Best Gel Nails Christmas 2025: 20+ Stunning Holiday Manicure Ideas to Inspire Your Winter Look

The scent of pine trees, warm sweaters, and that specific playlist that makes even December seem like magic — it is all being replicated. And when it comes to one thing that can immediately make your mood about a holiday (as well as your outfit), it is your nails.
In the endless scrolling every year, I have been posing the same question: Which nail designs will not make me look overdone and feel festive at the same time?
The solution this year is in the deep colors, clean lines and that certain touch of bling. Uncasking the Best Gel Nails Christmas 2025, the eternal red, the puffy holiday bling.

Crimson Snowflakes and Candy Cane Whispers

Deep red gel polish has something about it that can never be resisted and it is like a Christmas night in a bottle. These nails merge shinny crimson color and small snowflake designs – a combination of conservativeness and fun. On a nail, candy cane stripes are recreated, which, naturally, brings out the feeling of something sweet yet luxurious. This type of manicure balances that thin borderline between holiday glitter and day-to-day use – and that is what makes it shine.

In order to achieve this appearance, I applied a base of OPI “Got the Blues for Red” as the base which brings out the depth without being overly dark. In the case of the snowflake details, thin brush and white gel paint of Beetles Gel Polish made the trick. The candy-cane stripes? All you have to do is to replace with white gel and seal with a shiny top layer to achieve that glassy effect.

The most desirable aspect of this design is that it is versatile. It also looks equally beautiful to hold a hot cocoa as it does to a champagne cup. It is jubileal without being noisy, vintage without being dull. To be frank, I believe it is that type of manicure which prompts one to book a last minute ski vacation, simply to be able to look like that.

Red Ribbon Elegance

This design is like a present that is well-wrapped, literally. Nude and cherry-red paint the smooth background to the minimal structural details of the ribbons, which is instantly understood as a holiday chic. There is a small French tip of the red which gives a bit of vintage glamour and the tiny bows hold it all together (pun intended).

I noticed this kind of design on Pinterest since the beginning of fall, and, naturally, there is nothing strange about it, it is merely an extension of the coquette aesthetic, only now it is more refined and seasonal. In order to do a replica, one must begin with a clear pink gel base such as Essie Ballet Slippers and apply the bows and lines with a finer line brush and a sharp color gel (such as Gelish Hot Rod Red).

Telling Allure about nail art by celebrity nail artist Betina Goldstein, she said that the key to dainty nail art is balance — you want detail, but not distraction. That is the manicure nails advice. I had a similar one last December and the compliments could not stop.

Frosted Ruby Classics

It takes simple to be pretty, and this deep, red gel is beautiful. There are enough subtle accents of snowflakes to make it high enough to reflect the light, without overpowering the design. It is a type of appearance that is as much appropriate in the office party as it is by the fire at home.

In case you would like to recreate this, one of my favorite deep reds that never chips easily is that of CND Shellac, which is called Decadence. In the case of the snowflakes, the super fine detail brush (size 0 or less) and white gel polish should be used. Enhance it with a single crystal in the middle should you want to be extra festive – it is a good reflector of candlelight.

Personally, I enjoy the way old school this is. It is celebratory and at the same time serious. Others put up some decorations in their trees I would rather put up some decorations on my nails in the shape of snowflakes.

Emerald Enchantment & Holiday Glam

This is the power of pulverizing. This design unites green, red, silver, and white the final palette of Christmas colors, but with metallic stripes and minuscule rhinestone decorations. It is not understated, but it is admittedly fashionable, such as the output of the vacation nail art.

Going to make this you will want to have OPI Stay Off the Lawn! in deep emerald base and Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Game of Chromes in the silver lines. A dotting tool (or a bobby pin tip) is ideal to use in the placement of tiny gems.
Nailpro Magazine suggests metallic and gemstone decorations as one of the trends of Best Gel Nails Christmas 2025 since more customers demand high-gloss and party-appropriate appearances.

The minimum amount of clothes and a velvet clutch then I can talk with my nails when I wear something so bold. And it is confidence on your fingertips.

