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Trends come and go, but every December, the same colour wins. These are the red Christmas nails we'd book this season, from perfect glossy classics to velvet, chrome and glitter.
Red is the colour of Christmas, and on nails, it never looks dated. It's the colour of lipstick at the office party, a ribbon on a present and the first glass of something festive. It flatters almost every skin tone, works on any length and somehow looks more expensive than any other shade.
But red Christmas nails don't have to mean ten identical coats of polish. We picked 27 red designs from some of the best nail artists on Instagram, from timeless gloss to cherry-dark jelly, red chrome and candy cane tips. Tap any post to see the full set and the products used. For even more ideas, see our full guide to Christmas nails.
✦ Editor's pick
Velvet, but make it Christmas
This is the red I'd book for Christmas Eve. A deep cranberry with a soft, shimmering velvet finish that shifts between red, copper and gold as it catches the light. It feels like a glass of mulled wine by the fire: warm, rich and a little bit indulgent.
Design: @glossytipped
Classic red Christmas nails
Sometimes the best Christmas manicure is no manicure trend at all. One perfect, glossy red never goes out of style.
01
The perfect red
A bright, glossy cherry red on long almond nails. Swipe through the post to see the same shade with a matte top coat.
View this design by @avrnailswatches on Instagram
Design: @avrnailswatches · ♥ 44K likes
02
Ketchup red
A warm, tomato-toned red on short, rounded nails. The artist calls it the best red she's ever tried.
View this design by @manicure.shilina on Instagram
Design: @manicure.shilina · ♥ 13K likes
03
Red gradient
Five different reds, from bright to deep, one on each nail. A subtle, clever way to wear the trend.
View this design by @lovefreshpaint on Instagram
Design: @lovefreshpaint · ♥ 12K likes
04
Red with a little sparkle
Glossy red on short nails with one sheer accent and a tiny festive detail. Classy Christmas nails at their simplest.
View this design by @nailsbypaulin on Instagram
Design: @nailsbypaulin · ♥ 5.8K likes
Red french tip Christmas nails
Red french tips are the chic, wearable way to do red. Here are four versions, from bold to barely there. For more, see our Christmas french tip nails.
05
Bold red french
Glossy red french tips with matching red accent nails. With over 80,000 likes, it's one of the most-loved red sets on Instagram.
View this design by @thehotblend on Instagram
Design: @thehotblend · ♥ 81K likes
06
Holly & berries
Crisp red french tips on square nails, with one nude accent and a tiny hand-painted holly sprig.
View this design by @gelsbybry on Instagram
Design: @gelsbybry · ♥ 39K likes
07
Double tips
Red french tips with a fine white line underneath. Inspired by Kylie Jenner's nails, but more Christmassy.
View this design by @heygreatnails on Instagram
Design: @heygreatnails · ♥ 18K likes
08
Micro red french
Ultra-thin red glitter tips on short, natural nails. The most subtle way to wear red for Christmas.
View this design by @nailsbyluuce on Instagram
Design: @nailsbyluuce · ♥ 6.7K likes
Red glitter Christmas nails
If any time of year calls for glitter, it's Christmas. Red glitter looks like the shiny paper on a present.
09
Subtle glam
Sparkly red glitter mixed with sheer nude nails and glitter-edged tips. Glamorous, but still easy to wear.
View this design by @heluviee on Instagram
Design: @heluviee · ♥ 62K likes
10
Christmas red it is
Glossy red nails mixed with red glitter french tips and a fine white stripe. Festive from every angle.
View this design by @thedutchnailtech on Instagram
Design: @thedutchnailtech · ♥ 26K likes
11
Reflective glitter french
Sheer nude nails with reflective red glitter tips that flash in photos. Magical with the camera flash on.
View this design by @amberjhnails on Instagram
Design: @amberjhnails · ♥ 11K likes
12
Glitter tips
Soft pink nails with sparkly red glitter french tips. Simple, festive and perfect for short almond nails.
View this design by @nailsbyalsn on Instagram
Design: @nailsbyalsn · ♥ 8.1K likes
Dark red Christmas nails
For something moodier, swap bright red for burgundy, cherry or wine. Dark reds feel grown-up, and they carry on beautifully into January.
13
Cherry mocha
A deep cherry-brown with a fine silver outline around each nail. Elegant, unexpected and very festive.
View this design by @avrnailswatches on Instagram
Design: @avrnailswatches · ♥ 50K likes
14
Cabernet jelly
A rich, see-through burgundy jelly on short square nails. Like a glass of red wine, on your hands.
View this design by @bynatashad on Instagram
Design: @bynatashad · ♥ 41K likes
15
A night at the opera
A deep, glossy crimson on short square nails. Classic, dramatic and perfect for a Christmas party.
