You would not know it by looking at my own nails, but I love nail art. I think it’s a great way to have fun and express your personality or celebrate the season. I also love that you can switch it up easily and spend very little or quite a bit depending on your budget. If you’re the kind of person that likes seasonally inspired nail designs, I’ve got some great options for Christmas to share.
More from MamásLatinas: Affordable & on-trend Christmas decorations to add to your collection
Christmas nail art from year to year features recurring themes because Christmas is Christmas after all. Still, every year, I am so inspired by the creativity I see. This year is no exception. I’m seeing your usual Christmas motifs expressed in traditional, non-traditional, and whimsical ways. Take a look!
Pick a color palette that resonates with you.
You can do Christmas or holiday nails without sticking to traditional colors. I love how the designs here aren’t colors that you would normally associate with the winter holidays. The purples look fantastic.
Deep metallics pop in the snow.
Or in this case deep metallics make snowflakes on nails pop. The contrast is intense. The white brings out the shimmer in the metallic green base and the dark green makes the white snowflakes and dots look sharp and noticeable.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
White on white, glitter on white, snowflakes on white, sweater patterns, and bows. They all look fantastic on glam winter nails. The monochromatic pattern with a bit of shimmering glitter here and there is festive and fun.
Mesmerize them with your mani.
I love how these nails dance in the light. The glitter on the dark polish looks like stars in the sky while the glitter on the lighter colored nails evokes falling snow.
Light ‘em up!
Colorful Christmas lights strung across nude nails look delightful. You can have fun with choosing the colors to use for the lights to create a fun pattern.
Wrap them in metallic foils.
Nail foils come in so many options. I’m loving these metallic ones in green and red. You could just go for the foils, but if you’re feeling bold, add candy cane designs and other seasonal delights to the mix.
Holly Hobbie style nails are so adorable.
Think rustic New England, but of an era gone by that maybe only ever really existed in our imaginations. Think quaint and cozy like a cup that you would drink the best hot chocolate out of while wearing a handknitted sweater passed down by your grandmother.
Get black snowflakes because you’re edgy like that.
Who said snowflakes have to be white anyway? They look fantastic in black with a light background color. I also love how they look on short nails. These were created with a stamping plate.
Speaking of stamps!
Christmas stamps are the best. So few people send snail mail nowadays that getting some seasonal holiday stamps on your tips might be the only way you get to enjoy seeing them this year.
What in the adorableness is going on here?!
The nail bed is covered in a very demure pinkish nude. Atop of that there is the daintiest holiday berry design in green, red, and gold. It’s festive, it’s playful, it’s freaking adorable.
Another berry cute design.
Here we have a similar berry design going on, but on longer nails. The holly berries on a nude nail bed are complemented by surrounding nails in just a deep red color through and through.
Add sparkle, stars, and stripes.
Each nail has a little something different going on and yet they create a unified design. The color palette is exactly what you would expect for Christmas, but making it sparkly makes it feel sassy.
Peppermint, but make it abstract.
The colors are giving peppermint. The design is giving marble. It works. Now I want to see a peppermint marble countertop somewhere. Maybe that’s what Santa has in the kitchen at the North Pole.
A less abstract take on peppermint is always an option.
Peppermint swirls in a more traditional design are always perfect for the season. You could do all your nails in the peppermint style or just on a few nails. Add glitter on top of it all if you want some sparkle.
Just have fun.
I love how nothing about this nail design overtly telegraphs “Christmas” and yet, the Christmas vibes are vibing. Each nail looks like it’s been covered with a cool retro gift-wrapping pattern.
Poinsettia nails that glisten in the light.
Poinsettia flowers symbolize goodwill and community spirit. They have come to be strongly associated with Christmas. Oh, and did you know that they are not really flowers. The parts that looks like a flower are just colorful leaves. Fascinating!
If you’re big into Christmas songs, show it.
Why not create an ode to the music of the season on your nails? If you’re the kind of person that starts playing Christmas songs as soon as there is a chill in the air, own it!
Use a matte top coat.
The creator of this nail art used red nail polish, red metallic nail polish, and white stamping polish. Then they covered the entire nail with a matte top coat to get this gorgeous finish.
Are those nails or icicles?
The way they glimmer and have depth it’s hard to believe that they aren’t made of glass or ice. They are the kind of nails that Elsa from Frozen would rock 24/7. Fortunately, one does not have to be a snow queen to have nails like these.
Make it a pink December.
If you love pink, there is absolutely no reason why you can’t have pink nails in December. Hello! Pink is perfect year-round. Just and some sparkle and a ribbon and bow and you’ve got yourself a very merry pink Christmas.