Twinkling Christmas Lights

The soft nude color is combined with glitter festal green and red, and the string-lights art is intertwined between each nail. It is charming, comfortable, and above all easy to be put on. This design embodies that late-night magic- the magic that makes you pull up and stare again at the Christmas tree before going to sleep.

The Christmas Gel Set by Modelones will be able to provide this appearance, as it contains the appropriate glitter shades. To do those light strings that are delicate, the trick is to apply those light lines by using a detail brush; I prefer Kokoist thin liner gel as it is very easy to control.

This was a variant of this appearance that I did last year, and to be completely honest, it felt like an entire atmosphere when wrapping presents. It is festive but not glamorous the type of manicure that turns all movements of hands into a Christmas film.

Holly Berry Charm

Something eternal about the contrast of white polish and red of the holidays – it is like a real Christmas card in action. These nails have holly leaves and berries which give it just the right amount of festive not going overboard into kitsch. The red berries burst so well on the creamy background and give that fresh, winter-morning vitality we need at this time of the year. It is comfortable, classy and easily happy – a cup of mulled wine on nails.

To achieve this appearance, I begin with the OPI, in whose case, the Alpine Snow is the ideal canvas of white and the Gelish, the red accents are bold, as I combine it with the I’m So Hot!. In the case of the green holly leaves, it provides a good contrast without overwhelming, which is achieved by the Forest Green Gel Paint offered by Modelones. To achieve that hand-painted perfection, you will need a fine art brush – the type that nail artist Hang Nguyen talks about frequently in her holiday tips – to make all the leaves sharp and fine.

I recall the first time that I wore a style like this, I found myself gazing at my hands as I unwrapped the gifts. It is a manicure that makes you look like you are well-dressed even in a big sweater and a dishevelled bun. It is joyful, elegant, and certainly among the Best Gel Nails Christmas 2025 designs that I personally prefer.

Red Velvet & Snowfall Dots

Sometimes, simplicity wins. Minimal is not boring; these tiny white snow dot red nails are evidence of that. The red has a glossy texture, which is deep and smooth, and the nude nails with small snowflakes on them are not only charming but also provide some elegance. It is also snowing the first snow of the season– still, silent, and just right.

It is one of the easiest looks that can be made at home. A bright red gel polish, such as Essie Gel Couture “Rock the Runway”, and a base of nude color, such as Zoya “Taylor”, will work. A mere dotting object, or even the end of a hairpin, suffices with the snow dots. It was once mentioned by the celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik that even basic manicure could be couture with small accents, and this is just the kind of atmosphere we have in this case.

I can wear it with knitwear and a strong red lip and it is subtle sophistication that never over tries. Frankly speaking, it fits each person who desires his or her Best Gel Nails Christmas 2025 to be comfortable but stylish.

Wreaths & Ribbon Magic

This design is a direct ester of a vacation film – small wreaths, minimal bows, pearls, and minor accents of gold that make the entire image glitter. The nude and red colors are balanced together without interfering with the detailed artwork, which is also reflected by the combination of the same colors. Each nail gives a variant story, but all of them make a unanimous, beautiful artwork.

I applied CND, Romantique to create a neutral shade, as well as OPI, Big Apple Red to create the traditional red color. The green wreaths may be made with a tiny nail-art brush and a deep forest gel such as Gelish Youre So Elf-Centered. A small dots of gold can be added with chrome powder or gold foil and then the effect is this fine glitter, which reflects the light in an excellent way.

I have attempted to do something of this nature during a holiday party – and believe me, the people take notice. It is the type of manicure that gives the impression of part of the interior. Also, it serves as a great reminder that festival does not necessarily mean excessive, and, at times, it can be as simple as having things in your life that make you smile once you see them in the mirror.

Champagne & Bow Luxe

This one belongs to the glam lovers – champagne glitter, rose-gold shimmer and an elegant bow that appears to be about to unwrap a luxury gift. It has a gentle femininity to the palette, creamy pink undertones, that chic glitter that is almost bridal, but with a party atmosphere.

