17 Great Nail Looks For The Holidays

1. Christmas Sweater Nails 

Love everything to do with Christmas? Then you’ll likely be a huge fan of these Christmas sweater nails! They’re easy to perfect at home, you’ll just need some polish and a nail pen. Definitely one of the cutest nail looks for the holidays I’ve seen!

Get the look: This design is best with a few feature nails, otherwise it’s a bit much on each nail. A really easy way is to use nail decals, and Dashing Diva’s Gel Art Transfers are perfect for the job! Holo Taco’s Lost In The Woods is a lovely glittery green hue to use on your other nails.

Instagram: @tessalynnails

2. Spruce Nails

Green is a really classic nail shade. Festive without being over the top, this is one of the simplest nail looks to achieve for the holidays. Have all your nails the same hue, or have a feature nail. This super easy minimalistic tree design is stunning, and the gold and green pair perfectly.

Get the look: Kure Bazaar’s Kale is the perfect evergreen shade for painting evergreens!

Instagram: @iramshelton

3. Creamy Hot Chocolate Nails

Christmas doesn’t mean your nails have to be all shades of red, green or white. These soft brown nails are super understated yet glamorous. And the best part? They can easily be achieved using a vibrant bold nail shade. Want to jazz them up a little? Add a touch of glitter slicked over the top. These look creamy, luxe and downright delicious!

Get the look: Pacifica’s Ojai polish is the perfect hot chocolate shade. Another favourite is Londontown’s Oud Mood. Want some shimmer? Londontown’s Kissed by Rose Gold is beautiful!

Photo via Instagram/@thehotblend

4. Celestial Nails

How stunning is this? One of the prettiest nail looks for the holidays, if you ask me! Stars are a huge trend this year and are super Christmassy! Taking inspiration from the wise men who followed the stars, your nails will embrace the history of Christmas. They’ll sparkle brilliantly every time your hand moves.

A midnight blue or black background with make your nails really pop, but softer shades also work well, too, just like the design below. Add some crystal decals to make your celestial nails really shine.

Get the look: Start with a nude base, then draw on that with a gold nail polish pen. Nailtopia offer lots of 5-free (and more) polishes. Nailtopia’s Birds of Paradise is the perfect Barbie pink, whereas Nailtopia’s Do or FiDi is softer.

Instagram: @nailsbynishi

5. Icy Blues

Not only is blue a popular colour for winter nails, but it’s also perfect for the holiday period, too. And what’s not to love? Baby blue shades mimic winter skies and icy mornings and they will suit any nail shape. Keep them all blue, add some glitter or alternate between other shades such as white and silver.

Get the look: Nailtopia has nailed the blue shades this year. Some shades we love are Bali Baby, Blank Slate, Indigo to Ibiza and Nails on Fleek.

Instagram: @capecodcollegiate

6. Fairy Dust Nails

Not everyone wants out their nails over the holidays. Some of us want to festive up our nails in a subtle, understated way. And fairy dust nails never fail to impress! Simple, stylish and sparkly, they’re super easy to achieve, too! They’re festive without being over the top, and will even be perfect for any Christmas parties!

Get the look: Choose your favourite nude base colour. Then choose a glitter-infused top coat to glide over the top, giving your fairy dust effect. Or find a polish that does it all such as Holo Taco’s Speciality polish. Pink Fizz is a gorgeous bold pink hue whereas Red Licorice is a festive red!

Instagram: @nailsbypaular

7. Wrapping Paper Nails 

Ever been wrapping a present and thought to yourself this print would make a fabulous mani? Well, a huge trend for this year is to turn wrapping paper into nail art. Now you can turn any wrapping paper into easy, stylish nails and the opportunities are literally endless!

Get the look: Use the base of your choice. I like the soft blue hue of Kure Bazaar Ice Mint. Of course, this nail brand is non-toxic and follows EU safety regulations.

