50 Jolly Festive Nail Art Designs Perfect For The Merry Season
The Christmas tree isn’t the only thing worth decking out this season. The holidays are also the perfect excuse to treat yourself to some fun festive nail art.
Dressing up your nails is a small way to elevate your look for any holiday party, family gathering, or cookie exchange. And really, who doesn’t love a pretty manicure?
So here’s a roundup of some of the prettiest festive nail art designs we’ve found across social media, saving you the scroll.
From classic mistletoe and wreaths to sparkly glitter finishes, this list has plenty to inspire your next manicure.
Scroll down and take a look.
#1. Festive Nail Art Christmas
A great manicure is one of the simplest ways to soak up the holiday spirit.
There’s no shortage of ways to decorate your nails this season, from cute reindeer designs to adorable sweater patterns.
Delicate snowflakes and candy canes also make for a great manicure this time of year.
Our personal favorite, though, is anything sweets-themed, think gingerbread and cinnamon motifs.
If a full set feels like too much, keeping the design to just one nail or the tips is a great way to still bring some holiday spirit into your look.
Candy canes, Santa hats, and mistletoe garlands all make excellent motifs for the season.
Want to really lean into the glam? Adding gold or a bit of glitter to the design does the trick every time.
#2. Golden Holiday Nails
Looking to add a bit of grandeur to your next manicure? Gold is the way to go.
Gold nails work beautifully as an alternative to gold jewelry, or right alongside it, for anyone who’s had their fill of chrome for now.
Metallic shades are always popular through fall and winter, and gold especially shines during the holiday season if you want your nails to stand out.
There’s a warm glow to gold that’s just hard to resist, making it a natural fit for the colder months.
It elevates just about any manicure style too, from classic French tips to a full chrome finish.
Want to make it even more festive? Pairing gold with red, green, or other holiday motifs is a great way to nail that Christmas look.
#3. Festive Nail Art New Year’s Eve
If you’re serious about your manicures, you already know picking the right New Year’s Eve look is high on the priority list every December.
What better way to welcome a new year than with a fresh set of nails? Time to bring out the glitter, sparkle, and cute little star details.
These looks are guaranteed to make your hands shine and pull your whole party outfit together, so don’t skip this one.
The best part about a New Year’s Eve manicure is that it works just as well for any other holiday event happening between now and the countdown.
Shimmer and glitter are excellent choices for the occasion.
It’s also a great chance to go bold with designs you might not usually reach for day to day. It’s the biggest night of the year, so have fun with it.
#4. Glittered Nails For Holiday
Glitter is honestly the easiest way to take a regular manicure up a notch.
Whether it’s just a hint of shimmer on the tips or a touch near the cuticles, glitter can make your nails look instantly prettier.
There are countless ways to wear this trend, and the holidays are the perfect time to try a few, whether at the salon or DIY at home.
A glittery manicure suits pretty much any occasion, but especially the festive season. Glitter and sparkle just feel synonymous with the holidays.
What makes glitter so great is how versatile it is. It works for any style, outfit, or occasion, no matter your usual aesthetic.
Whether you keep it to one or two accent nails or go all in with a full glittery set, there’s a glitter look out there for everyone.
#5. Fun Party Nails
There’s something fun about dressing up during this time of year. The holidays give us a reason to go a little bigger with our looks than usual.
We love a good festive makeup look or hairstyle, but honestly, extending that same energy to our nails is where the real excitement is.
Our hands deserve some holiday spirit too.
When we picture great festive party nails, glitter and shimmer come to mind first, along with classic color pairings like red and green, green and gold, or blue and silver.
Mixing these colors and finishes is a great way to put together your own set of holiday manicure looks.
The combinations are nearly endless, so get creative and save a few of these for later.
Did you enjoy this roundup of festive nail art designs?
If a salon trip isn’t in the cards, trying these at home or grabbing a press-on set works just as well.
And if you want to come back to this list later, save it to your Pinterest board using the Pin button.
Looking for more festive beauty inspiration? We’ve got you covered.
Check out our post on the best holiday outfits and makeup looks.
There’s plenty more, manicure ideas, tattoo designs, and fashion tips, waiting for you on the site.
