The holiday season is the perfect excuse to pull out all the stops and haver some fun, especially when it comes to fashion and beauty. Pearls, hair bows, velvet, and more adorn our holiday outfits, and our beauty routines swap from the clean girl aesthetic to red lips and winged eyeliner. And while it’s easy to head to our nail appointments and get three coats of the bright, cherry red we always rely on during the holidays on our nails, this year, we’re giving our manis an unexpected upgrade.
There’s no shortage of non-red Christmas nail ideas to help you celebrate in style. This year’s holiday nail trends are all about mixing classic elements with fresh twists. Bold red and green shades are always in style, but you’ll also see more unexpected options, like classic French manicures with gold or silver tips for a touch of holiday cheer. Don’t forget about the small designs—candy canes, Christmas tree accents, and delicate snowflakes are the perfect addition to any nail set. For something unique, try incorporating and experimenting with textures—think sparkly glitter, holographic polish, or a subtle shimmer. Whether you prefer a bright color or a more understated look, there’s a holiday nail trend to match every mood and occasion this festive season.
1. Bare Nails With Subtle Pearls
There’s something so luxurious about a bare, natural pink manicure. This set even adds small pearl accents to catch the eye a little more. If you want to keep things simple this holiday season, this one’s for you.
2. Metallic Green
The adjacent Christmas color is green—but it doesn’t have to be boring! Add a shimmer or glitter polish on top of your favorite shade for extra shine and glam.
3. Milky White
Take your simple white manicure to the next level with this milky white shade. It adds some texture and unique ombre effects to your set, while still being simple and clean.
4. Candy Cane Tips
Add some simple red and white candy cane stripe tips for a yummy holiday set. It adds a little bit of color, without the commitment of a whole painted nail.
5. Chocolate Glitter
Incorporate some darker tones with this chocolatey glitter manicure. The specks of multicolor glitter add so much depth and excitement to this set.
6. Frosty Purple
This frosty purple is so cozy and calming, while also giving off some girly charm. It’s great for a soft yet fun set, with the glitter giving off some extra sparkle.
7. Metallic Stars
These metallic stars are oh-so fun, while not going too over the top. The simple neutral background makes them the star of the show, without too many conflicting colors.
8. Forest Green
This deep forest green is so cozy and warm—it definitely gives me nostalgic, 2000s Christmas vibes.
9. Baby Pink with Silver
Baby pink is one of those understated tones that can fit to any time of year. With the addition of the silver glitter, it adds a festive touch that totally inspires some pink holiday cheer.
10. Subtle Snowflakes
These subtle snowflake designs are layered with a geometric reverse French Manicure. The white and gold colors are so festive and fun.
11. Brown Cat-Eye
Add a little shine to this chocolatey brown shade with a cat-eye effect. A brown color is great throughout the entirety of the holiday season, even if you’re celebrating somewhere without snow.
12. Confetti Tips
These confetti tips just scream New Year’s Eve party. The small gems and glitter are just so festive and fun!
13. Gold French
These barely-there gold French tips are the perfect lowkey festive manicure. They look elegant, while still giving off a quiet luxury vibe.
14. Icy Chrome
This has to be one of the most unique winter manicures I’ve ever seen, and I can’t wait to try it. Mixing different chrome powders, you can achieve a shiny and sparkly ice effect.
15. Burgundy
This deep plum color is to die for—and totally reminds me of seasonal winter fruits. It’s glossy, simple, and fabulous.
16. French with Festive Art
If you can’t pry yourself away from your classic French tips, try adding a spotlight nail with small festive designs—it’s the perfect mix of simple yet cheery.
17. Silver Velvet
A shiny silver is a great neutral set to ring in the holidays with. It matches everything, and is a little more exciting than your classic white nails.
18. Icy Blue
This chilly blue color is the perfect representation of winter time. If you’re looking for a simple mani that’ll last you all season long, this is it.
19. Metallic Gold
Gold is another classic holiday color—and it matches just about everything. It’s elevated yet still eye-catching enough to be a fun, festive manicure.
20. Ruby Red Tips
Add red tips to your next French manicure for a leveled-up red nail look. It’s the perfect mix of simple yet elegant.
21. Black Cherry
While dark tones might seem non-traditional for the holidays, this deep dark black cherry color is so rich, sexy, and unexpected.
22. Olive Green
These muted olive green nails are the perfect manicure to hold your favorite holiday martini. Cheers!
23. Black Glitter
Black nails are the non-traditional manicure you need in your life this holiday season. Add some glitter and small snowflake designs, and you’ve got some unexpected holiday nails.
24. Candy Wrapper
Add some textures to your nails this year—it’s unique and so fun. These ones remind me exactly of classic Kisses wrappers.
25. Subtle Sparkles
If you want to add some color and sparkle to your holiday manicure, try out these subtle and simple sparkles over a neutral background. They add some fun and excitement for the season, without being totally in your face.
Want more holiday nail inspiration? You’ll love these:
- The Best OPI Nail Polish Colors To Get in the Holiday Spirit
- 50 Holiday Nail Ideas That Give All the Festive Vibes
- 30 Nail Ideas to Help You Ring in the New Year
- The Best OPI Red Nail Polishes of All Time
- 24 Red Nail Ideas For Your Next Manicure
Hailey Tagliarino, Assistant Managing Editor
As an Assistant Managing Editor for The Everygirl, Hailey Tagliarino oversees, writes, and edits content across various categories on the site. From the pitching stage through publishing, she works alongside the team to ensure that the content that our readers see every day is inspiring, relatable, and timely.
Jenna Piotrowicz, Editorial Assistant
Jenna began working as an Editorial Assistant for The Everygirl in 2024. With her eye for detail, she assists the team with content creation, sourcing products and images, and works behind the scenes to support The Everygirl in uploading and updating content.
