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Depending on who you ask, you’ll get a myriad of reasons why red has become the quintessential color for Christmas.
Whichever reason you choose to embrace, there’s no doubt that red is the way to go when choosing nail polish and nail designs to wear for the holidays.
But aside from nail color, there’s also a good chance that you might have a hard time choosing what particular Christmas motif to use.
So we’ve gathered ideas for red Christmas nails to inspire you for the next holiday season or even for an everyday look!
Keep reading, and you’ll see that choosing one theme or combining several concepts can look stunning.
Red Christmas Nail Ideas
Without further ado, take a gander at these amazing mani and nail art inspirations for the holidays!
1. Glitzy Christmas
Elevate your red Christmas nails by coating them in glitter! Add more fun to this manicure by adding bits of sparkly red and gold flakes to one nail and Christmas tree decals to another.
2. Tartan-Inspired Nails
Tartan patterns have always been associated with Christmas, so it’s one of the must-try red holiday nail designs.
With your acrylic brush, draw crisscross lines in opaque black or dark green on a red-colored base, then complete the look by painting ultra-thin gold lines on top.
3. The Gonk With a Sparkly Red Hat
There are three things about the gonk: it’s popular Christmas decor, it’s good luck according to folklore, and it’s perfect for creating cute and simple Christmas nails.
Paint your nails sparkly red and leave one nail where you’ll create the gonk nail art. You’ll only have to draw its beard and round nose, then use red polish and white sparkles to paint and decorate its hat.
4. Snowflake on Classic Red Nails
If you’re not a fan of shiny manicures, go for these simple Christmas nails that exude charm with a subtle holiday touch.
Paint your nails with your favorite red gel polish, then paint white snowflake art on your accent nails for decoration.
5. Candy Cane and Snowflakes
Try a glittery shade of deep red and paint your Christmas nails with snowflakes and candy cane nail art drawn with white gel polish on long oval nails.
The deep red glitter polish is the perfect background to make this Christmas-themed manicure more eye-catching.
6. Christmas Themed Short Oval Nails
Here’s a red Christmas nail design with a similar concept to the previous look, except it’s on short oval nails.
This manicure features Christmas elements like tartan, sweater patterns, candy canes, and snowflakes to capture the holiday vibe!
7. Gingerbread, Wavy Lines, and Tiny Dots
A Christmas nail design like this one can still look beautiful even without glitter or intricate patterns!
Paint white wavy lines and tiny dots over red nails, and on one nail, draw a gingerbread man on a pink backdrop.
8. For the Candy Lovers
Inspired by the holiday peppermint candies, decorate your nails with the familiar red-and-white swirl pattern to make them the focal point of your red glitter Christmas nails.
Make your nails look sweeter by drawing small candy canes on other nails.
9. Pretty Red Nails Are a Gift
This easy red glossy manicure will instantly remind anyone of Christmas. Boost the holiday touch by adorning the upper half of your clear accent nails with a silver glitter ombre and topping it with thin red ribbon nail art.
10. Ruby Red for Christmas
Alternate between glitter red nails and solid red nails, then top the solid red nails with classic snowflake art in silver.
Giving off an elegant feel like rubies, these red Christmas nails with snowflakes are truly captivating!
11. Santa Claus Suit and Tartan on Red Foil
Holiday-themed nails can be elegant too, like these red foil gel nails! It also features various decorations on the accent nails like a tartan pattern and a Santa Claus suit design in white, black, and gold.
Pro tip: a black backdrop will give these nails a dramatic look.
12. Candy Cane French Mani
These Christmas nails with French tips feature a pattern that gives the classic manicure a holiday twist.
Paint a traditional French tip with white polish but extend it to one side of your nails. Then add tiny red strips to mimic the candy cane design.
13. A Simple Holiday Look
Red Christmas nails with snowflakes are a great way to get into the holiday spirit with minimal effort. Use red polish with subtle glitter and decorate one nail on each hand with big white snowflake art.
