35 Winter Nail Design Ideas to Try at Home or in the Salon (2024)

If we're being honest, we've been thinking about winter nails since spring. (After all, winter manicures lend themselves to some of the richest color combinations.) Now that the season is finally here, we thought: Why not celebrate by sharing some of our favorite winter nail designs and asking the pros about the nail trends they're excited about for the cooler months?

Nail artists have been pumping out awe-inspiring nail looks like it's no big deal and we've been keeping tabs on all of the ones we want to try. Ahead, you'll find a diverse array of designs for every aesthetic taste, like festive jewel-toned creations, new and exciting ways to wear sparkle, astrology-themed art, ombré, and much more. Plus, we've thrown in some insight and product suggestions from the creators themselves. Keep scrolling for the coolest (in every sense of the word) wintery nail looks of the year.

1. Coffee skittles

If you’re no good at nail art then try the Skittles manicure — a cute name for painting each nail a different color, often to create a gradient effect. Nail artist Crystal Sloan notes the trick to turning these individual polishes into a cohesive manicure is picking shades that have the same undertone. For this look, she opted for Ella + Mila polishes in shades Lights Out, London Fog, Cup O’Latte, Forever Mine, and Lust in Love.

2. Dainty snowflakes

Adding gold snowflakes to your French manicure will immediately give it a festive charm. Fancy trying this look by nail artist Tia McDonald at home? Nail art pens (like these from Olive and June) make light work of this intricate design.

3. Wintery animal tips

Nail artist Alexia May Bates painted this animal print design with blooming gel polish. As the name suggests, blooming gel “blooms” into disbursed blobs that, in this case, form this unique animal print French tip design. Bates says to “have patience, work slowly, and work one nail at a time,” when recreating this look at home.

4. Festive minimalism

This minimalist design is a nod to quintessential holiday decor. Nail artist Katie Gentle says that art gels (a viscous type of gel) are best for the tiny dots and lines of this look, as they “don’t bleed into unrecognizable blobs.”

5. Espresso swirl

This is a set that anyone can recreate at home. Painted by manicurist Saradya Jolivert, the focal points of this chocolate manicure are its two marbled accent nails, which swirl together brown, cream, and gold glitter polish. Jolivert’s best tip for creating the perfect marbled effect: “Don’t swirl [your colors] too much, it can make the marble muddy — less is more.”

6. Embellished tips

If you love a French manicure look but don’t want to go with eggshell tips, try black ones embellished with gold stars for the festive season. Rhiannon Howdon created this look and noted that how you position your painting hand is the key to getting a clean French tip. “Rest your pinky finger on the desk to support your hand to minimize any shakes and give you more control over your brush,” she says.

7. Tuxedo stripes

Striking in its simplicity, this one is all about precision. Nail artist Brandi Faletti suggests using striping tape to get crisp lines. “Make sure to use a quick dry top coat and let it harden before applying tape,” she says. “This way the base color below doesn’t get ruined or peel up when removing it.”

8. Glazed gradient

A chocolate-y chrome set will catch that rare, but refreshing, winter sunshine beautifully. To create this look, nail artist Charlotte Herberts first paints her base of black, brown, and cream on each finger, creating a gradient. She then cures a layer of no-wipe clear topcoat and applies chrome powder to give it that glazed effect.

9. Emerald green accent

“Emerald green is a flattering jewel tone that can be worn alone or mixed and matched with other colors to create statement nail art," says nail artist Queenie Nguyen. We love this manicure, which features the rich color in abstract swirls.

10. Vibrant french manicure

Christina Kao, co-founder and co-CEO of Le Mini Macaron, says bright French manicures are a great go-to for snowy occasions. "French tips have always been classy, but incorporating unexpected colors or shapes allows you to put your own spin on the look," she explains.

11. Shades of nude

Coffee and creamy caramel are two warm earth tones that have become cozy winter staples. "These colors are incredibly stylish," says Nguyen, adding that they can be worn alone or with artful designs (like ombré, gradient, swirls, or checkers). Rita Remark, manicurist and Essie Global Lead Educator echoes this, saying that using these colors is a major throwback to the '90s.

12. Rich French manicures

Nguyen says using deep colors such as forest green, burnt orange, and deep burgundy can make your French manicure more seasonal. "You can't go wrong with choosing them for the winter," she says.

