When I used to think of nail art, I pictured really extravagant, colourful designs that wouldn't look out of place in an art gallery. However, in recent years, some of my favourite nail artists have started to favour a more minimalist approach, making nail art a lot more wearable for those of us who prefer a slightly more pared-back manicure.
Although I love having fun with my nails and doing something different every now and again, I'm definitely a fan of these more minimal styles, especially when it comes to Christmas. You see, I tend to go all out with my outfits and wear as many fun, festive colours and sequins as I can, so I like my nails to complement my look, rather than take away from it. Because of this, I've made it my mission to find some of the most elevated Christmas nail designs to take to the salon this December.
I spent hours on Instagram scrolling through my favourite accounts to find some seriously chic manicures to re-create this festive season. From monochrome designs to glittery French tips and elegant Christmas-tree nail art—yes, such a thing does exist—there are so many gorgeous options that I'm struggling to decide which one to go for. If you're also after a bit of inspiration for your salon appointment before the big day, I highly recommend checking out the below designs.
The Chicest Christmas Nail Designs to Try This Year
1. Christmas French Tips
This twist on a French manicure is a fun way to update a plain manicure design.
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A fine-tipped brush will make nail art so much easier, whether you're doing French tips or intricate designs.
2. Snowflake Nail Art
This design looks intricate, but it's surprisingly quite simple to recreate at home. Use a dotting tool to map out each spike of the snowflake and then use a fine-tipped nail art brush to join them up.
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A dotting tool is so handy for creating all types of nail art designs.
3. Bow Nail Art
Bow nail art is a great way to go if you want a Christmas manicure that isn't too on the nose.
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Nail stickers make it easy to tap into the bow nail art trend.
3. Silver and Black Nail Art
Next up is this stunning silver and black design. I love this combination of colours as it's festive but still monochrome, so it won't clash with your outfits.
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These silver nail decals make it so much easier to get the look at home if you're not blessed with steady hands.
5. Glittery Accent Nails
Like glitter but don't want it on every nail? An accent nail is the perfect way to make a subtle statement. Or why not try a glitter French tip?
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How stunning is this nail polish from Dior?
6. Gold French Tips
If you're a fan of a French-tip manicure, swap out your usual white polish for gold this December for a seriously stylish finish.
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I love H&M nail polishes, and this colour just screams Christmas.
7. Christmas Tree Nail Art
I never thought a Christmas tree could look so chic, but I'm obsessed with this nail art. Although I don't think I'll be able to re-create it myself, I'll definitely be taking this picture to the salon.
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If you do want to try this yourself, you'll need some nail-art tools.
8. Candy Cane Bows
Another nail art design that I love is this candy cane bow manicure. You don't have to do the design on every nail either, simply alternate with a red, shimmery polish.
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This glittery red shade is perfect.
9. Chrome Finishes
You simply can't go wrong with a chrome manicure for the festive season. It's easily one of the coolest nail trends around.
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This Dior nail polish has a beautiful chrome-like finish.
10. Nail Embellishments
If you want something with some serious wow factor, go for nail embellishments. Yes, this look might take a little longer to do, but the result is totally worth it. I recommend keeping your base colour fairly neutral to let the nail art do the talking.
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This kit has all the nail embellishments you could ever need.
11. Bow Detailing
Bows are everywhere right now, and this nail art will earn you so many compliments.
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Use a white polish and a small brush to re-create this bow design.
12. Mixed Metals
Who said you can't mix gold and silver? I love this mixed metal French-tip design for an elevated take on festive nails.
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This silver nail art pen is great for adding metallic accents to your nail art.
13. Bauble Nail Art
We all love putting baubles on the tree, so why not add them to your nails too? This nail art is perfect for minimalists.
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Apply a topcoat to make your hard work last longer. This matte-finish one adds a cool edge.
14. Silver Detailing
Silver is such a popular colour at the moment, so if you want your nails to look bang on trend, then this subtle silver detailing should do the trick.
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Not only is this the perfect silver polish, but it's affordable too.
15. Classic Red
If nail art isn't your thing, you simply can't go wrong with a classic red manicure this Christmas.
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This shade is one of my absolute favourites for this time of year.
This story was previously published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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