14. Santa Hat and Candy Cane
This red Christmas nail design looks great on square or squoval nail shapes of any length.
Each nail features different designs, such as a Santa hat-inspired French tip on a nude base, a simple red-and-white diagonal pattern, and fully painted glittery red nails.
15. Just the Santa Hat
Paint your nails with glittery red polish but leave one nail to decorate a Santa hat French tip.
Create a red line, add a white pompom-like line below it, then draw a curve cone shape as the tip of Santa’s red hat, ending it with a sole white dot.
16. Glossy Red and Snowflakes
These red Christmas nails with snowflakes are perfect for parties! Choose glittery red polish, paint it on almond nails, and add accent nails adorned with white snowflakes and gift bows.
17. Tiny Candy Canes
Try these red nails with candy canes, which are easy to do even if you’re new to painting nail art. Use nude polish to create the perfect base to make the candy canes’ red and white colors pop.
Then add tiny white dots to fill in the space. You may also elevate this look by alternating it with glittery red nails.
18. Candies With Streaks of Gold
A fancier take on candy cane nails, this manicure also features cute little drawings of the sweet treat.
It features Christmas elements in red, white, and gold on each nail, such as mini candy cane art, glittery red nails with gold flecks, candy cane patterns, and reindeer nail art.
19. Gold Stars
This red and gold Christmas nail combo is perfect if you want stars to be the main highlight of your festive mani.
Use gold decals or gold polish to add star designs to a few red nails, then create colorful tartan patterns in white, green, red, and gold on the rest of the nails!
20. Doodles of Gingerbread Men
Red nails with designs inspired by Christmas treats are a fun way to celebrate the holidays. The accent nails that feature a delightful gingerbread man on a pink base give this mani a charming appeal.
The rest of the nails are decorated with white diagonal lines over a red-colored base to create a candy cane pattern. Top them with white glitter for a snowfall effect.
21. Red, Gold, and White Marble
Snowflakes add allure to sparkly red Christmas nails. But this design gets a touch of elegance with its marble design in white and red and subtle gold swirls.
22. Stunning Even Without Glitter
Ditch the glittery nail polish and use chic bright red polish to paint your nails. Then decorate your nails with French tips and paint red snowflake art over a nude base.
This design is rather simple for long Christmas nails, but it’s nevertheless sophisticated.
23. More Candy!
This design features red nails with candy cane accents that are great if you don’t want to go heavy on the red polish.
Use a nude-colored base to highlight the tiny candy cane nail art, and paint the rest of your nails with a peppermint candy design.
24. Red Coffins
Vivid red polish matches coffin-shaped Christmas nails, and it elevates the striking beauty of this mani.
This design has two styles on the accent nails: one has a lone crystal at the heart of each snowflake art, adding a refined touch. The other adds glitz with glitter over the classic red-and-white candy cane pattern.
25. Ultimate Joyful Nails
Every concept you could possibly want is in this manicure: encapsulated snowflake nails, a candy cane pattern, metallic red foil on a white base, and gems that look like sugar crystals.
Nothing says merry more than these fully-decorated coffin-shaped Christmas nails.
26. Shimmery Christmas Bows and Trees
These red and white Christmas nails are decorated with candy cane patterns.
Its two main highlights are the white nails accentuated with thinly drawn Christmas gift bows and the Christmas tree outlines in shimmery pink with a tiny red star on top.
27. Hand Painted Poinsettia
One splendid nail idea for Christmas is painting nude accent nails with poinsettia flower designs, just like this one!
Paint your other nails with red polish, then design the nails on your pinky with perpendicular white lines.
28. Holly for the Holidays
Holly is another popular Christmas element you can use to design your red and white Christmas nails. For instance, this mani features one nail decorated with holly art near the tips and the cuticles over a white base.
You can coat the rest of the nails in plain red polish and add accent nails embellished with diagonal lines in green and red over white nails.