To that glittery look, I would of course be excited by the Le Mini Macaron Champagne Glow gel polish with DND Rose Quartz on the bow decorations. A small brush and a steady hand assist in drawing the black lines of the ribbon- in case you are novice at it then use striping tape to set the lines. In an article published by Byrdie, nail artist Sarah Bland has stated that metallics will be the neutral of the 2025 holiday season, and I cannot agree with her more.

This design personally gives me the impression that I am coming out of a fancy winter party. It is the sort of manicure that will make even your basic clothes look like they belong to a designer. In case you like low-budget luxury, it is definitely one of the Best Gel Nails Christmas 2025 that you will be able to choose.

Winter Sparkle Elegance

This last glimpse shows the switching of traditional red glam to soft winter light. The red extreme glitter polish that comes with nude snow-tipped nails have that just right frosty look. It is enchanted – as snowflakes in the final rays of the golden sunset. It is gala, luxurious, and never ends up being thin-skinned.

Re-create with OPI “I’m Really an Actress” (that glitter red multidimensional base) and Essie Vanity Fairest on the base (nude). Paint little white branches or edges of the snowflakes with the use of a thin brush at the line of the cuticle. Apply a glossy finish top to hold everything.

Whenever I put on this type of manicure, I get the impression that I am passing on my inner holiday goddess, delicate but powerful, glittery but elegant. It lies between tradition and trend, and, thus, it will always be a classic of the Best Gel Nails Christmas 2025 inspiration list.

Golden Holly Luxe

It is the spirit of the day in golden, and the design of this one is creamy nude gel, that has been smoothed out, and upon which green holly leaves, and red berries are sprinkled. The only thing that is special about this one is that there is a slight shimmer of gold under it all- the reflection of the Christmas lights on the snow. Each stroke is deliberate, each emphasis deliberate. It has all the old-fashioned holiday flair, reinvented in 2025.

To achieve this appearance, I use CND Shellac Cream puff as the base, and apply a small amount of gold shimmer with Orly gold afternoon. In the case of the holly, I am fond of Modelones Green Gel Paint, which is easily blended to give it a realistic look. The best painted berries are Red which is OPI “Big Apple Red.” And you want that glassy shine, leave out the Seche Vite Gel Top Coat – this works miracles on the closing of everything.

One nail artist, Julie Kandalec, once remarked that it is not necessary that holiday nails scream Christmas, but can whisper it to you in a graceful way. That is what this manicure does. It is happy, beautiful and photographic to the extent that I would even put it on to hold a mug of cocoa to write a story.

Colorful Fairy Light Strings

It is nothing but a thin-sliced nude foundation, covered with little multiplex bulbs that twirl in every nail like the lights of a frosty window. It is charming but not childish and the semi-opaque nude finish makes it have the elegant inside-out look.

In order to achieve this soft, happy look, I am basing on Essie “Mademoiselle” and tracing the slender black string using a detail liner. In the case of the bulbs, I spin Modelones Pastel Gel Set- light pink, sky blue, lemon yellow and coral. Apply a matte or semi-gloss finish to tone down the colors.

I used a similar look last Christmas when we had a brunch with friends, each time I picked my cup of coffee, people remarked on it. It is one of those designs that one smiles at the sight of his hands. It is the lightest, most creative, and effortlessly pretty make-up with the most Pinterest-core of the Best Gel Nails Christmas 2025.

Crimson Evergreen Dream

Had December been a color it would have been this. Crimson nails with evergreens, white berries and the daintiest dust of glitter hand painted. The craftsmanship is so perfect in this case – each bit of the piece is illuminated by soft-warm lights. It is the final festive manicure to a person who is traditional with a twist.

To this I turn OPI “Malaga Wine” as my base, the best rich red, and Gelish “You’re So Elf-Centered” into my green. China Glaze Fairy Dust sprinkling offers that glitzy top that does not dominate the art. The trick is patience: use thin layers, brush strokes and seals between application.

