Celebrate the Season with 30 Elegant Christmas Nail Designs
The holiday season is the ideal time to try out that festive nail art to match with your Christmas vibe. Whether your vibe is understated sophistication or full-on glam, these nail designs work with every look. Nail artist Sharon Ladokun favors understated elegance — nail designs that are eye-catching, but classy. These on-trend ideas work jewel tones, metallics, and simple holiday details into styles that are both chic and seasonal.
Gold Velvet
The gilded velvet French tips are a buttery spin on the traditional manicure. With holly berry and tiny stars accents, this design is pure elegance. (Gold velvet polish, if you don’t have it, can be swapped out for something gold glittery, like ORLY’s Untouchable Decadence, nail artist San Sung Kim suggests.) This festive yet chic manicure is perfect for holiday parties and holiday gatherings, especially if you’re looking for classy Christmas nails
Emerald Bows
Emerald green tips with silver accents and tiny green bows make for a glam holiday look. Festive gift wrap has inspired this design, adding a touch of creativity with a dose of elegance. Whether you’re going to a Christmas brunch or a formal dinner, this manicure is versatile enough to match with any outfit. Emerald nails are in this season, and this style is great for displaying your festive spirit in seasoned elegance.
Glazed French
A glazed French manicure provides a discreet shine that will elevate your look without being too loud. With its glazed finish reflecting the light beautifully, it’d be the perfect vessel for festive occasions or intimate gatherings. This design is a fan rec when it comes to minimalistic nail art while still staying on theme. Accessorize it with neutral-hued ensembles to keep them as the focal point and nail your holiday glam.
A Minimalist Christmas Tree
The glittery gold tips and the sleek black arches, and the minimal Christmas tree accent on the ring finger, make this design a perfect combination for Christmas. To create this casual yet chic minimal, dip into polishes such as Moon Cat’s Poison Ivy and I’m A MF Supernova. This minimalist approach keeps the design chic and festive, making it perfect for anyone who wants holiday nails without a screaming design. It is the ideal option for understated seasonal elegance.
Candy Cane Tips
Candy-cane-inspired tips have become a holiday staple. This design uses red-and-white swirls on French tips, finished off with a little silver gem to add some sparkle. This playful yet polished look makes this design a winner for Christmas parties and family gatherings. If you want nail art that is simple to accomplish, but still makes a statement, this is your answer to celebrating the season in style.
Chrome Bow
These red chrome nails with fancy bows scream HOLIDAY glamour. The sleek chrome finish gives the design a striking, glimmering quality, making it a head-turner for holiday events. Whether you’re getting glammed up for a Christmas gala or a snug dinner, this manicure has the ideal balance of festive jubilation and high-end elegance. A glossy topcoat gives an extra touch and helps keep the bows from ruffling for longer.
Glittery Gift
For a fun holiday look, use silver glitter as a base with bright red bows. The bows are done in a playful way, as if haphazardly laid on gifts. This design fits the bill for those who are interested in creative nail art with an elegant flair. It’s perfect for Christmas parties, adding a little sparkle to your entire look. Complement it with red accessories for your holiday aesthetic.
Ruby Tips
Take the classic red French to new levels with ruby-encrusted tips for a luxe holiday look. The addition of rhinestones from the tips gives a glamorous effect and is suitable for elegant Christmas parties. For the color underneath, nail artist San Sung Kim recommends ORLY’s Cran-Barely Believe It, a nude pink, then finishing with some red rhinestones. This option combines both classic and contemporary making it a good choice for anyone who loves clean nail art.
Holly Berry Chrome
Look for rich berry-red chrome nails that can create a statement during Christmas. This slightly shiny coat allows the color to look rich and brilliant without appearing garish. This piece is ideal for those who enjoy simple nail art with a hint of Yule. Drape with gold or silver rings to enhance the chrome effect and finish off your festive look with relaxed elegance.
Ombré Snow
Winter vibes are on the menu with these gray-to-nude ombré nails featuring delicate snowflake accents — perfect for the holidays. The slight design works for more relaxed outings as well as formal occasions. The snowflakes lend a celebratory, less fussy element to the overall look, perfect for anyone who actually enjoys celebrating the holidays but prefers things simple. Team it with your winter outfits for a seasonal fashion that keeps your Christmas colors front and center.
Shimmery Plaid
Add some shimmery asphalt green, red, and gold, and you have a Christmas plaid that meets French tip that’s Christmas elegance. This nail design combines festive designs with elegant elements and can be worn for many occasions. The plaid design will lend a traditional holiday vibe, and the shimmering tones will keep things modern. The ideal manicure for holiday dinners or office parties, this is an attention-grabbing, but also subtle seasonal choice.
