Santa is coming… Have you found your Christmas manicure yet? This year, your fingertips are dressed in velvety tones, holographic sparkles and a magical festive touch. We’re sharing our top colour and nail art ideas to see out the year in style. Shine bright like a diamond!
What are the Christmas 2025 manicure trends?
At Christmas, anything goes when it comes to manicures! In a classic version, it’s the perfect time to show off your best red nails or pretty nail art designs with mini Christmas trees or snowflakes, so jingle nails. In a bolder version, elevate your outfit with a chic burgundy or brown polish, a glittery nail art or a minimalist gold design.
Iconic shades for festive Holly nails
Whether reworked classics or daring combos, these colours remain the ultimate festive staples, available in both Green™ polish and Green Flash™ gel polish.
Take Poison, a green polish with tree-like depth and glittery flecks, like a twilight stroll through an enchanted forest… A chic icon to kick off the holiday season. Pair it with a satin tuxedo or a little black dress to make the shimmering green pop. Add gold earrings or patent heels for a radiant finish, no effort needed.
Porcelaine is a soft off-white polish that feels like a silk veil and flatters every skin tone. This timeless off-white shade is perfect as a base for nail art or worn alone for a minimalist manicure. For a modern fairy tale look, wear it with a flowing blush or pale gold dress. Want something effortlessly chic? Choose an Aran jumper, raw or ecru denim, camel boots and a cosy wool hat.
And for red nails, this year it’s all about Dark Dahlia, a trendy red polish with plum undertones, as mesmerising as the velvety petals of its namesake flower. A delicious shade that pairs beautifully with a plum velvet dress, dainty heels and a gold clutch… guaranteed velvet crush vibes!
Poison, Porcelaine, Dark Dahlia: the perfect classic trio for an ultra-chic festive look.
💅 As for nail art, here’s some inspiration to style up your festive favourites:
- Poison French
Start with Pale Rose as your base, then create a French tip using a fine brush and Poison along the free edge. Optional: add a touch of Cactus glitter for an extra sparkle. (@look8thenails)
- Candy Cane
Again, use Pale Rose as your base and draw a mini candy cane using a liner brush, alternating Porcelaine and Dark Dahlia to achieve a sweet striped effect. (@m.o.n.a.j)
- Red Glazed
Use Dark Dahlia as your base and gently dab on White Glazed Effect powder for a frosted finish inspired by the Glazed Nails trend. (@look8thenails)
Warm & chic shades for an elegant look
The festive season is the perfect excuse to embrace rich, stylish tones that align beautifully with current nail trends. This winter, three new shades are joining the Manucurist palette and, let’s be honest, they might just outshine the Christmas tree itself!
First up is Prune, a stunning deep wine-red Gel Polish with velvety accents. Its plum tones add a warm, elegant touch to the hands, ideal for wintry evenings. This is the ultimate couture dark red, flattering on all skin tones and pairing beautifully with gold or silver jewellery.
In a similar mood, meet Mocha: a deep brown nail polish with cool undertones and a smooth finish reminiscent of roasted coffee beans… A rich, graphic shade that adds a contemporary twist to your festive look. Wear it in full-on Brown Nails style, as a base for minimalist nail art or with golden details. For a “Winter chic” outfit, try a cable-knit jumper, taupe satin skirt, brushed steel watch and chocolate boots. Gorgeous!
Fairy completes this magical trio. A pearly white, holographic polish as delicate as moonlight on a festive night. It catches and reflects light with grace. Whether in a full manicure for a jewel-like effect or as a French or accent nail, it instantly brightens your hands with a wow factor. Picture it with a satin burgundy outfit, berry lipstick and delicate jewellery.
The warmth of Prune, the depth of Mocha, the radiance of Fairy: a beautifully festive trio.
💅 Here are our nail art ideas using the Holiday 25 colours:
- Stars & dots
Use a base alternating between Tweed and Mocha, then sprinkle with mesh dots and star designs for a subtle, sparkling manicure. (@look8thenails)
- Graphic mini triangles
Apply Fairy as your base, then draw small symmetrical triangles at the base and tip using Mocha. Understated yet stylish. (@shanivynails)
Celestial glow right to your fingertips: luminous shades
For anyone drawn to subtle, poetic manicures, this year's inspiration comes from constellations and star-studded winter skies.
Pale Rose, for instance, is a pastel pink polish with a sheer, airy finish and a hint of beige, typical of nude shades. The essence of understated chic, it’s perfect worn alone or as a nail art base. For a soft, contemporary look, match it with a monochrome outfit or delicate flowing pieces: a nude satin blouse, fluid beige trousers and fine gold earrings. Sublime.
In a similar spirit, Quartz is a frosted brown glitter polish sure to captivate nail lovers looking for festive sparkle. It pairs beautifully with warm textures: chocolate velvet, camel knitwear, a bronze belt, a cognac bag… or even a cashmere cream jumper, ivory trousers and an oversized coat in off-white. It’s this season’s glow-chic essential!
And of course, we couldn’t end this selection without mentioning Sparks, an intense black polish filled with silver glitter. As luxurious as it is mesmerising, it’s the ultimate statement piece for your festive wardrobe. Wear it with a silver sequin top, champagne satin skirt, oversized hoops and a black blazer. Sparks steals the show and we’re absolutely here for it!
A luminous and poetic Christmas with Pale Rose, Sparks & Quartz.
💅 A few inspired nail art ideas for a sparkling Christmas:
- Beautiful glints
Apply Pale Rose as your base, sprinkle on some Holo glitter, then use a fine brush and Prune to paint tiny stars. Heavenly. (@look8thenails)
- Party nails
Still with Pale Rose as your base, apply a touch of Holo glitter in a gradient from the free edge of the nail. (@alyxlippiatt)
How to achieve the perfect Christmas manicure?
Here are our expert tips to help your manicure last at least until New Year's Eve.
Prep your nails
Proper nail prep is key for a long-lasting manicure. Start by filing your nails into your preferred shape. Next, soften your cuticles using a little Emollient and gently push them back with a cuticle pusher. Then buff the nail surface with a buffer sponge and degrease using a gentle remover to ensure your polish adheres beautifully.
For nails that shine bright, the magic starts with great prep. ✨
Apply base coat, colour and top coat in 4 layers
For a glossy, long-wear manicure, apply 4 thin coats in the following order:
- One thin layer of Green™ Base Coat or Green Flash™ Vitamin Base Coat (depending on your polish type). This layer protects the nail plate and smooths the surface, making colour application easier.
- Two thin coats of colour, making sure to let each layer dry fully before the next: air-dry for Green™, or cure under LED lamp for Green Flash™.
- One thin coat of Sunshine Top Coat or Green Flash™ Top Coat to set your colour or nail art and add long-lasting gel-effect shine.
Base, colour, top coat: the secret to a manicure that lasts into the new year. 🎄
Use the right tools for nail art
Your festive nail designs deserve the right tools. "Perfect nails deserve the best companions" is a mantra we stand by at Manucurist. Use a nail art brush for hearts and geometric shapes, a liner brush for French tips or intricate lines, a dotting tool for polka dots and a glitter brush to gently apply biodegradable glitter. With these high-quality accessories and the stunning Manucurist palette, you’re free to let your creativity shine this season.
Equip yourself like a pro to shine from dusk till dawn. 🌟
As you can see, this Christmas is all about velvety shades, holographic accents and refined glitter! Whether it’s a classic red, an inverted French or a starry sky effect, every detail helps create a festive manicure that feels true to you. Happy Christmas nails! 🐶🎄