Nail artist Choi Eun-Kyung of Unistella, in an interview with Allure, once said that details and depth elevated the seasonal nail art to an even higher plane meaning wearable illustration. And that is what this manicure has become. I would be able to wear it with a black velvet dress or even chunky knits – because being festive does not mean being flashy, being festive means being confident.

Snowfall & Cozy Sweater Vibes

This is one that is like a hug in a manicure. Beige and red nails with delicate dots of white snowflakes on top of them – it is that just right blend of warmth and coldness. Every design piece appears like a hand-knitted garment, such as the ones that you would find on your best sweater. It is warm, nostalgic and almost alluringly beautiful.

In order to repeat this, I would suggest Essie “Not Just a Pretty Face” without clothes and CND Wildfire as the red that endures the test of time. Draw with white gel paint of Beetles, very delicate snowflakes, with a narrow liner, and sprinkle on little crystal studs to do the frosty effect. This dress is the best fit with winter fashion cashmere scarves, fuzzy cardigans, and mittens.

This design is evidence that celebrity manicurist Elle Gerstein had said last year that comfort-core nails are here to stay. You put it on and you get that little bit of confidence and calmness – what December needs.

Gingerbread Cookie Cuties

Okay, this one melts hearts. Nude gel nails sprayed with cute gingerbread men, white dots, and star details – it is the most cute and nostalgic manicure of the season. The 3D cookie effect and pastel colors make it look very comfortable and playful as childhood memories dusted with sugar.

I made a similar design with a base of Modelones gel of Milky Nude and using brown liner gel by Makartt the outlines of the gingerbread. Now add little white dots in details of ice cream, and, if you are really particular, sprinkle a pinch of pink chrome powder on the stars. Refinery29 reported that food-inspired nail art is on trend in the year 2021 – and gingerbread is topping the list of Best Gel Nails Christmas 2025.

At one time I had them on and a friend actually squeaked at me, saying I had the tastiest nails. It is amusing, glee-filled and so celebratory that even the most sinister heart will smile. Whimsical enough not to be afraid? It is your winter showstopper.

Blush & Holly Harmony

There is a natural appeal to a subtle pink base and hand painted holly. It is that kind of energy that the design has that I just wrapped presents in a warm cardigan with some jazz music playing in the background, it is modern, it is minimal but it is not dull. The small red berries are an excellent contrast to the dull background of the blush colour, and it is one of those rare kinds of style, which will effortlessly slide between the days and nights, the office and the dinner table.

In order to attain this balance, OPI “Baby, Take a Vow was the base, it is that soft pink that compliments all skin tones. In the case of the holly, the berries are made to pop by Beetles Gel Art Liner Forest Green and Gelish Hot Rod Red. The trick is in applying the greens in layers and sealing the leaves either with a little bit of high-shine top coating to give them a 3-D look.

In an interview on Vogue Beauty, celebrity nail artist Nina Park stated that the current festive nails are not about glitter overload, but rather about narrating stories with color. I completely agree. This manicure reminds me of some whisper of Christmas – so delicate, so feminine, and still full of silent joy. Even my barista smiled when I put on such a thing last winter. That’s the type of low profile magic I want to be.

Gilded Winter Greens

This design puts holiday luxuriousness on your fingertips; it is a mixture of the shimmering pale champagne, the deep green holly, and small golden studs that will seize every ray of light. It is smooth, elegant, and inexhaustibly flattering, particularly when you prefer manicures that are not overly noticeable with a cashmere sweater and also with a sequin-dress.

The first step to replicate it is to begin with Zoya “Ziv” – champagne-scented shimmer that shines, but does not have glitter fallout. Next, apply Modelones Green Gel Liner with a dotting tool and create some clusters of holly with small gold studs or crystals. It is not an obnoxious Christmas in this type of design, but it whispers it in a song of warm metal and soft twinkling.

