On a blistery winter’s day or night, there’s nothing better than cozying up in front of the fireplace… or space heater, as we can’t all be so lucky. The snow is falling, the cheer is palpable, the Real Housewives of New York holiday episodes are on TV, and you have no plans besides sipping whatever your favorite warm drink is and—most importantly—painting your nails.
Rhinestones Everywhere
All that glitters… is your nails, baby. According to Nuñez, it’s fully rhinestone time “The winter time and end of the year season always feels like a celebration so clients really love to wear a lot of sparkle and sometimes that includes rhinestones,” she says. And although Swarovski crystals can always add a gorgeous and textured element to your manicure, there are budget-friendly alternatives available like acrylic rhinestones.
As far as application goes, simply apply a top coat (or nail glue, if you want them to last longer) to your nails and adhere the stones. Just don’t cover the facets of the stones themselves, as it’ll cause them to lose their shine.
Transforming Polishes
Remember those color-changing thermal polishes you loved in high school? They’re back—and at a great time, too. During the colder months, the color-changing effects are most noticeable.
“This trend would add a dynamic element to winter nail designs, shifting between dark, moody tones indoors and lighter, brighter shades outside,” says Essie celebrity manicurist Aja Walton, whose client list includes Keke Palmer, Paloma Elsesser, and Aurora James. “Thermal gradients can also be used to reveal hidden designs under certain temperature conditions.”
In a similar transformational vein, Nuñez says that multicolored magnet polishes are going to remain huge this winter.
“My favorite thing about this trend is that now there are so many more brands coming out with these types of finishes and they are no longer just exclusive to gel polishes. Brands like Mooncat and Lights Lacquer are really spearheading this trend,” explains the artist.
To get the most out of your polish, you’ll want to be playful with your magnet placement.
“My current favorite hack is to stick two magnets together, place my finger on top of the magnets and polish my nail. This is going to create that beautiful velvet effect,” adds Nuñez. “I’ve also seen people use a 22 pound magnet for this effect. While magnet placement will affect the end result, the most important tip is make sure you also magnetize the nail after you apply the top coat! This will ensure the mesmerizing finish locks in place, otherwise it will dull the look.”
Framed Glitter Nails
Your manicure is art, and it deserves to be presented as such. With a glitter frame, perhaps?
“Metallics and glitter polishes are very popular in the winter because clients get reminiscent of the past and optimistic for the future and that extra sparkle helps capture that feeling perfectly,” says Nuñez.
While glitter on its own is always a statement, her favorite winter trend is an outlined nail art style design using chunky glitter polish. “After prep, base coat, and your favorite base shade, use a detail brush to apply chunky glitter polish to the circumference of the nail,” explains the artist. “Once you’re happy with the placement, seal everything with a top coat.”
Jewel-Box Hues
Yeah, Wicked is here. And we’re seeing its influence everywhere. “Dark green, jewel-toned nails are already very popular in the winter time because emerald is festive and reminiscent of evergreen, but this year it will also be a representation of a feisty and fierce underdog Elphaba,” says Nuñez.
Walton adds that, while emerald and its dark, rich jewel-toned cousins sapphire and amethyst are always winter staples, we can expect to see versions of these shades with shimmer or iridescent finishes this winter.
“These shades will appear classic indoors but reveal multicolored shifts in different lighting, creating a captivating effect for festive occasions,” she says. “Try Essie’s Statement Peace or Never Too Bold for a quick manicure at home. For a more distinct holographic shift, you can layer jewel tones like Essie’s Off Tropic and Leather Weather with an iridescent or holographic top layer like Ethereal Escape or Mystic Marine.”
Melted Metals
“Metallic finish nails are quite popular lately,” says Haye. While gold or silver are always great options, you can make any shade metal thanks to the proliferation of chrome powders and liquids.
Walton adds that we might see a shift toward fluid metallic designs as we build off the popularity of chrome nails. Think marbled or melted-metal effects, where metallic polishes are blended with translucent finishes to create a “flowing, molten appearance.”
As far as color goes, Walton also thinks we’re going earthy with our metals.
“While metallics have been a go-to for winter, the 2024 season could shift toward earthier metallics like copper, brass, and bronze. These shades balance warmth and sheen, offering a softer alternative to gold or silver but with a luxe feel,” she says.
