Winter isn’t exactly my favorite season—the days are short, the weather is bleak, and it’s sometimes way too cold to make the trek to the salon for a fresh manicure. But! It’s the perfect time to cozy up inside and have some fun with winter nail colors.
There are so many stunning polishes that are super chic for the cold weather—from festive jewel tones to icy blue shades—these will make your cold and dry fingers look (and feel) a whole lot better. And it's the ideal opportunity to brush up on your DIY nail skills (see what I did there!).
Our top picks for the best winter nail colors in 2025:
Keep scrolling for all the best winter nail colors from beloved brands like Essie, OPI, Chanel, Olive & June, and more.
Deep Purple Nails for Winter
A plum shade just feels like the perfect winter hue to me (but I might be biased since purple is my favorite color). If you don't wanna go basic red or green for the holidays, deep purple is an elevated yet understated option.
Grandma Kissed a Gaucho by OPI
Tara by ZOYA
Emerald Green Nails for Winter
This jewel-toned shade is the perfect way to make green nails feel chic. The rich color reads like a wintery take on a classic green—deeper, moodier, and holiday-coded.
Midnight Pine by China Glaze
Emerald Green by Le Mini Macaron
Burgundy Nails for Winter
Just about everything about winter screams burgundy: a glass of red wine by the fireplace, Santa's outfit, velvet ribbons and stockings, and of course, these festive holiday polishes.
Pepsi Max Cherry by Townhouse
Londontown #10
Frosty Blue Nails for Winter
An icy manicure to match the chilly weather is a cute way to deal with the cold, and there are so many cute shades for creating that frosted effect. My personal fave is this light blue from Essie’s jelly collection, but you can use any pastel polish and finish it with a touch of glitter or chrome for the same wintry vibe.
Lucy Baby Blue by Gucci
Winter White Nails for Winter
You can’t go wrong with a winter white manicure to embody all the snowy vibes ahead. Add an extra top coat for a glassy, iced-over effect, or go matte for a softer and powdery snow finish.
Milky White by Manicurist
Coconut Milk by Gelcare
Mocha Brown Nails for Winter
I love matching my nails to my hot chocolate and espresso martinis in full winter fashion. And glazed espresso nails à la Hailey Bieber will always be my ultimate winter manicure inspo. Plus, brown polish somehow manages to look both cozy and sophisticated, making it a go-to shade all season long.
Been There, Dune That by Sally Hansen
Not Afraid of The Dark by OPI
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the manicure-obsessed assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan—you'll never find her with bare nails. She spent hours researching all the best winter nail designs and colors to curate this list.
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.