This appearance reminds me of lazy morning at the holiday time – flickering candles, gold ornaments in the window and a cup of chai in my hand. Once Nail trends expert Michelle Humphrey wrote, “Gold is the transitor between glam and classic – it balances the boldness into grace. She’s right. This manicure demonstrates that glitter is not always a low-end item.

Evergreen Glamour

The ultimate showstopper. Imagine the emerald trees with their golden garlands, their little red baubles, their white polish dusted with shimmering metallic. Such is the manicure version of being at Rockefeller Center when the lights are on blue and green, the season is jolly, and it is impossible to miss that it is all good and glorious.

I begin this one with OPI Stay off the Lawn! as the primary emerald color. Then, the golden spirals are produced by Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in the game of chromes. It is done by the application of glitter in thin diagonal bands, as in ribboning a tree, and completing with micro red gems at the intersections. It is elaborate yet well worth the time.

Nail artist Chaun Legend (who has done the nails of celebrities like Kylie Jenner) has once told Elle that the nail design does not need to be complicated to be strong, but it just must be precise and placed. Such appearance connects that philosophy, literally. Everything is posh and festive and it is all magic under the warm lights.

Gingerbread & Gold Stars

This is the warmest of the Xmas ones, creamy nude polish with gold foil stars and one, sweet gingerbread man accent. It is a childrenish but sophisticated game, an adult version of childhood. When I look at such designs, I imagine kitchen counters which are dusted with flour and the unmistakable smell of ginger and cinnamon in the house.

In this style, CND “Romantique” is a perfect milky base. Draw the shape of the gingerbread using a fine detail brush and brown liner gel and outline this with white gel to represent the icing. The look is complete with gold foil or gel stars by Born Pretty. Coat a shiny top on everything to bring out the contrast.

Beauty editor Tasha Reiko Brown has at one point said that the holiday beauty is in playfulness that does not feel too high-end. This is what this manicure represents. It is nostalgia, but haute couture. It’s festive, but wearable. And it is sure to win praise all around – at the workplace to the cookie swap party.

Santa’s French Twist

It is a classic French manicure, however, re-designed to look like a makeover of a North Pole. Nude nails are painted in classic red with white curved decorations which resemble the hat trim of Santa. It is funny, contemporary, and surprisingly sophisticated – it is what any person who does not want to be too flashy would want.

I have been able to achieve this twist by applying Essie “Topless and Barefoot” in the base and OPI red hot Rio in the tops. A dotting tool and a tube of Snow White Beetles Gel Liner can be used to do the white trim. Hold your lines rounded and gentle to that naughty hat-like appearance.

When I initially put this design on, I could not help but smile every time I looked at my hands, this is the type of manicure that the season is December. Once famous stylist Priscilla Ono said, When beauty is good, it must bring you happiness even before it is looked at by anyone. That is what this manicure does. It is the most cheerful, attractive, and personality-filled of the Best Gel Nails Christmas 2025.

Crimson Sleigh Elegance

It is impossible to imagine a shade more distinctly festive than that deep metallic red which shines like Christmas decorations in the light. These nails add that eternal color and make it something more, the foundation of the red color in a satin finish with small white line drawings: stars, twinkling dots, and a small Christmas tree shape. It is glamour of the holidays at the highest level, minimalism and only a slight amount of sparkle to draw attention.

First to replicate this, I would begin with OPI “I’m Not Really a Waitress” a classic red that is bold and yet graceful at the same time. Then I draw minimalistic outlines of trees and stars scattered using a Beetles Gel Art Liner in Snow White. A semi-matte top finish serves to achieve that brushed-satin look, which is one of the largest emerging trends of Best Gel Nails Christmas 2025, according to Byrdie.

I feel the difference as soon as I put on this type of red and feel as though I was in a snowy market in a long wool coat with hot chocolate in my hands. It is celebratory, self-confident and in a way, adult yet retains that feeling of wonder of being a child.

Poinsettia Bloom Perfection

The poinsettia, with its deep red flowers and deep green leaves, would be the signature flower of December. This design directs that natural beauty in the best way possible with the integration of hand-painted petals with metallic crimson nail that glistens beneath all the light. It is flashy yet classy like the holiday decoration created by a person who knows the beauty of less.

