings, tho.
38. The Grinch Christmas nail design
One of my favorite fun holiday facts is that Jim Carrey’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas actually won an Oscar in 2001. Sure, it was for Best Makeup, but semantics! So pay homage to everyone’s favorite Oscar-winning film this season with a festive red-and-green mani complete with a Grinch decal.
39. Christmas lights nail idea
Copying this Christmas light-inspired nail look is probably less tedious than hanging actual Christmas lights around your home. Nail art hack: Place the tiny stones where you want them with a wax stick or pencil. Then use a nail art brush to paint a super-thin line that connects them.
40. Christmas ornament nails
Ornaments, tinsel, snowflakes—anything you would think to put on your Christmas tree would also make for the best designs to put on your nails during the holiday season. Like, I love how even the base of this nail look is a glittery red shade, topped with even more glitter and shimmer accents. The more, the merrier (literally).
41. Green and gold nails for Christmas
If you fancy yourself a Christmas connoisseur and can tell the difference between a Fraser fir and a Balsam fir, match your nails to the garland on your fireplace mantel and go with an earthy shade of green and a festive touch of gold. It’s giving rich aunt at holiday dinner vibes.
42. Green velvet nails for Christmas
Told you, velvet nails are going to be everywhere this season, and I, personally, will be kicking off the holiday trend with this outrageously sparkly green-black mani. To get the “velvet” look at home, layer a shimmery-green shade over a shiny black nail polish to make yours just as deep and saturated as shown here.
43. Dark-red Christmas ornament nails
Trim the tree? More like trim your nails—and I mean that both ways. Even super-short nails can get in on the nail art party with classic tree trimmings, like these round ornaments that fit perfectly on even the smallest nail beds.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with five years of experience researching, writing, and editing nail stories, like fall nail colors and winter nail colors. She’s an authority in all nail categories, but is an expert when it comes to Christmas nail ideas, courtesy of her massive Pinterest board.
Katherine J. Igoe is a contributing editor at Cosmopolitan, and has eleven years of experience as a freelancer—with nearly five of those years writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle, including best nail drills and summer nail colors. Her Christmas nail ideas came from scouring Instagram for the best holiday nail art.
Beth Gillette
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
Katherine J Igoe
Contributor
Katherine J Igoe (she/her) was a contributing editor for Cosmopolitan and is a freelancer covering style, lifestyle, culture, and beauty (she's obsessed with gift guides, best-of movie lists, and beauty products). She's been a freelance writer and editor for over a decade, previously working for Marie Claire (2018 to 2021) and Bustle (2021), with bylines in the The New York Times, Parents magazine, and elsewhere. She lives in Boston with her family, and you can follow her on Instagram or Twitte. It's "I go to dinner," not "Her huge ego," but she responds to both.
