The best festive nails that are worth your time and money

Our go-tos when accessorising are statement necklaces and earrings that add the bling you need to your party outfit. But what if you could have an accessory that stayed on for at least a week? Yep, we’re talking about some glamorous festive nail designs to decorate your fingertips.  

We’re giving you a mix of simple nail ideas that you could do on your own. And of course, some nail art designs that are better off executed by professional nail artists.

Plus, we’re throwing in some tips on how to keep your glorious festive nails in its top form for as long as possible.

ALSO READ: HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT NAIL COLOUR TO FLATTER YOUR SKIN TONE

A minimalist design that still looks good – the oh-so-trusty candy cane stripes.

Instead of just red and white stripes, we pay tribute to the Christmas tree with a dark green shade. These diagonal stripes not only look good, but will help to create the illusion of longer nails

It’s better to do these at a salon but if you have the tools like fine-tipped nail art brushes, stick-on nail strips to create the stripes, then give it a shot yourself.

Tip: To always keep it shiny, use a microfiber cleaning cloth – like the ones you use to wipe your sunglasses. Gently rub the surface of your nail in circular motions to buff away any oil or dirt that might have clung to your nail. 

Photo: Jessica Washick/ Instagram

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This mani is simple to achieve at home, but takes some time and patience. 

It’s a simple combo of a matte coat and hexagon-shaped glitter. Buff out your nails just until the surface is smooth, apply a clear, matte top coat and place bigger pieces of a hexagon-shaped glitter using pincers for more precision. 

Tip: When you DIY your mani at home, apply the nail polish a tiny bit away from the cuticle – this prevents it from coming out faster and sticking to the cuticles that grow out in that area.

Photo: Hannah Lee/ Instagram

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Juxtapose red glitter polish with a neutral dark grey to achieve this toned down red nails look. 

If you’re going to do-it-yourself, start off with a glitter red base and dark grey base for your accent nails. Dip a very thin nail art brush in the red glitter polish that you used as a base earlier on. Brush off the excess on a paper, then begin creating the plaid pattern by doing lines that go diagonally first. Once that has dried, continue with the rest of the pattern.

Tip: Avoid using heat to quick dry your nail polish. Because there are several layers of lacquer, using a hairdryer will only smudge and mess up your work.

Photo: MommyD/ Instagram

ALSO READ: HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT NAIL COLOUR TO FLATTER YOUR SKIN TONE 

This nail design has subtle glitters which isn’t as noticeable as it is used in the same hue as the rest of the nails, and is applied to only one finger. 

Get this look at home with two red nail polishes in the same hue, one with glitter and one with opaque colour. Buff your nails then apply a base coat to protect your nail beds. Then apply two coats of the solid colour on all fingers and wait for it to completely dry. Next, pick one finger and apply glitter polish to it, then finish off with shiny top coat on all the nails. 

Photo: Leslie/ Instagram

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This is great if you want just a sprinkle of sparkle, literally. It’s a little fun and flirtatious.

It’s simple to apply – just a coat of bright red polish and while it’s still wet, sprinkle on a little bit of glitter on the tips, wait for the polish to dry then finish off with top coat and you’re good to go!

Photo: Nails by Danielle/ Instagram

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Instead of the tips, make the base of your nails sparkly. Black is an outstanding colour on nails and throw in a little glitter and you’ve got a rock glam vibe. What’s more, the holographic glitter at the base makes your nail seem longer. 

Tip: If you have small nails, use white instead of black to make the nail bed look larger.

Photo: Hannah Lee/ Instagram

ALSO READ: HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT NAIL COLOUR TO FLATTER YOUR SKIN TONE

Another mani you can attempt at home. Just a coat or two of black nail polish and craft glitter in different sizes. Drizzle the smaller glitter all over your nail while the glitter is still wet. Then, carefully place the bigger glitters from the middle to the tip of your nail with some pincers. Of course, seal it off with a glossy top coat.

For an alternate look, apply the smaller glitter first, then apply a matte top coat. Afterwards stick on the bigger glitters with clear varnish. This will add some dimension and add a ‘pop’ to your look.

Tip: You could sprinkle a mix of different sized glitters together to save time. The result would be more random, but just as pretty.

Photo: Hannah Lee/ Instagram

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Bring the warmth and cosy feeling to your fingertips with these plaid nail art. We don’t see these nails often so if you want something new, look no further.

Because of the colour layering, this is best done by a nail artist. Try asking for a matte top coat to give it a more rustic look.

However, it is a bit harder to maintain matte nails as opposed to regular polish because it tends to chip more easily.

Tip: Keep your nails away from things that could cause it to peel, like oil, lotions and water. Lay off the hand cream, cuticle oil and frequent washing of hands when you’ve got matte polish on. Use dryer wipes every now and then to keep the moisture away from your nails

Photo: Jessica Washick/ Instagram

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We love how these nails bring in the glittery winter wonderland to your tips with snowflakes and some diamante.

This stunning design is done with gel polish, and requires appliques, like jewels, that are harder to find. So head down to a salon if you’d like these glimmery tips. 

Photo: Celine Lo Creations/ Instanailgram

ALSO READ: HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT NAIL COLOUR TO FLATTER YOUR SKIN TONE 

This is classic red polish elegantly topped off with gold details done right. To make the look more artistic, ask your nail technician to  place the gold foil randomly on some nails. Don’t worry if the foil is a little crinkly, a little imperfection make it look more creative and organic. 

Photo: Marie Nails/ Instagram

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This is perfect if you want festive nails, but are going for a “less is more” option. This design takes our two Yuletide faves – the tree and some pretty hanging decorations – and spaces them out elegantly so it’s not too OTT.

Tip: Gel nails have the tendency to leave your nails dry, so apply some nail oil regularly on the cuticle and nail bed to keep them hydrated. Try The Body Shop’s Almond Nail and Cuticle Oil.

Photo: Hanakanmuri Nail/ Instagram

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For the all-out Christmas lovers out there, this is all our favourite things about Christmas right at our fingertips.

Santa Claus, mistletoe, candy cane and sparkles. Only a true Yuletide lover would have this design on their nails. This is definitely a job for professionals so be sure to book your appointment ASAP. 

Photo: The Nail Art Studio/ Instagram

ALSO READ: HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT NAIL COLOUR TO FLATTER YOUR SKIN TONE 

This doesn’t shout Christmas colours like red and green and gold, but you can’t go wrong with dusty pink and subtle gold.  

This time round, up your nail-game with a myriad of mild colours like mauve pink, salmon pink and off-white. We love how they are brought to life by the striking gold details, which give some texture to the muted palette.

Photo: The Nail Artelier/ Instagram 

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