25 On-Trend Winter Nail Ideas To Inspire Your Next Mani

Dark winter nails are classic—there’s something about the season that makes deep, moody tones feel fitting. For a modern and on-trend twist on this timeless look, opt for a metallic plum nail polish or top your go-to hue with the Essie Nail Art Studio Special Effects Nail Polish in Lustrous Luxury.

Glitter tips

If you’re looking for a glam winter nail art idea to showcase at your next holiday party, let glitter tips be it. When paired with a long, almond-shaped nail, this sparkly, celebratory look is a total show-stopper.

Pearly white

The pearl nail trend started making its rounds on social media over the summer, but we think the icy look is even better suited for winter. Bright, icy white is among our favorite winter nail colors because it’s reminiscent of snow—before it starts to melt, anyway. DIY the understated look with the Essie Metallics Nail Polish in Imported Bubbly.

Cow print

Animal prints are a huge fashion trend for winter—but with a little patience (or the assistance of a skilled nail tech), you can skip the shopping spree and rock the trend on your tips. Leopard print is timeless, but we love the unexpected charm of a cowboy-inspired cow print.

Candy apple red

Red is another popular category of winter nail colors, probably because of the hue’s association with holiday festivities. For an unexpected twist on the classic midwinter dark red nail, paint your tips with a vibrant candy apple red polish, like Essie Nail Polish in Forever Yummy.

Holly nail art

If you’re looking for a slightly more playful way to showcase your love for the holiday season, consider pairing a sheer manicure with miniature holly nail art designs. This cute winter nail art look is understated, yet festive (and, as far as we’re concerned, surprisingly chic, too).

Forest green

Dark green is a unique shade because it almost functions as a neutral—the deep, earthy hue pairs well with pretty much every color. It’s also quietly festive, with its inherent association with evergreen trees (which, depending on where you live, might be the only plant life with any discernable color this time of year). Embrace the look with a solid forest green lacquer, like the Essie Nail Polish in Off Tropic.

Celestial accents

If you want to embrace a little sparkle but aren’t in the mood for a full-on glitter moment, consider doing a gilded celestial nail art look instead. It still feels festive and glam but isn’t as in-your-face as confetti-flecked polish.

Midnight blue

Inky, velvety, moody—what’s not to love about a midnight blue mani? The deep cobalt shade is suitable for any time of year, but the darker tone lends itself especially well to equally dark winter days. Plus, you can DIY the look in a flash with the Essie Expressie Quick-Dry Nail Polish in Left on Shred (no chilly trek to the salon needed).

Olive green

Olive green is sophisticated, understated, and surprisingly flattering—likely why it’s one of this season’s biggest nail color trends. Instead of spending your money on an olive trench coat, lean into the trend with a chic, olive-toned mani courtesy of the Essie Expressie Quick-Dry Nail Polish in Precious Cargo-Go!

Mismatched

One of our favorite things about nail art—and beauty in general—is that there are no rules: You can customize your look any way you want. One of the coolest ways to do that this winter is with a mismatched mani featuring various shades of copper, gold, mauve, and blush. Or, use whatever colors speak to you most—like we said, it’s all in your hands (literally).

Sparkly silver

No list of winter manicure ideas is complete without a nod to the sparkly silver nail—it’s a classic. Paint your nails with Essie Nail Polish in Cut It Out then top with Essie Nail Polish in Set in Stones for a high-impact, glittery nail look perfect for ringing in the New Year in style.

Espresso brown

If you’ve never rocked a dark brown manicure before, now’s the time to try. This trendy shade has been all over our social media feeds for the past couple of months and continues to remain one of the biggest nail color trends for winter 2025. Get the look with a neutral-toned dark brown lacquer, like the Essie Expressie Quick-Dry Nail Polish in Take The Espresso.

Ballet slipper pink

For those who prefer a more natural look, the bubble bath manicure is a must-try. This understated look features sheer pink polish for a wash of color that doesn’t make your nails look obviously “done.” You can even skip the nail polish altogether and use a nail treatment, like the Essie Good As New Nail Perfector, for a quick and simple winter nail look.

