5 Festive Manicures and Nail Ideas to Match Every Holiday Outfit

Two hands showing off a festive pink manicure — Alexia Katravas, @amorianails

If you love to get your nails done, then the holiday season is your time to shine. From adorable nail art to an excuse to indulge in some extra shimmer and sparkle, holiday nails are a fun way to take your festive outfits to the next level.

Need some inspiration for the perfect winter nail designs? Whether you’re doing an at-home manicure, going to the salon or opting for press-on nails, we’ve rounded up five of our favourite nail ideas to go with all your holiday 2022 outfits.

Holiday look: A sleek magenta slip dress

@slicedotca that teddy bear is the cutest thing you’ll see all day 🧸 #holidaynails #nailtutorial #snowflakenails #candycanenails #teddybearnailart ♬ positions x all I want for christmas is you – Adam Wright

Try: A soft-pink spin on snowflake nail art

Here’s the scenario: you’re attending a holiday fete with friends, and you’ve got the perfect sleek slip dress (in a show-stopping colour-of-the-year magenta hue) — but what about your nails?

Pretty pink nails and classic nail designs — as @amorianails shows with these playful nails featuring a cute teddy bear and snowflake nail art on our Slice.ca TikTok — bring a pop of charm to balance otherwise minimal looks.

Holiday look: Something sparkly

Gold glitter french tips on a hand — Sharon Miki Chan

Try: Glitter French tips

Here are two things that I know to be true: when it comes to the holidays, sparkle is always in — and French manicure nail designs are having a major comeback moment.

If you’re planning on donning a sparkling mini dress to match the bubbles in your glass when you ring in the New Year, why not opt for a mix of both? Glitter French tips play on the French mani trend, while also keeping the sparkle a bit more subtle for New Year’s Day.

You may also like: Kehlani’s sapphire nails are a blue mani mood.

Holiday look: Sheer gorgeousness

Two hands with velvet-style nails holding a mug — Pexels

Try: Velvet-texture nails

From see-through dresses to airy tulle tops, sheer looks have a major It factor with many of our favourite celebs this season — but pairing a delicate (yet bold) sheer holiday ensemble with the right mani idea can be tricky. In this case, why not play with visual texture and a more subtle take on shimmer?

Velvet nails mimic the look of the sumptuous fabric and catch the light with a touch of gleam — providing a beautiful contrast to sheer looks. You can tell your manicurist that you want a velvet look, or you can wow your friends with an at-home velvet mani.

Holiday look: A black suit

A hand with a red-and-white nail art on the nails — Pexels

Try: Candy-cane striped nails

Are you all about an LBD or an all-black suit when it comes to ultra-cool holiday looks? If so, why not bring some festive fun to your fingertips? Red nails are always on trend, but you can step them up for the season by swapping your solid-red manicure for some red-and-white candy cane-inspired striped details.

Holiday look: A fitted mermaidcore dress

A close up of Kim Kardashian's long green nails — Getty Images

Try: Grinch-green stiletto nails

Mermaidcore vibes — AKA sea-inspired hues, mermaid-like sequins and fitted fishtail silhouettes — go with holiday style like Kortney and Travis (i.e. they’re an unexpectedly perfect fit). If you’re going for a siren-style bodycon dress and beachy waves, make like Kortney’s sister Kim and opt for Grinch-green stiletto nails for a standout touch.