To achieve the appearance, I suggest CND Shellac Red Baroness as the primary color -a dark cherry shade, which goes great with Essie Blanc as the white accent nail. In the case of the poinsettia artwork, employ thin brushes and apply a layer of shades of red and green gels to add dimension and gold micro dots in the center to add the touch of glitz.

According to manicurist of celebrities Betina Goldstein, in a report to Harper Bazaar, she claims that botanical nail art is a winter favorite as it is a blend of nature and glam. This is what makes this kind of style timeless. Each brushstroke is purposeful, delicate and somehow nostalgic, as are the poinsettia plants that would always be in the window of my grandmother at Christmas.

Reindeer Kisses

Knowing how to laugh at the holidays, this design is playful and cute. The nude pink nails are juxtaposed with deep burgundy accents with one nail taking the centre stage with a small hand painted reindeer comprising of his shiny red nose attached to its head. It is adorable, humorous, and celebratory in one, the type of appearance that leaves one talking and smiling on every corner.

In the case of the base, I am applying OPI “Bubble Bath” and using CND “Decadence” as the dark accents. To best attract the reindeer, the brown liner gel and a dotting tool is needed, one nose and two smaller ones to create the eyes. The final touch is to add a glossy top layer and the balance of the chic and the cheeky is achieved.

Refinery29 says that character nail art is catching a couture moment – not kid-like, but nostalgic fashion. I couldn’t agree more. These nails make me think that Christmas is not only about beauty, but warmth and laughter are also important. I have an adaptation of this design that I wore to a casual gift giving event last year and it was an immediate success even among my friends who are fanatical about minimalist nails they have to have tried it.

Candy Cane Whimsy

Candy-cane stripes and twinkling snowflakes have something that can not be resisted. This design is an adaptation of that classic vacation theme and is transformed into a creamy glowy manicure shading with pink undertones and glitter decorations of silver glitter. It is whimsical, feminine, and as cozy as having wrapped the one in a cream knitted sweater outside when it is snowing.

I prefer Modelones Cotton Candy gel to have the soft pink foundation, Beetles White Lace to have the candy stripes, and DND Silver Sparkle to have the glitters and snowflake decor. The combination of finishes, the lines of candy gloss on top of dark shimmer, is dimensional that seems fun and sophisticated.

Sarah Bland, a manicurist who has worked in the field of the editorial, recently stated that the future of the nail design as far as the festive nail design is concerned is the texture contrast. This glance makes her correct, smooth against sparkling, plain against complex. It is nostalgia of festivals with a contemporary gloss (literally).

Midnight Ribbon Glam

Pure sophistication this one, burgundy nails with one accent of gold ribbon art. It is simple but eye-catching, ideal to those who enjoy a minimalist manicure, which nevertheless makes winking at the holiday season. It is the type of appearance that provides the message, I am celebrating, however I am doing it my way.

In this design I take OPI Malaga wine because of that richness of red, then the ribbon that has got gold foil or transfer gel is added. It is only a matter of positioning it into place with a single gentle bow that makes it balanced and elegant. Glossy top coat on the seal to provide additional shine.

It is a glance that makes me think about holiday parties; the low-light, the clinking glasses, and perhaps even the one friend that wants to sing Mariah Carey at midnight. It is glamorous and down-to-earth, which in turn demonstrates that even one accent can be more powerful than a hundred rhinestones.

Letters of Joy

I always want some nails with something to say on them, literally. This manicure does just that. The joy is written in large red, with hand, and carries round the edges of the soft nude polish, interspersed with tiny holly leaves and snow. It is celebratory but not excessive and it evokes that mood that all of us seek during the holidays warmth, nostalgia and silent contentment.