Instagram: @marinelovespolish

8. Wicked Nails

If you’ve not heard anything about the new Wicked movie, where have you been living? And green and pink are the shades of 2024, thanks to characters Elphaba and Glinda. Opt for moody green nails or choose pink

Get the look: Nailtopia’s Oh Kale Yeah! is a deep green that would be perfect, and their Run Now Wine Later is the ideal red.

Instagram: @thecolournook.

9. Champagne Hues

Christmas is the perfect time to crack open a bottle of bubbly. And so why not use the tone of your champagne to create some arty, feminine nails? Super elegant, too!

Get the look: Holo Taco is coming through with the perfect shades for this trend! Play Rose is a gorgeous golden hue. Coral Chaser has a pinker hue if that’s more your vibe. If you prefer a matte shade, Essie’s Never Skip a Beat polish is gorgeous!

Instagram: @nini_do_nails.

10. Red Tips 

Simple, stylish and perfectly festive. Red tips are an easy way to upgrade any mani into holiday nails, and we especially love the addition of the gift bow.

Get the look: Start with a nude base, then draw on that with a red nail polish pen. Nailtopia offer lots of 5-free (and more) polishes. Nailtopia’s Birds of Paradise is the perfect Barbie pink, whereas Nailtopia’s Do or FiDi is softer.

Instagram: @disseynails

11. Plaid Nails

Turn your love of plaid into your next mani! Honestly, how cute are these nails? Now a fan of green and red? Use pretty much any colour to mimic the same design!

Get the look: Kure Bazaar Tea Rose is a deep, rich red that would pair perfectly with Kure Bazaar’s Kale for those traditional Christmas colours.

Image: @samrosenails

12. Snowflake Nails

Want something super chic yet minimalist? Grab a white nail pen and add some festive cheer to your nails. Simple yet super effective, this is another of the easiest nail looks for the holidays to achieve. Plus glitter tips are a huge trend for this year!

Get the look: Nailtopia’s Kissin In The Rain is a white shade that can be used. Simply dip a nail brush, wooden stick or nail pen into the polish and draw freehand.

Instagram: @polished_yogi.

13. Candy Cane Nails 

Love candy canes? Love Christmas? These nails are a no brainer! They fully embody the festive period is a super cute and stylish fashion. Another of those nail looks for the holidays that plays with classic red polish.

Get the look: Zoya’s Marigold is the perfect candy cane hue with added sheen. Nailtopia’s Lose the Tude is also festive and glittery.

Instagram: @natalieholtnailartist.

14. Velvet Nails

Velvet nails have a plush sheen. However, despite their textured look, they aren’t actually fuzzy. It’s just a trick of the light!

Get the look: While this look is best achieved at the salon, to get the same vibe at home, you could try a flocking powder. This is a powder you dip your nails into to create a velvety texture. Essie’s Emerald Velvet Holiday set is great for giving nails a velvet sheen!

Instagram: @overglowedit

15. Gingerbread Nails

Want a tasty nail look for the holidays to rival hot chocolate nails? Go for a gingerbread mani! It features neutral hues and some creative art. Stick with a gingerbread hue atop a nude nail, or get creative and draw some cute gingerbread house tips!

Get the look: Try Nailtopia’s Do or FiDi for the base, then use their Butter Me Up for the tips.

Instagram: @thenaillologist 

16. Nostalgic Nails

Forget minimalist, many are feeling nostalgic for the busy Christmas designs of the 90s. Think: visiting your grandparents, bright coloured tree lights, busy decorations, and lots of fun! Bring the same vibe to your nails. Think lots of bold colours and fun decals.

Get the look: While this look is best achieved at the salon, to get the same vibe at home, you could try using a nail polish pen to get arty with!

Image: @notoriousandjobz

17. Confetti Nails

What better way to celebrate Christmas than with these confetti nails? This is one of the best nail looks for the holidays, but it’s also perfect for any celebration. Why not try it for New Year’s Eve?

Get the look: Sure, you might be tempted to use glitter in this look. But given the serious dangers of the stuff, why risk it? Instead, use a nail pen to draw different coloured and sized dots on the background nail hue of your choice.

Instagram: @nailexecutive