20 Short Holiday Nail Designs That Feel Extra Festive

Close-up of manicure with neutral base and gold glitter central stripes — @aliciatnails / Instagram

The holidays are arguably the best time of year to experiment with nail art. ‘Tis the season to trade your typical neutrals for your favorite shades of red, green, silver chrome, and gold—and maybe a few artfully placed stars and candy-cane stripes—to turn your manicure into the best holiday party accessory of the year. It’s worth noting that you don’t need ultra-long nails or extensions to embrace the seasonal spirit and go all-out with your seasonal mani. There are plenty of holiday nail designs for short nails out there to help you get inspired, and we’ve rounded our favorites that lean more chic than cheesy. Scroll through to see 20 short holiday nail designs to get you in the spirit, and prepare to nail—or better yet, sleigh—the season ahead.

01 of 20

All of the Lights

Short manicure with silver glitter and colorful holiday light string designs — @tinybrushes / Instagram

Decorate your nails the same way you’d decorate your tree with this glittering, colorful mani that is—quite literally—lit. Depending on your preference, you can have a nail tech recreate this or do it yourself using a fine line brush.

02 of 20

Let It Snow

Muted pearlescent pink manicure with ombre glitter design from cuticles — @imarninails / Instagram

All you need to create this snowy manicure—which looks just as gorgeous on short nails as it does on medium and long ones—is some pearly white polish and a bit of glitter. It’s a winterful life, indeed.

03 of 20

Hanukkah Nails

Dark blue manicure with gold Hanukkah-themed nail designs — @kesangthenailartist / Instagram

Holiday manicures aren’t limited to Christmas and New Year's. Any of the styles on this list can be recreated with Hanukkah vibes using shades of blue, white, and silver, or take some inspo from this look and add some some dreidels and Stars of David to a chic navy blue base (FWIW: these stickers, from Olive & June can help).

04 of 20

Simple Stars

Manicure with pink-toned neutral base and gold star designs — @nailditbyalyssa / Instagram

Only have five minutes to put together a holiday mani? We’ve got you covered. All you need to create a starry look is a super-shiny base coat and these easy-to-apply Christmas-themed nail stickers from Amazon.

05 of 20

Ornament Dots

Short nails with neutral base and red, white, green, and gold glitter dot designs — @swaknails / Instagram

Another easy short holiday nail design that you can create at home, this one requires little more than a few festive shades (some combination of green, red, gold, and white for Christmas; or blue, white, and silver for Hanukkah) and a toothpick or dotting tool.

06 of 20

Starry Night

Manicure with black base and silver star designs — @tinybrushes / Instagram

You top your tree with a star every year, so why not do the same with your nails? It's easy to recreate this twinkly mani with any two shades—a dark base and a metallic accent—and we can see it being one you’ll want to reimagine in different ways all year long.

07 of 20

Maximalist Mani

Close-up of short nail with pearls, red and green gems, and negative space cuticle half-moon — @iramshelton / Instagram

There’s nail art, and then there’s nail art, and this look falls into that second, maximalist category. Swarovski crystals create a sparkly, 3D look that works just as well on super-short nails as on miles-long claws—but you’ll likely need the help of a (very patient!) professional to try this one out for yourself.

08 of 20

Winter Wonderland

Close-up of manicure with neutral base and snowy house and mitten designs — @amyytran / Instagram

Winter white shapes on a neutral base are a great way to embrace non-denominational holiday nail art—but if you don’t have the patience for someone to draw them on you, you’re in luck. These nail stickers from Olive & June include the tiniest white Christmas trees for easy accenting at home.

09 of 20

Shimmery Candy Canes

Manicure with shimmery red nails and candy cane red and white swirl accent nails — @chalkboardnails / Instagram

This mani takes two of the best parts of the holiday season—candy canes and glitter—and reimagines them into nail art. Be warned, though: You may be jonesing for a tasty peppermint treat every time you peek down at your hands.

10 of 20

Holiday Jelly Chrome

Manicure with part-gold chrome, part-green jelly base and dewdrop accent designs — @mynameismikinail / Instagram

This isn’t your typical green and gold manicure, and that’s a decidedly good thing for anyone who scoffs at the idea of Christmas-themed nails. This holiday-adjacent look takes two of this year’s biggest nail trends—chrome and sheer jelly—and brings them together in a way that will make your holiday mani feel elevated.

11 of 20

Glitter Flames

Silver glitter manicure with white flame designs — @mynameismikinail / Instagram

Hello, New Year's nails. Decorating your classic silver sparkles with a pop of white—by way of flames, like you see here, or any other shape of your choosing—will make even more of a statement.

12 of 20

Sequined Accents

Close-up of manicure with both solid green and silver sequined short nails — @mynameismikinail / Instagram

Equal parts “Christmas” and “New Year's Eve,” this mani combines a classic evergreen shade with two disco ball-inspired accent nails on each hand. And the best part? All you need to create it for yourself is a bottle of green polish, like Essie's Off Tropic, some biodegradable glitter like this one from Manucurist Paris, and a dream.

13 of 20

Cherry Red French

Model holding short nails with red French tips up against an eye makeup look with brown mascara and subtle red eyeshadow — @aliciatnails / Instagram

Give your classic French mani a festive flair by painting the tips cherry red instead of your usual white. Pair the look with red liner for a monochromatic beauty moment that will look stunning under the mistletoe.

14 of 20

Midas Touch

You don’t have to give up your usual neutral nails for the sake of getting in the holiday spirit. Instead, add a little dimension to your beloved nudes with a single gold stripe down the middle, which is equal parts on-theme and elegant.

15 of 20

Geometric Merriment

Short manicure with red base and abstract gold shimmer designs — @aliciatnails / Instagram

Opting for a combo of red and gold is the most obvious way to embrace holiday nails, but this geometric look is anything but basic. Start with a burgundy base coat, let it dry completely, then use tape to help guide the placement of the gold graphic accents you paint on top. Pro tip? This look is equally as amazing with any two contrasting shades, so once you’ve got it down, you can recreate it all year long.

16 of 20

Abstract Cranberry

Using your go-to red polish to create an abstract work of art is one way to ensure your holiday mani doesn’t match everyone else’s at the office Christmas party. Start with a neutral base coat, like LondonTown’s Teatime, then use a dotting tool to top it off with lines, waves, and half-moons in a deeper shade.

17 of 20

Simple Gemstones

Close-up of short nails with pearlescent pink base and small gemstone accents — @iramshelton / Instagram

Keep things understated—but still seasonally appropriate—by placing a single crystal stone on each nail, which will make your natural-looking short mani shine extra bright under the holiday lights.

18 of 20

Gold French

Take it from us: Gold-dipped French tips make for the perfect complement to any unboxing (or at this time of year, unwrapping) content you’ll make this season. We love a look that's simple to recreate but instantly luxurious.

19 of 20

Gold-Dipped Skies

Manicure with gold French tips, star designs, and small gemstones — @imarninails / Instagram

If a plain gold French mani doesn’t meet the degree of holiday cheer you’re going for, amp it up with some artfully placed accents, like the stars and stones pictured here.

20 of 20

Gold Foil Accent

Move over, gold glitter—gold foil is coming for your throne. The dimensional accent nail featured in this look was created using CND's Over the Top Effects Kit, which is shockingly easy to apply on your own. Simply prep your nail with the transfer gel and cure it (you’ll need a UV lamp for this part), then use your fingers or a tool to gently place the decorative gold on top before curing one more time.

Holiday 2023’s Biggest Nail Trends Include Layered Glitters and Vampy Red