While the holiday season does often call for bright greens, reds and golds with a heavy helping of glitter, these classy Christmas nails prove that you can balance festivity with elegance...
When it comes to selecting your festive nails, it can be easy to get caught up in all the merriment and feel inclined to ditch your favoured neutral manicure for one that feels more synonymous with the season, like candy cane stripes or a glittery tinsel-like look. Of course, while we are partial to a whimsical, festive bow design or rich pine tree-green, there's nothing stopping you from combining your everyday preferences with a touch of party-ready glamour. In fact, there are actually plenty of simple Christmas nails out there, the likes of which are chic and versatile for both pre and post-December 25th.
So, if you're searching for the perfect classy manicure this season, we've found 16 designs and shades that offer a subtle nod, without feeling cliché or tacky...
16 classy Christmas nails for those who want elegance not tackiness
When it comes to selecting a quote-on-quote 'classy' manicure, we would recommend airing on the side of minimalism. A simple, festive-themed French tip for instance, or a very sheer glitter or teeny-tiny design - like a star on one nail.
Opting for one block shade is also an easy way to achieve an elevated look, especially where the dark and wine-like hues, which have been topping the short winter nail trends, are concerned.
So with all of that in mind and no matter whether you're looking for French tip inspiration or a way to dress up your BIAB nails, these are the chic designs to consider this Christmas...
Our classy Christmas nail essentials
Before we dive into the looks, we've selected three classy nail staples, including our go-to OPI and essie nail polishes and a hand cream that just oozes elegance...
RRP: £15.60
When it comes to achieving a sleek and classy manicure, you can never go wrong with a sheer nail polish and for winter, a soft, white sheer lacquer - like OPI's Funny Bunny - is the perfect pick.
RRP: £8.99
This dark, wine hue is the perfect pick for a classy Christmas manicure. It offers a nod to the season but also works as just an elevated winter nail look - right on through to January.
RRP: £52
To us, there's nothing classier than a luxe hand cream and this pebble-shape Chanel formula proves it. Just imagine drawing this hand cream out of your handbag and applying it to your freshly Christmas-manicured fingers.
1. Plum nails
Like that of a burgundy or rich red manicure, plum nails are such a great wintery pick. They're also a lovely choice for those who want their Christmas nail look to tide them through until the New Year, as plum is a moody, cosy shade that will still feel very on-trend in January, as opposed to a shimmer or chrome, which might feel a tad outdated by then. Paired with a short nail shape, this rich, juicy hue looks so expensive - you really can't go wrong.
2. Subtle shimmer French tip
For just a touch of party-ready glamour, whilst still keeping the rest of your nails fairly subtle, go for a glittery French tip. We recommend sticking with a classic silver shimmer (as seen above) and opting for short, square nails, as this gives the look a very modern and chic feel.
3. Polka dot nails
Polka dot nails have been so popular this year and make for a lovely and versatile Christmas manicure moment. After all, you can go for any colour combination, whether that's a milky pink base and gold dots, or a nude with burgundy. Again, short nails work perfectly with this design, but equally, almond nails will add an elegant element.
4. Garnet nails
Glossy and mesmerizing like their namesake gemstone, garnet nails are perfect for marking the season in style. Like dark reds and burgundy, this shade feels effortlessly chic and expensive. What more could you want from your festive nail look?
5. Burgundy French tips
Burgundy French tips are another very classy choice for Christmas, in fact, they've topped our beauty team's winter nail picks before. The beauty of this classic design is that it's understated but still allows you to sport a little nod to the festive season by way of that wine-like tip. Plus, they can be adapted to suit all nail lengths, from almond to short square nails.
6. Holly berry red squoval nails
When in doubt, go for classic holly-berry red nails. It's timeless, sleek and suits all nail lengths and shapes effortlessly - plus, pops of red have been very popular fashion-wise this season too.
7. A pearlescent chrome
For an elegant and glamorous party look or elevated everyday manicure, a reflective, pearlescent chrome is always a foolproof pick. Simply request that it be applied over a nude, pink or white base colour - for a classic and expensive-looking manicure.
8. Icy-white nails
For our minimalist nail lovers, a soft and sheer white is the epitome of a classy mani colour. It's clean and mirrors the shade of snow and frost - making it perfectly on-theme for the festive season but also wearable for January and onwards. It's a timeless hue that complements all lengths but especially longer almond nails. Plus, if you ever want to elevate it even further, you can simply add a wash of pearly chrome overtop.
9. Gold French tips
A gold or silver metallic French tip is another chic and festive twist on the classic design. It adds a shiny, tinsel-like pop to the tips of your talons but doesn't look over the top or tacky.
10. Sheer shimmer nails
Glitter polishes are often a go-to for Christmas but sometimes they can look a bit juvenile. This sheer pink shimmer, on the other hand, is clean and subtle but still offers a festive hint to your fingertips.
11. warm cream nails
Like a sheer white, a warm cream suits every season and occasion because it's clean and elegant, thus making it a great choice for the festive period also - especially if your not a fan of bold colours.
12. Burgundy nails
As mentioned, you simply can't go wrong with a rich burgundy nail look. It's luxe-looking and evokes thoughts of mulled-wine and similarly-coloured knitwear.
13. Simple dot nails
If you're looking to elevate your natural nails or your go-to nude shade, try a teeny nail art design like a white dot at the base of each nail (as seen above). You could easily sell this as a tiny snowflake or even swap the white polish for a gem accent.
14. Cranberry almond nails
Almond nails are often a one-stop for an elegant look and as is a dark red polish, so combining the two is a guaranteed classy manicure.
15. Classic French tips
A classic French tip is always a chic choice, even without the addition of glitter or chrome.
16. Cherry chrome nails
If you've already been sporting a dark red or burgundy, simply add a metallic sheen over the top and transform your manicure into a 'cherry chrome' look. It reminds us of a Christmas tree bauble but at your fingertips.
