20 trendy Christmas nail looks that aren’t plain green and red

We’ve had a crazy year full of nail trends. From “blush nails” to “jelly nails” and even “cat eye nails”, the creativity that goes into creating gorgeous manicures seems to be never-ending.

What if we combined all the trends we’ve seen this year with some Christmas magic? Good news, because here’s a list of Christmas nail designs to get you inspired!

“Cat eye” Rudolph nails

Dressing your nails with a velvety “cat eye” finish and pairing it with gel designs of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer makes for a very satisfying visual.

The texture that the “cat eye” nails feature comes from their magnetic properties.

Santa hat French tip Christmas nails

We love how well the Santa hat design frames the nail tip. The way the design sits on top of the nail makes it look like your nails are wearing the hats themselves.

We recommend you try this nail style if you prefer oval nail tips. A round shape like this will pair well with the designs of the hat.

Elegant Christmas nails

Simple and sleek, this combination of gold, maroon, and forest green gives us a very elegant and mature nail look.

The bejewelled Christmas tree and the strip of gold against a red base add another level of sophistication to the nail look – we can’t take our eyes off it.

3D Christmas nails

Using a 3D art mixing gel, we’re able to create little 3D definitions that let the nail art “pop” to life.

You can play around with the gel and create a heart like this Xiao Hong Shu user did or use it to add extra definition to your artwork like Rudolph’s red nose.

Red and white Christmas nails

When it comes to Christmas nails, most of us like to fill them with three colours. Often opting for shades of red, green, and white, this colour scheme is a classic for Christmas nails.

But what happens when we take the green out of the picture?

Using just red and white surprisingly work well together to give you a colour scheme that recalls the jolliness of Santa Claus.

You can play around with just adding a few abstract shapes of white against the red base to create snow-like designs or even use the two colours to create a checkered pattern.

Frozen Christmas nails

We might not get a Winter wonderland here in Singapore but nothing is stopping you from sporting a nail look that reminds you of the freezing weather.

The snowflake designs and sparkles that adorn the shades of blue make the nail look shimmer subtly.

Abstract Christmas nails

Similar to the red and white Christmas nails, this nail look utilises the same two colours but emphasises more on the shapes.

Try this design out with other colour combinations like green and white, red and green, as well as red and gold.

As long as you fill in the nail space with random blobs of shapes, you’ll get a funky nail look.

You’ll get this quirky manicure that’s unlike your usual Christmas nails with typical drawings of reindeer or Christmas trees.

Pearl princess Christmas nails

For those of you who don’t really fancy manicures with bright colours and prefer something a little more neutral, here’s a nail look just for you.

You can simply use a baby pink or light beige that matches your natural nail colour.

The design of this manicure comes purely from the pearls that decorate the nail. You can use different-sized pearls to make various patterns like the Christmas tree and the Christmas wreath.

To complement the pearls, you can even frame your nail with a thin gold border for a more structured look.

Long Christmas nails

With the added real estate that comes with long nails, there’s lots of room for shimmery details.

You can add pearls or golden snowflake charms for a magical Winter wonderland look. Our personal favourite would be to paint on a towering Christmas tree that covers almost the entire nail.

“Cat eye” sunset Christmas nails

The pink and yellow glitters of the “cat eye” nails remind us of the gorgeous hues that paint the sky as the sun sets.

As the two colours blend to give us a gorgeous shimmer, the simple drawing of the Christmas tree that decorates it paints a picturesque scene.

We also love the simple drawing of the tree: a zig-zag line. Then, you can decorate it with jewels and pearls.

Minimalistic French tip Christmas nails

Feel like keeping it extra simple this Christmas? Try this manicure with nail art of Santa’s hat on one finger for each hand.

Unlike the Santa hat French tip Christmas nails we mentioned at the start, this one takes on a much more minimalistic design.

Christmas Stocking Nails

Layering a string of pearls on top of a nail tip that’s painted with a deep maroon polish recalls the image of Christmas stockings hanging on a chimney.

Play around with the size of the pearls – you can keep it subtle and sweet with small beads. Alternatively, you can create a fluffy-like appearance by using a big pearl in the centre followed by smaller ones at the side just like the image shown above.

Winter morning dew Christmas nails

Matte polishes can still be as eye-catching as glossy nails depending on what they’re being paired with.

The intricate snowflakes design stands out because of the matte polish so every detail can be admired.

Plus, the blend of pastel colours that make up the base reminds us of the pretty colours that get refracted from the morning dew as the sun hits the drops.

“Blush” Christmas nails

Christmas designs like the reindeer and Christmas tree are drawn on top of a “blush nail” base in this manicure.

Pink hues bloom outwards from the centre of the base giving a rosy hue. Meanwhile, the glossy and jelly texture of the “blush nail” base allows the intricate Christmas designs to stand out as it puts more emphasis on the designs’ opaque polish.

“Coffee jelly” Christmas nails

Brown might not be your typical Christmas colour but we’re loving the way this “coffee jelly” looks with snowflakes and a Christmas tree.

Once again, the sheerness of the “jelly” polish shines a spotlight on the intricate designs created with the white opaque polish.

And doesn’t it remind you of warm cinnamon rolls or a gingerbread house when you’re looking at them?

Sweater weather Christmas nails

Simple and subtle, this manicure doesn’t scream “Christmas” right in your face. This nail look is perfect if you want to wear your Christmas manicure over into the next year.

The argyle pattern really ties it in a brings a cosy Christmas vibe to the look.

Bejewelled Christmas nails

Instead of using a coloured polish, why not just decorate your nails with a little bling?

Sprinkle your manicure with lovely gemstones and form different shapes for a textural effect. Stack them up to form a Christmas tree or line them up in a circle to make a Christmas wreath.

Polka dot Christmas nails

Dotting your nails with red, green, and white polish is a cute way to give your nails a little “pop” of colour.

Try this manicure if you’re looking for something more youthful and adorable. Feel free to add a Santa hat French tip on one of the nails to switch things up.