- December is the ultimate month to go big with festive manicures—think plaid, bows, chrome, velvet, and everything in between.
- Celebrity inspo is driving the biggest winter nail trends, from tartan tips to gold-trimmed accents seen on Kylie Jenner and Dua Lipa.
- Whether you want cozy sweater vibes or full holiday glam, these December nail ideas offer a look for every party, outfit, and mood.
I'd argue that December is the best time of year to go all out with a fun manicure. From festive Christmas designs to cozy sweater patterns, there are so many adorable nail ideas to try out this month. Plus, with all the festive parties and get-togethers, you'll obviously want to have the best nails in the room and ring in all the compliments.
So, as Cosmo's resident manicure expert, I spent days researching all the biggest trends for winter and scrolling through hundreds of pages of inspo to find the very best December nail ideas. From Kylie Jenner's plaid-patterned nails to Dua Lipa's gold-accent nails, there are so many stunning end-of-year manicures to choose from.
Ahead, the 11 best December nail colors and ideas to get you into the holiday spirit.
1. Plaid Nails for December
Arguably the biggest nail trend of the season, plaid nails have graced the hands of celebs like Kylie Jenner as of late, and it's the cutest cozy design for all the coldness ahead. Paint them across the entire nail, or just as a patterned French tip.
2. Textured Chrome Nails for December
These sculptured chrome nails are so fabulous and I'm declaring them the cool-girl festive nails. They remind me of chrome ornaments with a hint of holiday fruit cakes—like the manicure an artsy cousin would show up to Christmas dinner wearing.
3. Velvet Lace Nails for December
This manicure is the nail version of a quintessential holiday outfit: some sheer tights with a festive lace trim and a velvet finish. Like, I will be wearing this exact combo to my office holiday party.
4. Ornament Nails for December
Want your nails to match your holiday decor? Paint on stripes and baubles to have each nail look like an ornament, or bedazzle your tips with some gems to recreate a mini light show.
5. Bow-Adorned Nails for December
I'm personally a bow girl no matter the time of year, but obviously wrapping your nails in some ribbons in December is especially on theme. Go for a full collage of different colors and patterns, or get some textured white bows for more of a snowy vibe.
6. Festive French Nails
If you want something a bit more subtle than an entire design across your nails, these holiday French tips are chic and celebratory without going overboard. I am particularly obsessed with turning my fingers into gingerbread.
7. Gold Tinsel Nails for December
Dua Lipa's latest manicure is giving all the regal vibes. I love the textured gold trim paired with a milky base for subtle holiday cheer without being overly Christmas-y.
8. Button Nails for December
If you haven't gotten the memo yet, we love when our fingers coincide with our winter wardrobes, and these button-emblazoned nails are so adorable. Add some stripes underneath to really lean into the sweater vibe, or just use a creamy base to let the buttons really pop.
9. Burgundy Nails for December
Burgundy is the biggest color trend for winter, from handbags to lipsticks, and we love the deep red hue for a classic holiday nail. One of our favorite shades is Essie Bordeaux.
10. Argyle Nails for December
Another sweater-inspired nail trend, argyle nails are a December fave. They're like mini sweater vests for each lil finger, so cute!
11. Sage Green Nails for December
While light colors are typically beloved for the warmer months, there's something about a sage green nail this time of year that gives off the cozy vibes—like sitting by a garland-wrapped fireplace with a warm cup of tea. Try Londontown in the shade Sedona for the perfect sage green mani.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
