15 Holiday Nail Ideas That Pretty Up Your Fingers in 3 Easy Steps: Christmas Lights, Twinkling Trees, More

A gorgeous manicure acts like the star on top of a Christmas tree for any ensemble you’re donning this holiday season. So we gathered up holiday nail ideas that are sure to add festive fun to your fashion and your fingertips. From pretty poinsettias and elegant wreaths to candy cane stripes and Christmas light nail designs, there’s a joyful option for everyone. And the best part is that you don’t have to go to the salon — you can re-create these looks with ease from home. Keep scrolling to see the gorgeous designs that only require a few polishes, tools and steps to achieve a wow-worthy manicure.

1. Holiday nail ideas: Chic candy cane stripes

“The angled lines in this holiday nail look make your nails appear longer,” says celebrity manicurist Miss Pop. “And when it comes to Christmas, no candy is more festive than a candy cane!”

Get the look:

1. Apply two coats of a red polish, like OPI in Big Apple Red, to all nails and let dry completely.
2. Use a white striper polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Hip Hip Hue-Ray, to draw a thick diagonal stripe through the center of each nail. Next, draw two thin diagonal lines — one slightly above the thick stripe and another slightly below it. Let dry.
3. Use a glittery silver striper polish, like China Glaze Stripe Rite in Pixel-ated (Buy from Walmart, $4.50) to paint a thin line down the center of each thick white stripe; let dry. Seal all nails with top coat.

2. Sassy Santa suits

Painting on a Santa suit manicure will guarantee your name makes the nice list this year.

Get the look:

1. Apply two coats of a red polish, like OPI in Big Apple Red, to all nails. Let dry.
2. Use a white striper polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Hip Hip Hue-Ray, to draw a scalloped French tip across each nail. Then, use it to draw a line down each nail’s center.
3. Using a black nail art pen, like Nails INC. Black Mani Marker, make the suit’s belt buckle by drawing a small, negative-space rectangle at the center of the nail’s white stripe. Repeat on all nails and let dry. Seal all nails with top coat.

3. Holiday nail ideas: Twinkling trees

“The sparkling ruby red polish and rhinestone tree reflect loads of light,” says celebrity manicurist Pattie Yankee, “so your hands look festive and youthful!”

Get the look:

1. Apply two coats of a shimmery red polish, like Holo Taco in Red Licorice. Let dry completely.
2. While the polish is still tacky, use a toothpick to apply green rhinestones, find them in a kit like KADS Rhinestones Nail Decorations, in a four-row pyramid at the center of two accent nails per hand.
3. Apply two gold rhinestones from the above kit at the base of the tree to create a tree stump. Then, place a clear star rhinestone, like The Crafts Outlet Rhinestones Star, at the top of the tree. Seal all nails with top coat.

4. Glittering garland and ribbon tiers

Eye-catching shades of green, red and white and touches of sparkle are sure to make you shine.

Get the look:

1. On three accent nails per hand, apply two coats of a green polish, like Revlon in Posh. Then, on the other nails, apply two coats of a red polish, like OPI in Big Apple Red. Let dry completely.
2. Starting at the cuticle of the green nails, paint the lower third of the nail with one coat of a holiday-esque multi-color glitter polish, like ella + mila in Party in a Bottle. Let dry.
3. On the red nails, use a dotting tool, like Le Mini Macaron Le Dottie, to create diagonal tiers of a white polish, like essie in Blanc. Let dry. Repeat with a glittery green polish, like Zoya in Ivanka. Let dry. Seal all nails with top coat.

5. Holiday nail ideas: Stunning snowflakes and flurries

“The unexpected combination of snowflakes with a red polish makes your nails stand out,” says Miss Pop.

Get the look:

1. Paint two coats of a red polish, like OPI in Big Apple Red, onto all nails. Let dry completely.
2. To create snowflakes, draw an asterisk on two nails on each hand using a white striper polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Hip Hip Hue-Ray. Add small white dots to the end of each snowflake line, then place a clear rhinestone, find them in a kit like KADS Rhinestones Nail Decorations, into the center of each flake; seal with top coat.
3. Use the white striper to dot various sized dots on snowflake-free nails; let dry. Seal all nails with top coat.

6. Gorgeous gift wrap accents

Just as pretty as a present, this design with bow-tied accents add pretty pizzazz to fingertips.

Get the look:

1. Paint two coats of shimmery green polish, like ILNP in Hide and Seek, on the thumb, index and ring fingernails; two coats of red polish, like OPI in Big Apple Red; on pinkie nails and two coats of white polish, like OPI in Alpine Snow, on the middle fingernails.
2. On the white nails, use a nail art brush, like Orly Long Detailer Brush, and the red polish to create a vertical stripe, then a horizontal stripe near the tip of the nail and a bow where the two lines meet.
3. Dip a red round rhinestone, find them in a set like Zealer Red Nail Art Rhinestones, in top coat and place in the center of the bow with tweezers. Seal all nails with top coat.

7. Holiday nail ideas: Pretty poinsettia accents

“This look gives your nails a subtle, festive touch,” says Yankee. “And because the tips are green, it high­lights your nails’ shape.”

Get the look:

1. Apply two coats of a light pink polish, like essie in Ballet Slippers, to all nails. Let dry completely.
2. Use sparkly green striper polish, like LeChat Striping Nail Art Polish in Green Glitter, to create a thin French tip along the free edge of each nail. Let dry completely.
3. Use a red striper polish, like Color Club Nail Art Striper in Red on Red, to paint 5 poinsettia petal shapes slightly off-center at the free edge of two accent nails per hand. Then use a dotting tool, like Le Mini Macaron Le Dottie, dipped in metallic gold polish, like essie in Good As Gold, to add 3 dots to the center of each flower. Let dry. Seal all nails with top coat.

