The Best Winter Nail Colours for 2024

What’s that? An excuse to hit the nail salon again? Oh, go on then.

With the temperatures dropping and baggy jumper season just on the horizon, we’ve felt inspired to give our mani’s a winter-themed makeover. It’s time to ditch the summer nail colours and welcome in a whole new palette of shades and styles.

After scouring Pinterest for the best winter nail designs of 2024, we’ve plucked out our favourites to save you some time. Whether you're looking for an understated, vampy look or something a little lighter, Cosmetify and the world of Pinterest have you covered.

Ranging from classic Christmas colours to unexpected seasonal twists, these are the hottest (or coldest?) nail designs and colours for winter 2024.

1. Deep red nails

One shade you’re probably expecting, but never gets old? Red! Time and time again this shade is hailed as one of the best winter nail colours. Think about it, red candy canes, holly berries, Christmas tree baubles, Santa—how could we not wear red in winter?

However, if you’re over true red, the colder months are the perfect time to break out the deeper reds. A dark cherry red or slightly browny red looks great on everyone.

2. Dark green nails

Block colours are in this season. Lacquer up your nails with this deep green colour to add a touch of elegance to your fingertips. Complementing all skin tones, this dark shade really lets you do it all.

3. Icy, shimmery nails

If darker colours feel too heavy, just give your nails a single swipe of a shimmery shade. It’s fast and easy to apply, and seeing a bit of your nails underneath makes this look extra delicate. A light blue shimmer is perfect for winter as it mimics the frosty scenery. Or, you could go for a nude shimmer nail colour to inject a bit of sparkle into your mani.

4. Chrome nails

Take your favourite nail colour and chrome it and we promise you'll never look back. We love the chrome effect as it spices up your manicure yet still gives an icy, wintery feel. Check out our chrome nail guide to learn how to DIY this look in a pinch.

5. Silver tips

Silver shades are reminiscent of Christmas tree stars and baubles, tinsel and sparkling lights. What's not to love? If you're not quite ready to let go of the festive season, then silver tips might just be the winter manicure for you. You can add a chrome powder to the French tips too for a futuristic finish!

6. Bow nail art

Bows aren't just for Christmas; they're set to be a 2024 trend as searches for bow nail art and bow hairstyles are on the rise. Get ahead of the game by decorating your nails with some pretty bows.

7. Stormy blue

We might be a little biased, but this is definitely one of the best winter nail colours you can try in 2023. Another weather-inspired colour this winter will be this moody, storm-cloud blue. Perfect for curling up by the window to watch the rain with a nice hot cuppa. The grey tones keep this shade understated, making blue polish super wearable for anyone who isn’t feeling a bright pop of colour.

8. 50 shades of brown

Speaking of cups of tea—why not a cup of hot chocolate or a mocha? Shades of brown are going to be really trendy this winter, and they’re a great way to wear darker shades in warm tones if you’re not feeling the cooler blues or greens.

Brown is both a sophisticated and cosy shade that’s become much more popular in fashion lately, no longer a dated, boring colour but a flattering and versatile neutral. Pop it onto your nails this winter and you’ll see how it goes with everything you wear!

9. Mustard yellow nails

Brown isn’t the only trendy colour the ‘70s are giving us; mustard yellow is also back in a big way. Test out the waters by wearing mustard nails this winter, and we promise the unexpected shade will totally shake up your winter blues.

10. Burnt orange nails

You might think this shade’s only for autumn, as much as it brings to mind falling leaves and pumpkin spice lattes. But we love it for a surprising yet not in-your-face pop of colour that’ll warm you right up in the colder months.

Like a halfway point between this season’s popular red, brown and yellow shades, darker, terracotta oranges are fun yet chic, and we can’t wait to wear them all winter long (when we’re not trying out every other trend on this list).

11. Red french tips

The sophisticated, older cousin of the full red mani, the red French tip is the perfect way to spice up your nail designs this festive season. A staple winter 2023 nail trend, there's so much potential for embellishment and flair with this colour choice. You could keep it simple with just the fiery red tip, or you could ask your nail tech to add some glittery stars or gems for added wow factor, like in the example above.

12. Aura nails

Aura nails are all over our Pinterest feed. Putting a new spin on the classic ombre nails, it sees a circular ombre effect in the middle of the nail for an aura-like finish.

Explore more winter nail colours by reading our other blogs

Had enough of your current acrylic nails? Learn How to Remove Acrylic Nails at Home in Five Steps for a safe removal that doesn’t require a salon. Don't forget to read our blog on Christmas nail art ideas to find some cool 2024 winter nail designs to take to your next appointment.