We’re finally entering the season of cozy candlelit dinners, festive decorations, and bubbly happy hours. And as those calendars fill up with parties and events, we have the perfect excuse to indulge in a little beauty pampering, preferably by booking an appointment for a fresh manicure. After all, now, more than ever, we need to spark a little extra joy to brighten the dark, arid days ahead. Luckily, the best winter nail color trends are equal parts eye-catching and so deliciously luxe.
For the winter season, Émilie Sanscartier, CEO and founder of Gelcare, is seeing a shift towards cozy, elevated neutral nails and jewel tone manicures with unique finishes like jelly, velvet, or satin. "I'm also seeing more and more glazed or glass-like effects that give nails a frosty, ethereal shine that perfectly compliments the season," she says.
Some trends, like drop dead gorgeous sapphire blues and rich burgundys, are to be expected. “People tend to lean into darker, moodier shades in the winter to reflect how the season feels,” says celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec. Some other nail color trends, however, are a bit more surprising, like light blues, textured tortoiseshell patterns, milky whites, and less-is-more glitter.
Still, pretty much everyone is asking for an expensive-looking shade of brown: "Brown is the new neutral that's here to stay," says Kandalec. "It's elegant and sophisticated and there is so many different ways to try it so there is something for everyone—a matte, espresso suede, a warm, rich coffee with maximum shine, or a light cinnamon with a little extra flourish of shimmer."
No matter what style or shape, you prefer, winter nails are all about hydration, hydration, hydration. "Manicures are like facials of the hands," says Amy Lin, founder of Sundays Studio. "We need to be treating our hands, cuticles, and nails with moisture to avoid dryness, breakage, and brittleness." Nail artist Anna Miles agrees, adding that you should think of your nails like you do your face or hair. "When you wash your face, you don't just cleanse and then go about your day," she says. "You layer on serums, creams, or balms to moisturize. Think of your hands with the same care—always nourish them with a little moisturizer or oil after washing."
So, before diving into an at-home manicure, be sure to hydrate your cuticles and hands with oils, serums, and/or creams to banish dryness and keep your skin feeling soothed and soft.
Ahead, the top 10 winter nail color trends to inspire your next seasonal manicure.
Spiced Cinnamon
As seen on forever nail inspo Hailey Bieber, this cinnamon brown shade marries a warm-toned brown with silvery chrome for a lustrous, milky brown hue. The mix of warm and cool elements elevates the look and keeps your manicure feeling impossibly luxurious.
Dark Sapphire
Rich, dark blue manicures have been replacing classic black for a dark and moody winter nail look. "A pretty blue is still wintery but there's a little more softness to it than just a jet black," says Kandalec. "I like to add a little dimension and holographic effect by layering it with a sheer, fine glitter."
Diamond Dusted French Tips
The classic French tip manicure isn't going anywhere but the look has evolved a lot over the years. This season the tip has shrunk even further for a micro mini effect, with a subtle sparkle accent. Choose your favorite base color and create an ever-so-thin line of sparkles at the tip.
The key to any micro French tip look is to start with an opaque base. “Otherwise there might be a white space where your natural nail tip pokes out before the French tip design starts,” says Kandalec. "It can throw off the look of the manicure." When deciding on how thin to go, it's all about proportion. "I always look at nail shapes and lengths before decided how micro to go," says Miles. If your nail beds are on the shorter side, keep the line as thin as possible; more real estate means your French tip can err on the larger side.
Glazed Ombré
The chrome nail trend isn't going anywhere this winter thanks to the instant glam it brings to a manicure. For a fresh take, try a glazed ombré effect. Start with a sheer or neutral base, and then use a sponge to build a gradient by adding a deeper color towards the tips, says Sanscartier. "Then finish with a pearlescent or glossy top coat for the glaze." Instead of a full-on metallic-y feel, it's a way to wear chrome that's shiny but more subtle and low-key.
Sheer Sparkle
For a little shine, try using a micro-sparkle or iridescent color as a top layer, says Sanscartier. "It elevates any look in a subtle way without making it too overwhelming and glittery."
Mixed Prints
If you’re a little more adventurous, mixing different nails colors and designs is a chic way to update your manicure and keep your nail look feeling totally bespoke. Just make sure there is a common thread across all the nails. "Try using all cool colors or all warm colors to keep it cohesive," says Miles. "Or change up the style of each nail but use elements of the same red, same white, same green, or same sparkle polish to tie it together." Press-on nails are a great DIY option to test out different designs on each nail.
Glossy Dark Cherry
A classic cherry red polish will never not be in style. "It's like the little black dress version of nail colors," says Lin. Winter is the perfect time to explore a deeper red. To up the glamour factor, make sure your top coat is really glossy. "It makes the color look ever chicer," says Kandalec.
Tortoise Shell
Animal prints are making a major comeback in the nail world with tortoiseshell print leading the way. "Tortoise shell add vintage elegance with a modern twist," says Sanscartier. "Plus it's neutral enough to pair with any outfit."
Milky White
While we usually see shades of white for summer manicures, Lin is seeing more requests for a creamy, milky manicure. "It feels so crisp and clean, like snow," she says. Try an off-white or cream option to keep the look from leaning too stark—unless that is your vibe.
Frosty Blue
Light blues are in high demand—something Kandalec credits to the cool, icy, shimmery element it brings that feels festive and sleek. However, you don't have to go 100 percent blue with your nail color. "I love a light blue shimmer as an accent," says Kandalec. "Put it on the tips, the moons, or draw as a little squiggle to make it fun and unique."
Meet The Experts
Anna is a session nail artist and has been collaborating with clients to make their nail art dreams come true since 2020. While nail art is the focus, foundational nail health and gender affirming care are also crucial to her practice. Rather than pictures of others’ nails, she refers to textiles/fashion, music, art history and nature’s marvels as inspiration for her nail art.
Amy Ling is passionate about wellness, and she brings that mindset to sundays — a wellness-inspired nail care salon — which she founded in 2017. After opening her first salon in 2012, Amy was horrified by the harmful ingredients found in the nail care products she was using. After discovering she was not able to find alternative non-toxic salon products on the market, the idea of sundays was born! Amy teamed up with an expert chemist to develop a cruelty-free and non-toxic nail polish line, which is the signature product of the sundays salon experience!
Émilie Sanscartier is the founder and creative force behind Gelcare, a cult-favorite nail brand known for its innovative, high-quality gel polish and self-care products. Based in Montreal, Émilie combines her passion for beauty and design with a commitment to sustainability and performance. Since launching Gelcare, she has introduced over 20 collections and expanded the brand to include a curated line of self-care essentials. With her keen eye for trends and a focus on artistry, Émilie continues to redefine modern nail care while building a loyal global community.
From major beauty campaigns to backstage at Fashion Week, Julie Kandalec is the nail professional editors, designers, and celebrities call on to make their dream nails come to life. The founding creative director of Paintbox in New York City, Julie made chic and on-trend nails accessible to a mainstream clientele and now shares two decades of experience with beauty professionals around the world as part of her online courses. Her clients include P!nk, Selena Gomez, Jessica Chastain, Emily Blunt, Joe Jonas, Camila Cabello, and Lauren Sanchez. Her work has been featured in Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper's Bazaar, InStyle, Vogue, WWD, and on campaigns for Chanel, Dior Beauty, Gucci, Tiffany & Co., Glossier, Bobbi Brown, Urban Decay, and Maybelline.
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