29. Glittery Red French Tips
Make your nude nails look festive by adorning them with glittery red French tips and easy holiday elements like gift bows and white snowflakes. We love the subtle yet stunning look of these Christmas nails with red French tips.
30. Chrome Red
The Santa hat French tips on the accent nails return in this mani, but the chrome red polish steals the show. This one exudes holiday cheer and a stunning vibe, so you can wear it to any Christmas gathering!
31. White Christmas Star
The trick to creating these red and gold Christmas nails is using white gel polish to draw stars on one of the accent nails and gold glitter polish to paint the other fully. So easy yet stylish!
Then paint the rest of the nails glossy red to keep the star and glitter designs the centerpiece of this festive manicure.
32. Heart-Shaped Trinkets in Tartan
Deck your accent nails with tartan heart designs in green, gold, and white, using them either as standout designs or French tips on a nude base.
Then fully coat the rest of your nails in a solid red color, glittery red polish, or the same tartan pattern.
33. Metallic Red and Gold Glitter
The Christmas holiday is the time to get an over-the-top mani, just like these metallic red nails adorned with essential Christmas themes — tartan, sweater patterns, gonks, and snowflakes.
Elevate this look further by adding gold glitter to each nail.
34. Glitter Red-Nosed Reindeer
This one gives off the same vibes as the previous design but features the cute nail art of a reindeer with a glittery red nose. Decorate the other nails by creating gonk and candy cane patterns using the same red shimmery polish!
35. A Touch of Winter Sparkle
Gonks are going nowhere when it comes to red Christmas nails, so why not add them to your next manicure?
Paint one nail with clear polish and embellish it with gold glitter. Then paint the rest of your nails red and decorate a few ones with gonk nail art and others with red glitter near the cuticles for an extra wow factor.
36. Holiday Cable Knit Sweater
In these red and white Christmas nails, the metallic red complements the white nails that take the spotlight.
Achieve this manicure by painting your nails with glossy red polish and adding accent nails with designs like a cable knit sweater pattern with a heart in the center and a red-and-gold tartan pattern.
37. Matte Red on Almond
If you love wearing long almond nails, this one may be the perfect design for you. The nails are painted with matte red polish. Each has a unique design, like icicles near the cuticles and intricate snowflake art.
We adore the striking accent nails in this manicure, particularly the two nails featuring a halved heart with a cable-knit outline and inner snowflake patterns.
38. Fancy and Festive
Applying glittery red polish already creates an elegant feel in your mani, but the added gold foil accents take it to the next level.
Round out these red and gold Christmas nails by decorating gold-embellished accent nails with white snowflakes, stars, and dots.
39. Silver Nails for the Holidays
Silver is another hue that goes well with all the Christmas colors, including red. Alternate silver glitter with red Christmas nails, then complete the look by painting white and black snowflakes on top of them.
40. Reindeer With a Heart-Shaped Nose
If you think reindeer is the best Christmas symbol, you’ll love this design.
An accent nail with a beautifully drawn reindeer face with enchanting antlers and a heart-shaped red nose is in the middle of glittery red and metallic red nails.
41. More Cute Reindeer
Paint your nails glossy red, then add two accent nails in light brown or nude and decorate them with reindeer art on one nail and a candy cane pattern on the other.
42. Christmas Sparkles
Wear red Christmas nails with glitter to bring sparkle wherever you go during the holiday season. Play a little bit with the design by drawing a Santa hat French tip on the nails of your ring finger.
43. Bring in the Snow
These red nails for Christmas are elevated with white glitter, which will remind anyone of a dreamy, snowy holiday. A little variation won’t hurt, so throw some tartan, snowflake, and sweater patterns in your mani as well.
44. Cutesy and Extravagant
This manicure features different designs on each nail, such as candy cane patterns and Santa hat French tips.
To complete this look, use shimmering ruby-colored polish to coat one nail and decorate another with Christmas bauble nail art.
