28 Gel Nail Ideas for December With Understated Holiday Flare
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If it feels like you’ve scrolled through all the nail art inspiration you can find on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok, it may be time to get back to the basics: seasonal manicures. December-appropriate gel manicures can include everything from traditional holiday colors like red, green, and gold to moody hues like brown, cream, and gray. We’ve found some of our favorites for you to consider before your next nail switch-up. Whether you’re a minimalist or prefer a manicure that will have all eyes on your hands, keep scrolling for 27 gel nail ideas for December.
Short and Brown
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Single-color manicures are a classic for a reason. Moody hues like this rich chocolate brown are on trend, making for a standout gel nail idea for December.
Glazed Donut Nails
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Hailey Bieber’s glazed donut nails have become a full-blown trend. The chrome manicure is a unique neutral that actually works year-round, making it ideal for wearing to holiday parties without worrying about clashing with your outfit.
Ruby Red Almond Mani
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A classic ruby red color will enhance your winter manicure, especially if paired with one of the most elegant nail shapes: almond.
Matte Burgundy Nails
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The color of your manicure isn’t the only thing that can make it stand out: The finish can also have a major impact. Matte nails are a great way to make a classic manicure new again without having to add any nail designs.
Holographic Accent
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If you’re a big nail art fan, try your hand at something more cool-toned in honor of the colder months. This neutral pink base paired with holographic accents is playful and the perfect fit for someone who wants to feel festive without turning to traditional holiday shades.
Negative Space Red
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Gel nail ideas for December will almost always include some form of red, but if you want to take the classic shade up a notch, opt for some abstract nail art, like the negative space design seen here.
Green and White
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The fun part of negative space designs is that you can also fill the space with a contrasting color. This green-and-white manicure feels editorial and chic while incorporating another staple nail polish color for December.
Tortoiseshell Nails
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Tortoiseshell nails are a standout way to play with neutral shades like browns and caramels, and the resulting gel manicure is usually equal parts stunning and regal.
Pink and Bronze
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Bronze is one of the most underrated nail polish shades, but with beauty trends from the ’90s and early ’00s returning, it’s finally getting the love it deserves. If you’re not ready to commit to a fully metallic manicure, paint a few accent nails in a different but complementary shade, like pink.
Red Jelly Nails
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If you can’t let go of your beloved red nail polish (we don’t blame you), opt for a more translucent version of the color by trying a jelly manicure.
Multi-Colored Almond Nails
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Nothing personifies the chaos of pre-holiday Q4 energy quite like a mismatched manicure. To give your nails some semblance of cohesion, opt for complementary shades on each finger when choosing this route.
Toasted Swirl
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Swirls add a touch of whimsy to any manicure, and if you like to DIY your nails, they’re one of the easiest designs to achieve. Just swipe your nail brush at different angles along the nail, depending on the thickness that you’d like.
Blonde Tortoiseshell
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A less common but equally striking version of the traditional tortoiseshell manicure, this iteration uses gray and white tones for a manicure that makes your fingertips look like gemstones.
Bold Teal
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A bold color always creates a stunning manicure, as evidenced by this stunning teal look. This is an ideal way to make a statement that is also easy to DIY.
Black Shimmer
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Black nails are a year-round staple, but adding a touch of shimmer makes it feel like staring at a starry night every time you look at your hands.
Tuxedo Negative Space
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Black and white will always be a classic combination, no matter the time of year. Choose a fun design like this one, and you’ll have a manicure that can take you from family gatherings to galas with ease.
Glossy Green
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A classic deep green will never steer you wrong, especially when looking for gel nail ideas for December. Opt for a glossy top coat to really make your manicure shine under the holiday lights.
Green and White Abstract Swirls
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Combine a classic nail color with a whimsical design, and you get this chic yet minimal manicure that’s understated and eye-catching.
Cherry Tortoise
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French tips are already a staple design. Combine them (in a cherry red shade, of course) with tortoiseshell accent nails, and you’ll be a walking billboard for the mob wife trend.
Brown Swirls
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Play with the finish of your line work to create a nail design that’s a step above the traditional swirl. This manicure features creamy brown lines and a shimmery darker hue that somehow complements all the shades used for the look.
Stained Glass Designs
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Stained glass nails look completely ethereal and allow you to play with multiple colors on a single finger.
Animal Print
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Animal print nails will never go out of style, so if you want more quirky gel nail ideas for December, look no further than some of your favorite wildlife.
Gradient Skittles Manicure
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Skittles gradient nails are a fun way to stay within a color palette without having the same look on each finger. You can use any color to get this look, so there is no need to limit yourself to the typical red and green hues of the holidays if you don’t want to.
Half-French Tips
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To switch up your French manicure, try positioning the colorful tips at a different angle. These half-French tips still feel timeless, but they aren’t the classic horizontal design, giving them a fresh twist.
Sparkling French
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If you still prefer classic French tips but want to jazz them up, add charms or decals to the middle of each finger for an extra bit of visual intrigue.
Matte Green Nails
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Put a matte coat over a shimmery polish, and you’ll get this metallic-looking manicure that feels seasonal yet appropriate for year-round wear.
Multi-Chrome Nails
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Multi-chrome eyeshadow is already a joy to play with, and creating the same effect on your nails is just as fun (if not more so). Prepare to mesmerize wherever you go.
Chrome Ribbons
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An accent nail (or two) is just right. This chrome-red manicure is festive, but not so over-the-top that it becomes irrelevant on December 26th.
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