candy cane nails: christmas nail art

A festive manicure is the finishing touch every holiday outfit needs–and yes, themed Christmas nails can be totally chic. The secret: Instead of going ultra-literal with Santas or reindeer motifs, try something a bit more subtle. These candy-cane nails are stylish and sophisticated–in a very merry sort of way!

The best Christmas nail art designs feature a twist on the manicure looks you already love. In this case, I added some holiday spirit to the negative space trend with simple red and white lines and a dash of glitter. The result: candy cane-inspired nails that are sparkly, glam, and perfectly OK to wear after the holiday is over. Sweet.

Scroll on to see how to score this holiday mani for yourself!

Candy Cane Nails

candy cane nails step 1

Step 1: Begin by painting the nail with half a diagonal glitter as shown. Wait for the first layer to dry before applying the second layer of glitter.

candy cane nails with glitter step 2

Step 2: Paint two red lines parallel to each other. If the lines come out sloppy, just use an angled brush and dip it in polish remover to clean them up.

candy cane nails for christmas step 3

Step 3: For the accent thumb, you can add extra white lines between the red lines as a subtle nod to Christmas candy canes!

Did you try this super sweet Christmas nail art? Show us your candy cane nails on Instagram or TikTok @lulus using #lovelulus–and shop festive sweaters, dresses, scarves, and more in our Holiday Shop!

Hang Nguyen is a celebrity nail artist known for delicate, intricate, and often unexpected designs.

(Images via Hang Nguyen; additional copy by Rachel Aschenbrand-Robinson)