17 Red and Green Nail Ideas for a Fun Christmas Mani

A green glittery art-deco inspired manicure with abstract red French tips — @pop_polished / Instagram

Christmas is right around the corner, which means you're likely running around picking up last-minute gifts, researching new cookie recipes, and searching for the prettiest party 'fit.

While you're at it, you might be looking at your nails and wondering what to do there. It's simple: Go with a red and green manicure. It's a classic Christmas color combo you simply can't go wrong with. But rather than just painting every other nail a different color, might we suggest taking your holiday nail look to the next level with red and green nail art? For inspo, keep scrolling for a few of our favorite examples.

01 of 17

Grinchy Glitter Art Deco Nails

Art deco-inspired nails with red tips and half glittery green bases — @pop_polished / Instagram

How fun is this Grinchy red and green art deco-inspired nail look? To recreate it, you'll need the Bubble Crystal Candy Collection Gel Polish in Kiwi and Aprés Gel Couleur in Lucky Envelope. Meanwhile, if you want to mimic this exact nail shape, the Aprés Medium Round Tips will do the trick.

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Red and Green Polka Dot Nails

A neutral manicure with white, red, green, and silver polka dots at the tips — @lolo.nailedit / Instagram

For a quick and easy red and green nail idea, consider this polka dot mani. All you need is red, white, and green polish, a sheer neutral base of your choice, and a couple of dotting tools to achieve the varied spot sizes.

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Peppermint French Tips

A French manicure with alternating green and peppermint tips — @heygreatnails / Instagram

Excuse us while we swoon over these sweet peppermint swirl French tips. The minty shimmer accent nails only add to the delectable nature of this candy cane-inspired mani.

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Red and Green Holiday Doodle Nails

A mismatched manicure with Christmas-inspired nail art — @brushedbyb_ / Instagram

This mismatched red and green nail look reminds us of the doodles we used to draw in school. As simple as the designs seem, they'd likely be a tough DIY. This is one manicure you may want to enlist the help of a pro for.

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Holiday Wrapping Paper Nails

A wrapping-paper inspired red and green manicure — @glammertized / Instagram

For a super literal holiday nail look, consider this wrapping paper-inspired design. To help the art really shine, you'll want to rock this red and green nail idea on longer tips.

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Red, Green, and White Swirl Nails

A swirly manicure in shades of red, green, gold, eggnog, and gingerbread — @disseynails / Instagram

For a slightly subdued red and green nail look, consider this earthier swirl mani. Nail artist Dayanna I. Sapiens created it using Lights Lacquer Nail Polish in the shades Ace, I'm All Toasty Inside, Cookie, Dream St, For The Thrill, Americano, and Clueless.

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Christmas Cat-Eye Nails

A mismatched velvet manicure in Christmas tones — @melanated.mani / Instagram

Looking at cat-eye nails almost feels like peering into another dimension. Needless to say, this Christmassy version is nothing short of magical. It was created using the Cirque Colors Atelier Collection.

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Red and Green Christmas Glitter Nails

A mismatched manicure in shades of dark green, gold, and red — @brushedbyb_ / Instagram

You can never go wrong by adding a touch of shimmer and shine to a festive nail look. This red, evergreen, and gold glitter mani was created with Mooncat Nail Polishes in Superclusterfck, I’m A MF Supernova, Poison Ivy, and Con Artist.

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Glossy Evergreen Nails

A glossy evergreen manicure with one red bow — @heygreatnails / Instagram

If you love green, you'll enjoy this evergreen nail look (complete with a cute wreath-inspired accent nail). While nail artist Aistė Haas hasn't revealed the exact color she used, essie's Nail Polish in Off Tropic ($13) is a close match.

10 of 17

Christmas Light French Tips

A Christmas light French manicure with green tips and red bulbs — @heygreatnails / Instagram

This minty shimmering French mani is merry and bright, not to mention surprisingly simple to recreate. Once you apply your glitter French tips, simply use a fine-lining nail art brush to trace the strands across your nails. Then, use a dotting tool to create the individual lights (just drag it a bit to get that oblong shape).

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Holly Nails

A red v-tip French manicure with boughs of holly at the bases — @amyytran / Instagram

Here, we have a holly jolly red shimmer nail look that's not too difficult to recreate. Simply section off your tips using nail tape or get hands-on with a fine-lining nail art brush. The shimmery red polish used here is IceGel's Star Galaxy Gel in 1162.

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Red and Green Stripe Nails

Red and green striped nails with sweater and gold accents — @digitzbydev / Instagram

Dual-finish nails and textured manicures were big this year, so what better way to wrap things up than with a red and green set that captures it all? Just keep in mind that, due to all the details, this one's likely best achieved at a nail salon and not at home (unless you have a super steady hand).

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Muted Christmas Swirl Nails

Swirly manicure with red, green, and brown accents — @overglowedit / Instagram

Here's another muted red and green nail idea that we absolutely love. The inclusion of mint green and pale pink polish gives it a whimsical allure, and we can't take our eyes off it.

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Rose Gold Accent Christmas Nails

A Skittle manicure in green, red, rose gold, and white — @lolo.nailedit / Instagram

Don't have a lot of time on your hands? You can always opt for a different festive color on each nail. The colors used here are OPI Nail Lacquer in the shades My Studio's on Spring, Strong as Shell, A Bloom with a View, and Intentions Are Rose Gold.

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Evermore Plaid Present Nails

A plaid manicure with dark green accent nails — @tinybrushes / Instagram

Is it just us, or are these short, plaid burgundy and evergreen nails serving Evermore? We're fully here for it.

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Burgundy and Evergreen Stripe Nails

A manicure with accent nails in white, red, green, and gold — @lolo.nailedit / Instagram

Speaking of burgundy and evergreen, here's another way to rock the moody holiday hues. The striped accent nails offer a sweet ribbon candy vibe, don't you think?

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Red and Green Tartan Nails

A dark red and green tartan manicure — @melanated.mani / Instagram

We're suckers for plaid, and these shimmery tartan nails have us rushing to copy them stat. They were created using polishes from the China Glaze Jewels Royale Collection.

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