Winter isn’t exactly my favourite 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 cosy up inside and have some fun with winter nail colours.
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 colours in 2025:
Townhouse Flawless Polish - Pepsi Max Cherry 14ml
Read review
essie ESSIE - Nail Polish, Wicked - 0.46 fl. oz. (13.5 ml)
Read review
Keep scrolling for all the best winter nail colours 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 favourite colour). If you don't wanna go basic red or green for the festive season, deep purple is an elevated yet understated option.
Purple Nail Polish Colours for Winter
essie ESSIE - Nail Polish, Wicked - 0.46 fl. oz. (13.5 ml)
CHANEL Long wear Nail Polish in 411 - MAGNETIC MUSE
Zoya Holiday Nail Polish Collection - Koley (ZP1063) 15ml
Emerald Green Nails for Winter
This jewel-toned shade is the perfect way to make green nails feel chic. The rich colour reads like a wintery take on a classic green — deeper, moodier, and holiday-coded.
Rimmel London 60 Seconds Super Shine Nail Polish 105 Evergreen
Glamazon
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Pride Collection in C-Hill Out
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 polishes.
Townhouse Flawless Polish - Pepsi Max Cherry 14ml
Dior Nail Polish in 690 Plum Parade
Nails Inc 45 Second Speedy Gloss, Meet Me On Regents Street
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.
H&M Nail polish in Enchanted
Gucci Vernis Ongles Nail Polish
essie Original Nail Art Studio Blue Jelly Gloss - Sky Jelly
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.
Manucurist Milky White
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 cosy and sophisticated, making it a go-to shade all season long.
Télle Moi UltraStay Gracious Coffee
My Mood Nail Polish Xtra Shot Xtra Hot 10ml
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the manicure-obsessed assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan US — you'll never find her with bare nails. She spent hours researching all the best winter nail designs and colours 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.