8. Striking peppermint swirl accent

This peppermint-inspired swirling accent nail is certainly as sweet as candy!

Get the look:

1. Apply two coats of glittery red polish, like KBShimmer in Leaf of Faith, to all nails. Let dry completely.
2. Use a white striper polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Hip Hip Hue-Ray, to draw curved lines from the ring-finger nail’s center to its edges; fill in every other space with white polish.
3. Dot clear top coat onto the back of a rhinestone, find it in a kit like KADS Rhinestones Nail Decorations, with a toothpick, then place the stone at the swirl’s center. Seal all nails with top coat.

9. Holiday nail ideas: Eye-catching holly

“I love this look because it reminds me of a holly center­piece,” says celebrity manicurist Candice Idehen. “And the tiny leaves and berries couldn’t be easier to create!”

Get the look:

1. On three nails per hand, apply two coats of a shimmery red polish, like Holo Taco in Red Licorice. Then, on the other two nails, apply two coats of silver polish, like China Glaze in Platinum Silver. Let dry completely.
2. Add clusters of spiky leaves using a dark green striper polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Performance Art. Let dry.
3. At the center of each leaf cluster, use a dot of clear polish and a toothpick to add three red rhinestones, find them in a kit like KADS Rhinestones Nail Decorations. Seal all nails with top coat.

10. Beautiful bow-accented French tips

This festive spin on a classic French manicure gives your nails the gift of glamour by “tying” them up in festive ribbon!

Get the look:

1. Apply two coats of a pink polish, like Orly French Manicure in Pink Nude, onto all nails. Let dry completely.
2. Paint tips with a white striper polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Hip Hip Hue-Ray. Let dry.
3. Use a green striper polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Performance Art, to make ribbon and streamer lines at the base of the white tip of one nail. Repeat on a second nail using a red striper polish, like Color Club Nail Art Striper in Red on Red. Then, add two green or red teardrop stones, find them in a kit like Allstarco Marquise Assorted Colors Gems, and one red or green circle stone, find them in a kit like KADS Rhinestones Nail Decorations, to each. Seal all nails with top coat.

11. Holiday nail ideas: Elegant polka dots

Looking for less intricate holiday nail ideas? This design is just that with an emerald base and easy to create gold polka dots.

Get the look:

1. Apply two coats of shimmery emerald green polish, like Zoya in Selene, to all nails. Let dry completely.
2. Dip a dotting tool, like Le Mini Macaron Le Dottie, into glittery gold polish, like ILNP in Empire, and create polka dots on all nails.
3. Add a second layer of the gold polish on top of dots as needed. Let dry. Seal all nails with top coat.

12. Mix and match accents

This mix-and-match manicure is sure to help you make a stunning statement with your nails.

Get the look:

1. Apply two coats of a red polish, like OPI in Big Apple Red, onto three nails per hand and two coats of a white polish, like essie in Blanc, onto the other nails. Let dry completely.
2. On one white nails, use a dark green striper polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Performance Art, to draw and fill the outline of a small Christmas tree complete with trunk. Next, dip a toothpick into clear top coat and use it to place a silver rhinestone, find it in a kit like KADS Rhinestones Nail Decorations, at the top of the tree to make its “star.” Draw three small hearts around the top of the tree with a red nail art pen, like Madam Glam Red Art Pen.
3. Using a glittery gold striper polish, like China Glaze Stripe Rite in Brushstroke of Luck, draw four thick, horizontal lines across the middle-finger nail. Let dry. Seal all nails with top coat.

13. Holiday nail ideas: Sparkling ornaments and stripes

Adorning nails with glittery ornaments and stripes not only adds a touch of sophisticated sparkle but also takes the focus off of any beauty bothers on hands like wrinkles or dark spots.

Get the look:

1. Paint two coats of glittery gold polish, like Color Club in Take a Gamble, on the middle fingernails. Add metallic dark red polish, like Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in
   The Queens Velvet, on the thumb, index and pinkie fingernails and white polish, like essie in Blanc, on the ring fingernails. Let dry completely.
2. On one red nail per hand, use a nail art brush, like Orly Long Detailer Brush, to make three diagonal white stripes, then dip in gold polish and draw two more stripes.
3. On the white nails, create a circle with gold polish, then outline it with the nail art brush and black polish, like SinfulColors in Black on Black; draw a vertical line above it. Top the ornament with a bow using the red polish and the brush. Seal all nails with top coat.

14. Wow-worthy wreaths

“The metallic gold base and glittery wreath will give your nails a warm ‘home for the holidays’ feeling,” says Miss Pop.

Get the look:

1. Apply two coats of a metallic gold polish, like essie in Good As Gold, to all nails. Let dry completely.
2. Use a glittery green stiper polish, like Color Club Nail Art Striper in Green Glitter, to create a wreath on two accent nails of each hand by drawing a thick “O.”
3. While polish is still tacky, use a toothpick dipped in clear top coat (it helps grab the stones) to place five red round stones, find them in a kit like qiipii Red Rhinestones Nail Charms, onto each wreath. Then fashion the bow by placing one round red stone between two triangle red stones from the same set above each wreath. Seal all nails with top coat.

15. Holiday nail ideas: Lovely Christmas light nail design

Light up nails and your look with this colorful Christmas light nail design that’s trending this year.

Get the look:

1. Apply two coats of a light pink polish, like essie in Ballet Slippers. Let dry completely.
2. Use a green nail striper polish, like Color Club Nail Art Striper in Green, to make a curly line on each nail with three to four tiny socket squares attached to the line. Let dry.
3. With a toothpick and dots of clear polish, attach multicolored teardrop rhinestones, like Allstarco Marquise Assorted Colors Gems, to each socket. Seal all nails with top coat.