13. Decadent ruby red

Remark describes ruby red as a decadent "timeless chameleon" of a hue, due to its ability to be paired with a traditional French tip, glitter, and even metallic accents.

14. Smokey matcha manicure

With green shades of all tones being very on-trend during the holiday season, Kao recommends one with a blue undertone like Le Mini Macaron Gel Polish in Smoky Matcha. (We love the Essie Jade It Happen for this look too.) Kao highly suggests a clean square nail to pair with the color.

15. Icy winter nails

To celebrate the winter, marry the squoval shape with a light pink base and seasonal nail art like ice, snow, or snowflakes. According to manicurist Laura Malarkey, the simplest way to make a snowfall effect at home is to use a toothpick or other small, pointed object. "Dip it in white polish and make small dots all over the nail, starting at the cuticle and gradually decreasing towards the tip to create an ombré snowfall effect."

16. Martini mani

Betina Goldstein proves that nail art needn't be literal. Even without a martini glass painstakingly painted on each nail, it's obvious that this manicure is inspired by the pimento-stuffed manzanilla olives that traditionally garnish the gin-and-vermouth co*cktail — something we wouldn't mind sipping by the fireplace this winter. With its solid base and simple circles, it's chic and easy art that can be done at home, and on any length nail.

17. Amethyst nails

Amethyst is easily one of the most beloved winter birthstones, but you don't have to be born in February to admire its beauty — or want to interpret it as winter nail art. Welsh nail artist Grace Andrew created this gemstone look by mixing several Ugly Duckling gel colors together for a variegated effect, topped off by organic-looking lines swiped on with a skinny nail brush.

18. Galaxy nails

How stunning is this magical manicure? With the right magnetic, iridescent polish in a deep, dark color you can easily recreate a gorgeous, wintry night sky on your fingertips. Nail artist India Jade used Pure Nails Halo Gel Polish in Luna, but KBShimmer makes a number of non-gel magnetic polishes.

19. Monochromatic crocodile nails

Nail artist Zoe created an animal-scale texture illusion by adding a pattern of wavy blocks of glossy polish atop a matte base. With black for both finishes, the look is remarkably versatile, leaving the boldness up to the long, pointy shape. And darker shades are always a welcome pick for winter manicures.

20. Icy cuticles

You may avoid ice when you're walking or driving during the coldest months of the year, but an icy effect on the nails is a wonderful idea for a manicure. Goldstein kept it simple with this creation and its clear, glossy base. The stand-out detail of this nail art is the silver pieces along the cuticles — Goldstein tells Allure she used crushed metallic pieces from the craft store — extending halfway up the sides of the nails. It's giving benevolent ice queen, don't you think?

21. Black and bright

Winter doesn't have to mean switching from bright colors to dark ones. You can embrace both with a French moon manicure like this one by Goldstein. She used Chanel's Boy De Chanel Colour in Black as the base on every nail and switched up the colors on the tips and moons of each one. It's a combination that lets you hold onto the vibrant shades you love while incorporating the moody darkness so often seen in winter nail looks.

22. Champagne sparkle nails

"I love combining different glitter polishes for the perfect winter wonderland look," Canishiea Robinson tells Allure of this sparkly two-toned manicure. To get this look at home, you'll need two glitter nail polishes (Essie's Summit of Style and Zoya's Magical Pixie Dust will do the trick) and mini faux pearl appliques, which you can find at just about any craft store, as well as on Amazon. This set features ones with flat bottoms so they're easier to apply.

23. Gold foil nails

This green and gold manicure by Robinson looks straight out of an art museum — and that's exactly the vibe she was going for. "Negative space, color blocking, and watercolor designs are so eye-catching," she says. "These combined with a translucent background and gold foil make all the elements shine." Believe it or not, you can score both gold and silver foil on Amazon for as little as $4.

To achieve the watercolor effect shown here on the mustard nails, simply dip a small sponge in a tiny amount of polish and dab it on lightly. Then finish off with a glossy topcoat and your foil.