View this design by @samantharudge.beauty on Instagram
Design: @samantharudge.beauty · ♥ 8.7K likes
16
Wine red
Glossy wine-red almond nails. Simple, chic and impossible to get wrong.
View this design by @coraliemua_ on Instagram
Design: @coraliemua_ · ♥ 6.3K likes
Red chrome Christmas nails
Chrome gives red a mirror-like shine, like a brand-new Christmas bauble.
17
Ferrari red chrome
A bright red chrome on short almond nails, with a high-shine, metallic finish.
View this design by @glossyleny on Instagram
Design: @glossyleny · ♥ 32K likes
18
Burgundy chrome
A deep burgundy with a glossy chrome finish. The darker, more elegant take on red chrome.
View this design by @monika__nails on Instagram
Design: @monika__nails · ♥ 8.7K likes
Red cat eye Christmas nails
Cat eye nails use a magnet to create a shifting, glowing stripe of light. In red, they look like stained glass.
19
Layered red cat eye
Deep red cat eye nails with a glowing band of light, layered for extra depth. Mesmerising up close.
View this design by @glossytipped on Instagram
Design: @glossytipped · ♥ 12K likes
20
Burgundy cat eye
A soft burgundy cat eye with a silky, velvety shimmer. So good, the artist posted it twice.
View this design by @nailedxsof on Instagram
Design: @nailedxsof
Red velvet Christmas nails
Velvet nails have a soft, sparkly shimmer that looks like crushed velvet. Perfect for Christmas parties.
21
Red velvet & silver
Red velvet nails mixed with candy cane stripes and twinkling silver. The artist calls it the ultimate holiday trio.
View this design by @heygreatnails on Instagram
Design: @heygreatnails · ♥ 47K likes
22
Sparkling red velvet
A deep, shimmering red velvet on almond nails that sparkles in every light.
View this design by @embrace.nails on Instagram
Design: @embrace.nails
Red and white Christmas nails
Red and white is the most joyful colour combination of Christmas. Think candy canes, Santa hats and peppermint stripes.
23
Candy cane & glitter
Red glitter nails with candy cane stripes and red french tips. Peak Christmas.
View this design by @vivianmariewong on Instagram
Design: @vivianmariewong · ♥ 29K likes
24
Peppermint & reflective glitter
Deep red reflective glitter mixed with a candy cane stripe and white french tips. Sparkly and sweet.
View this design by @nails.by.iz_ on Instagram
Design: @nails.by.iz_ · ♥ 10K likes
Red snowflake Christmas nails
A single white snowflake on red nails is the easiest piece of Christmas nail art there is, and it looks so chic.
25
Snowflake accents
Deep red square nails with white snowflakes on two accent nails. Classic and so elegant.
View this design by @nailsbypaulin on Instagram
Design: @nailsbypaulin · ♥ 21K likes
26
Burgundy french & snowflakes
Burgundy french tips with tiny white snowflakes on a soft peach base. Wintry, but still very red.
View this design by @monika__nails on Instagram
Design: @monika__nails · ♥ 7K likes
How to choose the right red
Not all reds are created equal. A few simple rules help you find the one that suits you:
✦Cool skin tone? Look for blue-based reds like cherry, raspberry and wine. They make your skin look brighter.
✦Warm skin tone? Try orange-based reds like tomato, ketchup and brick. They bring out your skin's warmth.
✦Short nails? Deep reds and glossy classics look especially chic on short, rounded nails.
✦Can't decide? A true, classic red with a balance of warm and cool suits almost everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
✦What are the best red Christmas nails?
The most popular red Christmas nails are classic glossy red, red french tips, red glitter and deep burgundy. Red chrome, red cat eye and red velvet are also trending, and red with candy cane stripes or white snowflakes adds a festive touch.
✦What shade of red is best for Christmas nails?
Choose a blue-based red like cherry or wine if you have cool undertones, and an orange-based red like tomato or brick if you have warm undertones. A true, classic red suits almost everyone.
✦Are red nails good for short nails?
Yes. Red looks especially chic on short, rounded nails. Try a glossy classic red, a deep burgundy or micro red french tips.
✦How do I make red nails look festive?
Add a Christmas detail like white snowflakes, candy cane stripes, a holly sprig or glitter tips. A chrome, velvet or cat eye finish also makes red instantly look festive.
✦Are dark red nails good for Christmas?
Yes. Burgundy, cherry and wine reds are perfect for Christmas, and they look elegant into January too. They're a great choice if bright red feels too bold.
More festive ideas: see all 40 designs in our Christmas nails guide, our favourite simple Christmas nails, or the moody cherry noir nails.
Which red are you wearing this Christmas? Tell us in the comments.
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Why trust Cult Confidential
Cult Confidential exists to separate the hype from the holy grails. We don't take money to feature products, and we don't trust a product just because it has a big campaign behind it. Every nail design here is credited to the artist who created it, and you can tap through to their post to see the full set and the products they used.