To replicate it, I begin with Essie “Ballet Slippers” as the creamy base, it is neutral yet shining in a warm light. To do the lettering, I take a fine brush and dip in Gelish “Hot Rod Red” and attempt to make my hand as steady as possible like I were writing on gift tags. The next leaves are holly leaves which are drawn with Modelones Forest Green Gel Paint. And seal it with a high finish topcoat to cover the glossy script.

Someone at a table told me last year when I went to a holiday brunch in this look, that I had nail greeting cards. And sincerely, that is the sparkle of this design, considerate, jovial, and very intimate. It is a love poem to December.

Gingerbread Wonderland

It is the manicure version of cookies baking on a snowy afternoon. Imagine warm brown gingerbread men, peppermint wreaths, snowflakes and glimpses of gold, an ideal blend of lightheartedness and art. It is sentimental yet very complex and each detail narrates something. This is the happiest one of the Best Gel Nails Christmas 2025, as though your childhood Christmas fantasies have been given a slick makeover.

I apply CND Powder My Nose as the base on which I would layer it – a creamy nude which makes the designs emphasize. The gingerbread supports are painted using Makartt Brown Gel Paint which has been used to outline the figures in crisp white to achieve that icing effect. Dimension What a few candy buttons of green and red rhinestones. In the case of the candy cane accent I swirl Beetles Red and White Liner Gels and then place a fine glitter top coat.

According to a statement by nail artist Mei Kawajiri in an interview, holiday nails are small canvases of happiness. This design is evidence, a playful masterwork that is a combination of nostalgia and artistic power. Something like this I had on when wrapping presents over the last December and it felt that the very season was brushed on my fingertips.

Velvet Ruby Minimalism

At times it is the simplicity that speaks the most. Such heavy, shiny crimson nails with tiny spots of gold are the nails of the minimalist in her heart the one who prefers her holiday season shineless rather than shiny. It’s movie-scene red, the color of a ribbon on a box of perfume in an expensive brand, or the great velvet dress at the time of candlelight.

The secret? OPI “Got the Blues for Red” overlaid with a clear coating of Zoya “Blaze. It puts that near-dimensional radiance, such as glass in the fire light. I tend to leave behind me a few gold flakes towards the cuticle, encircled by a shiny top paint, the faintest allusion to festal glitter.

This appearance is film-like -as though a heroine would dress in snowy romantic comedy. InStyle just referred to this color as The Eternal Holiday Red and I could not have said better. It is eternal, seductive, and absolutely stylish – glitter is not required.

Red Hearts & Glitter Frost

It can be everything green and gold and somehow there is just something wrong sweet about bringing along a little love in the mix. The creation is a combination of glitter nails in ruby glitter and one white accent with small hearts in red color – a romantic version of the traditional festive manicure. It is Christmas and Valentine Day, it is flashy and festooned and warm.

In the glitter effect I love the DND “Ruby Slippers: it is a ruby-colored thick gel and glitters very well under the fairy lights. The heart art is cool it is two red dots combined with a fine line with a thin brush. I then finish it off with Orly Shining Armor on the crystalline gel finish.

Maya C. Tan, who is a beauty influencer, once remarked that the color of love would be red with sparkle. And this manicure is a man, indeed, that grabs this. It is as festive as Christmas, it is as flirtatious as New Years, and makes you desire to move your hands a little more when speaking.

Holiday Ribbon Swirls

And then — the finale. The most frolicsomeely orsomeely: candy-red twists on a milky nude ground, with glossy crimson nails which catch all the sparkles of the tree lights. It is audacious, self-assured and simply too stylish not to be the nail art that would have you thinking that you just got out of a holiday campaign photoshoot.

The foundation is CND Cream Puff, laid over with waving red strokes in Modelones Cherry Wine. To make it balanced, I alternating some nails with full glitter coverage (Gelish Queen of Hearts is a great nail polish with all its depth and dimensionality).

Whenever I put nails of the kind on, I cannot help gazing at them, making them observe every ray of candlelight, every reflection on ornaments. It is theater, it is happiness, it is festivity on your fingers. Nail artist Elle Gerstein was correct when she wrote that holiday nails are wearable art they say everything before you even utter a word.