24. Modern candy cane nails

"I love a deep burgundy paired with color blocking and line work," says Robinson in regards to her inspiration for this look. "Together they create the perfect winter manicure." This abstract, geometric style design is a great go-to for beginners. As you have a deep red, pearlescent white, and true black polish on hand — as well as a toothpick for doing the thin stripes — you'll be good to go.

25. Gold sparkle striped nails

This stunning style is another one that's ideal for nail art novices, as it doesn't call for any tricky techniques. "For this look, you can use a clear or sheer natural color for the base — then use white and black nail polish to create your shapes before adding the thin gold lines," explains Los Angeles-based nail artist Nia Ho. "Getting the gold line as straight as possible is the most important aspect because the black and white parts underneath will be covered by the gold, so it ultimately doesn’t matter if they're not perfect," she says.

26. Gilded dipped nails

This ultra-glamorous red and gold manicure comes courtesy of nail artist Eunkyung Park, who's famous for her dreamy, out-of-this-world designs. To achieve a similar look at home, apply a pair of glossy red press-ons and then paint the tips with an opaque gold polish, like Essie Good As Gold or Nabi's Mirror Effect Nail Polish in Gold. Embellish them with decals of your choice.

27. Plum marble nails

"This dusty plum shade is a great transition color if you're afraid of going too dark with your winter nails," says Houston-based nail artist Cecily Ellis. Her advice for recreating this look? "The accent nails can be done by using a nail art brush to create the marble lines, and the beauty of marble is that there's no perfect way of doing it."

28. Winter pink ombré nails

"This French ombré design is a great way to maintain a classic look but still be on-trend," says Ellis, who adds that the best way to get a super seamless ombré finish like this is to use a makeup sponge with white polish. "Doing a glam accent nail using gold glitter or flakes is also a great way to take it up a notch during the holiday season."

29. Heavy metal ombré nails

Don't be fooled: Recreating this edgy metallic manicure is easier than it looks. In fact, it can easily be done at home with any shimmery polishes in your collection. "Use a fan makeup brush to lightly sweep metallic glitter onto the tips of your nails for an extra special effect," says Ellis, who adds: “My inspiration for this set was New Year's Eve. There's nothing better than a little sparkle to help bring in the new year, especially on your fingertips.”

30. Velvety red nail art

For this festive negative space look by Robinson, you'll need your favorite glittery or magnetic red nail polish, a gold shade of your choosing, and of course, a dotting tool (like this one), as this will help you get a really precise finish. In terms of execution, simply paint each nail red, starting just slightly away from the nail bed, and then add a gold dot in the space between your cuticle and the polish. This manicure’s shine will rival your Christmas ornaments.

31. Golden eye nails

Another foolproof winter nail look to try is this unique gilded take on the French manicure by Ho. In addition to gold, black, blue, and white polishes, you'll also need a fine line brush to create the eye on the accent nail. You can also use tape for the tips to ensure they come out looking extra clean and polished.

32. Animal print-tipped nails

This animal print design done by Ho is yet another fun twist on the classic French manicure — one that’s perfect for any holiday party. To get this look, paint your nails with light pink or ivory nail polish, and then use a beauty sponge to blend the black and brown shades together. (You can also use a toothpick to swirl the colors together until you're happy with how it looks.) Then apply a topcoat to add extra shine and longevity.

33. Glam nude nails

This gorgeous look created by Flordia-based artist Sophia Fraccalvieri is proof that nude nails do not have to be basic or boring. All you need is an opaque, beige-colored polish and holographic nail decals (such as these or these) and you're ready for your next holiday shindig.

34. Pearly French manicure

Nail artist Savannah Walker created this sophisticated manicure with a pearlescent base coat and creamy jet-black polish — indeed, it's that simple. Of course, you'll probably want to use a stencil or fine line brush when doing the tips, but so long as you have a steady hand, you should be just fine.

35. Artsy pine tree nails

How cool is this abstract pine tree design by Fraccalvieri? She calls the look "art ink trees" and created it using products from Bio Seaweed Gel USA and Magpie Beauty. Depending on your artistic abilities, you could do this with a sponge, a stencil, or even freehand if you dare.

More nail inspiration:

• 9 Nail Art Trends You’re About to See Everywhere in 2024
• Iridescent Nails Are the Most Viral Manicure Trend So Far
• 12 Nail-Art Designs That Look Great on Shorter Nails

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