Metallic stars

If you’re looking for winter nail inspo that you can use to hone your nail art skills, try this star-spangled look. While it looks complex, executing the detailed nail art is actually surprisingly simple. Start by painting your nails with a multi-chrome or metallic nail polish, such as Essie Nail Polish in For The Twill Of It. Once your polish is dry, carefully apply star-shaped nail adhesives on top of your nails. Then, brush on one to two coats of black polish. Before the black lacquer dries, use tweezers to carefully remove the stickers and reveal the sparkling, shimmery stars beneath.

Disco nails

A disco manicure isn’t the fastest to perfect, but it’s well worth the extra effort for a special occasion (ahem, New Year’s!). To get the bold, bedazzled look, you’ll need nail glue, square-shaped mirror nail decals, and a silver nail polish, like the Essie Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish in Closing Night. An abundance of patience is also a must.

Bordeaux

This winter, you can find us raising a glass to this classic nail color—a deep, dark red with just the sublest hint of black for depth and moodiness. The rich shade pairs well with all skin tones and undertones and makes for the perfect seasonal twist on a classic fire engine red mani. Get the look with Essie Expressie Quick-Dry Nail Polish in Not So Low-Key.

Soft lilac

Lilac may not be the first color that comes to mind when you’re brainstorming the best winter nail colors to sport, but trust us: This fresh, cool-toned hue is perfect for livening up gray winter days. Plus, unlike elaborate nail art designs, you don’t need to set aside hours to achieve the look. Just pick up a bottle of Essie Nail Polish in Lilacism and get painting.

Heart accents

Once February rolls around, you might find yourself inspired to embrace a flirtier mani in honor of Valentine’s (or Galentine’s) Day. A classic bubblegum pink mani never fails, but if you really want to lean into the spirit of love, try your hand at this cute look, which features multicolored hearts set atop a sheer, glossy base coat. You can paint the hearts on just one finger for an accent nail effect, as seen above, and go all out by decking out your digits in hearts of different sizes and colors.

Dark chocolate

If magenta hearts aren’t your thing, channel your favorite V-Day snack with a rich, chocolatey manicure—the sumptuous hue feels downright indulgent. To create this look, you’ll need a dark brown nail polish with subtle warm undertones. Try the Essie Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish in All Checked Out.

Iced-out jelly nails

This winter, level up your go-to jelly manicure by shaping your nails into icicle-like points and bedazzling the sharpened tips with icy silver and blue rhinestones. We recommend using a light purple or blue jelly nail polish to emphasize the bold mani’s wintery vibes. Try the Essie Nail Art Studio Jelly Gloss Nail Polish in Orchid Jelly or Sky Jelly.

Gilded gold

Metallic gold is one of our favorite nail polish shades for winter—it’s glam and festive but doesn’t feel too over-the-top for daily wear. It’s also a breeze to get the look at home, so long as you have the right nail polish on hand (pun intended). We’re big fans of the Essie Nail Polish in Good as Gold.

Colorful French tip

You don’t have to pick a single nail color if there are several shades that speak to you—embrace your creative side and rock them all at once with colorful French tips. To create this look, you’ll need several different nail polishes in varying hues. Choose shades with similar undertones (such as cool pink, lavender, and blue), or opt for contrasting colors for an eye-catching statement manicure.

Icy blue

Sheer icy blue is the perfect winter nail color for those who want to experiment with color without going too bold or bright. The chilly hue feels very seasonal and provides a soft wash of color reminiscent of a newly formed icicle. Recreate the look for yourself with a sheer, shimmery nail polish, like the Essie Nail Art Studio Special Effects Nail Polish in Mystic Marine.

Negative space

While bold, bright Y2K-inspired looks dominated 2024, we expect to see more subdued trends take hold in the coming year. Get ahead of the curve by embracing a minimalist negative-space manicure, as seen here. To recreate the quietly graphic look, you’ll need a nude nail polish and a pigmented black lacquer. Try the Essie Expressie Quick-Dry Nail Polish in Buns Up and Now or Never.

Next Up: 16 Sheer Nail Polishes for a Barely-There, Minimalist Manicure