When the weather turns cold, I instinctively reach for my black, oxblood, and navy nail polishes, which I alternate until the ice melts. While these dark, moody hues are often associated with winter, limiting yourself to just three shades quickly becomes tedious.
However, thanks to nail artists and nail polish brands sharing their latest manicures on Instagram, there’s a whole world of winter nail designs to inspire you every time you get a manicure this season — including intricate designs that are simple to DIY. What are a few examples? Green glitter tips for the holidays or a chic take on the classic French manicure.
Please continue reading for a list of 15 of our favourite simple winter nail designs to add to your to-do list.
1. Seeing Stars
The design of this bejewelled star is genuinely out of this world.
2. Shades of Grey
These light grey graphic lines have the appearance of cracked ice.
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3. Candy Stripes
Apply a few different sized stripes to your solid red manicure to change it up.
4. Put a Jewel on It
A little sparkle never hurts, and this manicure is ridiculously simple to complete. Apply a clear base coat to your nails, then use nail glue to adhere tiny rhinestones to your nail beds. The beauty of this manicure is that it’s virtually impossible to mess up — simply place the nail jewels wherever you like.
5. Green Glitter Tips
Negative space sparkly green tips have the same festive feel as a traditional red and green manicure.
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6. Peppermint Swirls
A fresh take on a solid mint green nail is a few subtle white swirls.
7. Seeing Spots
Forget what you’ve heard: colourful nails are appropriate for any season. This polka dot manicure is both fun and easy to do. Choose four polishes and create colour combinations on your nails by mixing and matching the dots. You can use a nail art brush to draw the shape and then fill it in with the one from the bottle.
8. Solid Gold
These chrome swirls would make a festive holiday manicure, but they’re also suitable for anyone who wants to sparkle all winter.
9. Marble Nails
Marble is a popular choice for interior design, but it also looks great as nail art. Celebrity nail artist Thuy Nguyen added curved lines to MJ Rodriguez’s extra-long stiletto nails to achieve the effect.
10. Icicle Nails
This iridescent sheer nail polish is as cool as the icicles outside.
11. Negative Space French Manicure
The French manicure is back, and it’s one of the most popular nail art styles this year. Use a striping brush to paint another thin line parallel to the white tip for a chic twist on the classic.
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12. Black and Silver Half Moons
Because it’s so simple to do, the half-moon manicure is still a popular nail art design. After you’ve painted your nail’s base black, use a striping brush to outline the silver curve at the base. Then fill in the blanks.
13. Winter Florals
It’s a gloomy day outside. Putting a few tiny, bright flowers on your nails will help lift your spirits until spring arrives.
14. Checkerboard Nails
Checkerboard is having a moment on everything from bikinis to rugs to denim. It’s also become a significant nail art trend this year, which is unsurprising. And the best part about this look is that it’s completely customizable: go for a subtle look with neutrals or a bold look with different shades on each nail.
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15. Cinnamon Swirls
This cinnamon swirl manicure is the epitome of sugar, spice, and everything excellent.