Red Velvet
Velvet nails — sometimes called cat-eye nails — make for a soft and cozy effect on your manicure. The magnetic finish reflects light beautifully, looking warm and luxurious — just in time for winter. These nails are a perfect choice for Christmas meetings, fusing elegance and contrivance. Wear them with warm-hued outfits for an all-over seasonal vibe (that leaves the attention squarely on your chic fingertips).
Shimmery Snow
Delicate snowflakes and tiny gems dazzle atop champagne shimmer ombré nails; an elegant holiday manicure. The design is understated but also festive, suitable for everything from formal Thanksgiving dinners to casual holiday parties. The soft shimmer gives a touch of glamour, and the snowflake accents add a wintry touch. It’s a flexible aesthetic that’s perfect for the whole winter season, not just Christmas, which makes it a sound option for anyone who lives for timeless designs.
Skittle Half Moon
This half-moon design with different shades of red gives skittle nails a holiday spin. The simple half-moon leaves a clean, modern line while the gradation of reds adds depth and variety. If you’re looking for a Christmas nail design that is slightly out of the ordinary and a little fun, this manicure is the one for you. Use it with red accessories or festive clothing to match the gradient effect, rounding out your holiday ensemble.
Snowy Branches
Also, paint the delicate branches with berries and snowflakes on them for nature-inspired Christmas nail art. The minimalist quality of the branches ensures an understated look, while the additional holiday elements season the design. So this is a design if you want a more understated festive vibe on your nails. Wear it with your coziest winter outfits to highlight the natural and warm aesthetic of this elegant manicure.
Merry Swirls
Swirls of bright red, creamy beige and shimmering gold create a mesmerizing nail design that’s festive and artistic all at once. It adds to the playful and creative element of the manicure as none of the nails have the same patterns! If you love holiday colors and intricate patterns, this design is for you. It’s a playful but elegant choice for Christmas parties or family gatherings and is sure to elicit compliments.
Festive Polka Dots
Traditional red and green gets a modern update with jewel-toned polka dots for Christmas nails. Shimmering polka dots create a playful yet sophisticated look that’s perfect for holiday gatherings. This design is perfect for those who want festive nails without the traditional holiday motifs. For a rich and festive color palette like this manicure, just pair it with jewel-toned accessories or outfits.
Sweater Weather
Perfect for curling up in the cabin, this combination of cable knit and snowflake and bow patterns creates a mix-and-match nail look. Using only two complementary colors makes the whole thing balanced and cohesive even with all the different patterns. Perfect for Christmas or any snuggly winter day, this design captures the warmth and coziness of winter. This pairs nicely with knits or layered outfits, allowing for a thematic vibe in your overall look, for the season!
Christmas Berries
Holly berries over holographic glitter nails make a playful yet festive look. The high-shine glitter and intense berry accents add depth and interest to the design. This manicure will suit Christmas events because it adds a merry vibe to your festive outfit. And team it up with the red lipstick or accessories to add some drama to the berry element and wrap your festive mode.
Sleek Red Tip
Clean and impactful Christmas nail design with minimalist red French tips. This look is versatile enough for any occasion, from office parties to a casual family gathering. Its timeless nature makes it match practically anything and therefore a practical choice, while also being stylish. Finish with a shiny topcoat to elevate the glossiness, making those flaming hot red tips even more eye-popping.
Twinkle Time
For snow and ethereal vibes, apply an iridescent white polish like Essie’s Crystal Clear Intentions. The soft shimmer resembles new-fallen snow — ideal for winter. This manicure is subtle but still got some holiday flair, so it is appropriate for all sorts of more formal, or casual shindigs. Wear it with neutral or pastel ensembles to let the shimmer shine. That’s a practical design that works throughout the winter months.
Shimmer Swirls
A translucent, nude base with swirls of sparkly polish makes for a delicate, festive nail design. They add just the right measure of holiday sparkle, for those who prefer understated elegance. This manicure would look beautiful with delicate gold or silver jewelry, to complement its understated elegance. It’s a perfect option for anyone who wants a low-key but still festive look for Christmas and after.
Simple Mix-and-Match
This mix-and-match manicure features timeless festive hues like red, green, white, and beige to design plaids and snowflakes. The range of patterns makes things interesting, while the harmonious color palette helps the look stay polished. For a more balanced Christmas manicure, this design is perfect for those who want a festive-looking design but not over-the-top. This works wonderfully with festive comfy holiday looks for family get-togethers or Christmas morning festivities.
Dotted Tips
A modern holiday look that features clusters of metallic polka dots cascading down the nail tips. The dotted effect resembles falling snow and adds a playful flair to your manicure. This look is perfect for those looking for something simple yet with a festive oomph. We love it worn with metallic accessories to accentuate the shimmer and pull the entire outfit together for an on-trend holiday aesthetic.
