Get your nails ready for the holidays with these fun and easy designs! Whether you’re new to nail art or just want something quick and festive, these tutorials are perfect for everyone.
Abstract Stars
Like every big occasion, we all love to be ready, and Christmas is no exception! It feels like the holiday season snuck up on us (seriously, how did it get here so fast?), and now it’s time to plan the perfect festive manicure.
If you’ve mastered the basics with our guide on painting your nails like a pro, it’s time to step it up for Christmas. Scroll down to learn how to nail this easy, festive star design that’s beginner-friendly and totally holiday-ready!
Step One
Get your nails ready by trimming and shaping them however you like, using the Sample Beauty Nail File and Buffer Set.
Step Two
Clean your nails with a cotton pad soaked in acetone to remove any dust, then apply a base coat.
Step Three
Grab a small nail brush to outline your abstract shapes on each nail. We’re using the Le Mini Macaron Le Liner Brush and “Not Red-Y For Bed” polish. After outlining, fill in the shapes with the same color. Keep adding thin layers until the color is solid, letting each layer dry in between so your nails don’t get too thick and messy. Don’t stress if every nail looks a bit different—your shapes don’t have to match perfectly!
Step Four
Once your red polish is dry, take a detailer brush and put a dot on your nail—don’t stress about where it goes. Next, use the brush to drag the polish out in four lines from the dot, making a star shape. For this, we used Blanc White and the Le Mini Macaron Le Petit Brush.
Step Five
Finish your nail art with a top coat to keep it shiny and chip-free (we suggest All-In-One Base & Top Coat because it dries really quickly). Don’t forget to use cuticle oil to keep your nails healthy and strong!
Gold Chrome Stars
Chrome Christmas Nail art has become super popular this year, thanks to trends like the glazed donut chrome look. Now, as the holiday season kicks in, it’s getting even more festive.
If you want a Christmas manicure that’s sparkling, fun, and easy to do at home, we’ve got you covered. Check out BEAUTY BAY for all the supplies you need and follow our simple tutorial to create a gold chrome star design. It’s a perfect touch of holiday cheer!
Step One
First, shape your nails with a nail file and push back your cuticles. We chose a rounded shape, but a square one is fine if you prefer.
Next, lightly scratch the surface of your nails with the file so the gel sticks better. Then clean off any dust with a prep solution.
After that, apply a gel base coat and cure it under the lamp for 60 seconds. Add a layer of pinky nude gel, and cure that for another 60 seconds.
Step Two
- Use a dotting tool or a bobby pin to put a dot of black gel polish on your nail.
- With a small brush, gently pull the sides of the dot out to make thin points around it. Do this on all four sides.
- Cure (dry) this layer for just 30 seconds instead of the usual 60 seconds. This helps the chrome powder stick better.
Step Three
Once it’s dry, grab your Cushion Powder Chrome Pen and gently rub it in circles over your black gel polish. It will stick to the polish and give it a shiny finish.
Step Four
If some chrome powder gets on the base of your nail, wiping it off might also remove the powder from your design. To prevent this, use a clean, fine brush to apply the top coat only on your star designs. After applying the top coat, cure it for 60 seconds, then use a prep solution to clean off the chrome powder from the rest of your nail.
Step Five
To finish up, put a top coat on your nails to seal in your design and stop it from chipping. Then, cure it under the lamp for 60 seconds.
After the top coat is set, use cuticle oil on the edges of your nails to keep them healthy and strong.
Festive Plaid
Just like with any event, it’s smart to get ready ahead of time. And when we say “big day,” we mean Christmas (because, of course). The holiday season is here (seriously, where did the time go?), so it’s the perfect moment to pick out your Christmas manicure.
We’ve already shared some basic tips on painting your nails perfectly, but for Christmas, we’re going to up the game. Keep reading to learn how to create a super easy and festive plaid nail design that’s perfect for beginners and will make your nails holiday-ready.
Step One
Get your nails ready by trimming and shaping them the way you like with the Sample Beauty Nail File and Buffer Set.
Step Two
Clean your nails with a cotton pad soaked in acetone to get rid of any dust, then put on a base coat.
Step Three
Grab a small nail brush and start making your plaid design with straight lines. First use the green polish, then add white, and finish with gold. Be careful to let each color dry before adding the next to avoid smudges. We’re using the Le Mini Macaron Le Liner Brush along with Bustling Bazaar, Blanc White, and Makeup Revolution’s Jewel Nail Polish Set. It’s okay if each nail looks a bit different—your lines don’t have to be perfect!
Step Four
To finish up your Christmas Nail, put on a top coat to keep them shiny and prevent chipping (Gel Setter Top Coat is great because it dries quickly). Also, use cuticle oil to keep your nails healthy and strong.
Candy Canes
When you think of Christmas, what pops into your head? If it starts with C and ends with “andy canes,” then you’re right on track! Candy canes are sweet, festive, and totally fun, and this year we’re not just eating them—we’re putting them on our nails too.
If you want an easy and festive Christmas manicure, we’ve got you covered. Check out BEAUTY BAY for all the supplies you need and follow our simple tutorial to get a candy cane Christmas Nail design that’s perfect for the holidays. After all, a red manicure is practically a Christmas tradition!
Step One
First, shape your nails using a nail file and push back your cuticles. We chose a rounded shape, but you can go with a square one if you prefer.
Next, gently file the surface of your nails so the gel sticks better, then clean off any dust with a prep solution.
After that, apply a gel base coat and let it dry under a lamp for 60 seconds. Then put on a layer of pinky-nude gel, and cure it again for 60 seconds.
Step Two
Use a dotting tool or a brush to draw candy cane shapes on your nails with red gel polish. We’re going for two candy canes per Christmas Nail, each a different size. When you’re happy with how they look, cure (or harden) them under a lamp for 60 seconds.
Step Three
After your red gel polish is set, use a small brush and white gel polish to add tiny white lines to your candy canes. Then, cure (or harden) this layer for 60 seconds.
Step Four
To mix up the manicure, we chose a red French tip design on three of the Christmas Nail. If you’re having trouble with French tips, check out this guide to perfect your French manicure.
Step Five
To finish up, put a top coat over your entire Christmas Nail. This helps keep your design in place and stops it from chipping. Then, cure it under your lamp for 60 seconds.
After the top coat is set, apply cuticle oil to the edges of your nails. This keeps your nails healthy and strong.
