Beauty

Christmas Nail Designs For A Festive And Joyful Mani

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The holiday season is finally here, and, of course, there are plenty of things to do to take part in this festive season. From seasonal coffee drinks to snowy days and shopping for all our loved ones, it’s called the merriest time of year for a reason.

Indulging in a festive manicure is the easiest and chicest way to feel cheerful during the holiday season. With Christmas nails, as with most seasonal manicures – you can go one of two ways – simple or over the top. 

Christmas Nail Designs

When it comes to Christmas nails, it’s all about taking the core elements and festive colors of the season.

Holiday colors such as red and green, and elements of the holiday season, such as candy canes and Christmas lights come to mind.

If you’re craving a design that’s festive and interesting with a reindeer or snowman in sight, this is the time of the year to go big. 

​During the holiday season, the Christmas tree isn’t the only thing that likes to be dressed to the nines, and a manicure is the perfect self-care splurge to get you into the spirit. 

Scroll below to find inspo for Christmas nail designs for the holiday season. 

Festive Tips

If you’re all about the holiday spirit, but don’t want to go all out with your Christmas manicure. Just add a festive design to your tips.  

Try incorporating a lil garland or candy cane designs into your classic French manicure.

These designs are simple and clean with a festive twist. It’s subtle with the French tips, yet still totally festive.

Instagram @sansungnails

Instagram @ellamila

Instagram @illustrated_nails

Santa Nails

What’s Christmas without Santa Claus making an appearance?

Keep your Christmas companions close with Santa nails. There is even festive nail art with Santa’s hat. 

This drippy hat nail design features a red and white design that looks like a melting Santa hat.

The look embodies the holiday in a cool and abstract way.

Instagram @the_gelbottle_inc

Instagram @eg_naildesign

Let It Snow

Manifest a white Christmas with snowflake nails. A nude base really adds a touch of elegance to the snowflake designs.

The designs are simple enough to do at home: all you need is a nude nail polish, a matte top coat and snowflake stickers.

These minimal snowflakes are a festive design without the loud red and green colors. 

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Instagram @polished_yogi

Instagram @twilldidmynails

Holly Jolly Christmas

For that perfect touch for the Christmas season, add boughs of holly and mistletoe.  

The Christmas greenery is a the perfect touch for long and short nails, alike.

Adding holly berries to your nail look is a perfect and easy way to celebrate Christmas. The festive nail design can be achieved at home with a holly stickers on an accent nail and the remaining nails can be painted a red or green nail polish. 

Candy Cane Nail

Take a trip down candy cane lane with these festive nails.  The classic red and white design is a holiday mainstay for a reason.

We love how this mani mixes up the look of each individual nail, with a classic red manicure intertwined with the candy cane designs for the perfect look.

This fashionable design will most certainly take your holiday fashion to the next level.  The subtle nod to everyone’s favorite candy is both chic and understated. 

Instagram @nailzkatkat

Abstract Christmas


Christmas nail colors allow you to accessorize for every holiday party, family potluck, or cookie swap.

Instead of going with classic red or green this year, celebrate with an abstract design featuring the classic holiday colors. 

Instagram @classyclaws.by.bec

Ornamental Manicure

When the Christmas tree is already up and the gifts are underneath the tree, why not turn to decorating your nails?  

An ornamental design can be a simple design or a fairly complex one. Either way, it creates a beautiful nail design that will certainly be a show stopper.  

Instagram @dani_p_nails

Christmas Wonderland Nails

If you can’t decide on one design, why not have a different design on each finger?

It doesn’t get more festive than a mashup of Christmas characters and colors for your manicure.

This mix-and-match look features reindeers, trees, and snowflakes, just to name a few.

Instagram @lilliebeaunails

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