45. Christmas Nails on Fleek
Long square-shaped acrylics are a great canvas for a fully embellished design. This one features several versions of red French tip nails in solid red, glittery red, and peppermint candy patterns.
This mani also features one white nail with diagonal glittery red lines for a candy cane pattern and a nude nail decked with ruby red and gold snowflake jewels for a sophisticated look.
46. Breathtaking Red Nails
If the last one seemed too short for your liking, this design would take your breath away.
Wear square acrylic nails that are long enough to create encapsulated glitter nails, glittery red French tips, and white cable knit pattern French tips topped with a gold 3D snowflake ornament.
47. Bejeweled Yuletide
These glittery deep red French tip nails for Christmas are one of the most lovely ideas for a modern mani, and they look so good on medium-length oval nails!
The snowflakes embellished with rhinestones are a nice addition, but the pearls and crystals along the cuticles make this manicure the ultimate bejeweled holiday nail design.
48. Red French Tips and a Bow
You’ll never run out of ideas for Christmas nails with French tips. So try this bright red French tip manicure decorated with a thin white outline for one of your nail inspirations for the holidays.
The classic red polish is also the perfect color for accent nails that feature decorative gift bow nail art.
49. Red, White, and Everything Nice
These red and white Christmas nails feature various ideas, such as a fully painted chrome red nail, a sweater pattern on a white nail, a regular red nail in a glossy finish, and a half-red and half-nude nail with delicate snowflake art.
The best part about this manicure? You don’t have to limit yourself to just one design!
50. Sweet and Simple
If you can’t get enough of the candy cane motif, here’s one manicure you must check out.
It’s a simple design that features accent nails adorned with white gel paint to create a candy cane pattern, while the rest of the nails are painted with glittery red polish.
51. Icicle and Santa Nails
These red and white Christmas nails with icicle nail art on the cuticles and playful gonk designs look trendy and cool. Paint the rest of your nails glossy red. Then paint one white, adding silver glitter to it for subtle glitz.
52. An Elaborate Christmas Tree
The staple snowflakes and candy cane motifs are present in these red and white Christmas nails.
The highlight of this manicure is the detailed Christmas tree nail art on a white base — just like how a real tree becomes the heart of a home during the holidays.
53. A Truly Merry Christmas Mix
Don’t let anything stop you from using multiple stunning Christmas designs in one manicure.
With long coffin nails, you can rock nail designs, such as a V-shaped tartan French tip, a gingerbread man, a gingerbread house, a sweater with heart patterns, and Christmas-themed decals in encapsulated nails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Wear Red Nails Year Round?
Absolutely! Red is a classic nail polish color you can wear any time of the year because it can make your nails look strikingly beautiful without intricate designs.
Can I Wear Red Nails to the Office?
Yes, red nail polish can be suitable even in a professional setting. You may have to skip heavy embellishments and designs, but a solid red mani should look appropriate for the office.
It’s Always the Perfect Time for Red Nails
Time flies, and soon you will hear holiday cheers and Christmas bells from every corner.
So it’s not a bad idea to start looking for the best red Christmas nail designs, especially if you’re one to attend every holiday party you’re invited to.
But even if the holidays are not yet upon us, there’s no reason you should put your red nail polish at the back of your drawer or cabinet because there’s always a perfect time to wear red nails!
So whether you’re going to the office, a casual party, or a formal evening gala, you can confidently wear your red nails!
Discover More Nail Design Inspirations!
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Ashley Pena
Ashley Pena brings over 13 years of seasoned writing and editing expertise, fortified by her Bachelor of Science in Management. Esteemed in the beauty domain, her content captivates readers with its depth and authenticity. While she navigates a broad spectrum of beauty trends, Ashley shines particularly as our resident K-beauty guru. Her articles are a harmonious blend of passion and profound knowledge, inspiring readers on their unique beauty journeys.
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