20 Short Nail Ideas for December with a Touch of Wintry Glitz
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Short nails may technically mean less space for nail art, but the room for creativity is much more significant than you think. This is especially true in December, when seasonal colors, Sagittarius-approved glitz, sweet holiday designs, and odes to the start of winter are just the tip of the manicure iceberg. All of the above can look stunning on shorter lengths, and many of the most exciting options today blend party-ready personality with understated versatility.
When all is said and done, there’s definitely a design out there that fits all that your busy end-of-year agenda has in store. Read on for 20 short nail ideas for December, all of which will turn heads with no extra length required.
Gilded Fuchsia
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Don’t limit yourself to red and green when it comes to bold December manicures. Fuchsia looks appropriately festive with a hint of gold foil at the tips, and the combo really packs a punch on shorter nails.
Butterscotch Velvet
@betina_goldstein / Instagram
A glittery, short velvet manicure is cozy and festive for all your end-of-year events. This one uses a calm shade of butterscotch to make the inherent luxe of gold transition more easily between night and day.
Festive French Tips
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If you love a red and gold manicure for December but want something a bit more demure, consider this dainty French design. Start with a sheer nude base and add cranberry-red French tips. Then, swipe sheer gold glitter along the edge of each nail, extending from the cuticle to the tip.
Shimmery Mistletoe Nails
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The easiest way to make your manicure festive is to opt for a shimmery polish (or three). To recreate this look, start with an ultra-fine champagne glitter base. Then, use a dotting tool and nail art brush to add mistletoe accents as a finishing touch.
Minimalist Mistletoe
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For a more minimalistic take on the seasonal staple, draw multiple mistletoe on each nail to create a holiday print of your own. Start with a sheer milky nude base, then use a nail art brush to create foliage and tiny, snow-like splotches.
Solstice Skies
@melanated.mani / Instagram
To ring in December’s winter solstice, consider a short nail look that mimics the night sky. The dark purple base and red accents of this holographic manicure are a reminder of the magic that exists in the dead of night.
Christmas Polka Dots
@lolo.nailedit / Instagram
If you want to DIY a festive design but are still a beginner with a dotting tool, this manicure is for you. Start with a sheer nude base, then pick a few holiday colors, such as red, green, white, or silver. Scatter the alternating colors across each nail, concentrating towards the tip. The result? An easy, highly customizable seasonal design.
Cranberry Cutouts
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Half-moon manicures are the ultimate short nail-friendly design. To perfect this look, place a French manicure stencil sticker at the base of each nail and paint cranberry red polish above the line, up to the tip. Remove the stickers once your nails are dry, then use a nail art brush to add a thin metallic border between the red tip and the negative space.
Cat Eye Plaid
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Plaid and tartan nail designs are full of winter-ready coziness. This one sticks to a silver, gold, and white palette with a cat eye effect for a short December manicure that will shine against evergreen decor, snowy backgrounds, and jewel-toned holiday party outfits alike.
Navy and Gold Swirls
@lolo.nailedit / Instagram
For a less Christmas-coded nail look, consider pairing metallic gold and navy blue. Dark blue nail colors and metallic accents are both popular choices this month, so you can’t go wrong with this combo.
Gold Glitter Double French
@iramshelton / Instagram
This nail design allows you to keep your manicure minimal while still incorporating a hint of shimmer. Start with a sheer or milky base color and use an ultra-fine brush to add small accents across each nail. The combo of a half-moon and French tip design here is especially striking.
Frosted Berry Nails
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ICYMI, “frosted berry nails” are the sweetest winter manicure trend this year. By combining your favorite berry or wine shade with a sheer white chrome finish, this look creates an elevated, shimmering finish on even the shortest lengths.
Black Bow French Tips
@melanated.mani / Instagram
Black nail art is an easy way to incorporate the moody hue into your short mani rotation. To dress things up for the holiday season, consider adding pink and red bow stickers on top of ultra-dark French tips. Just be sure to encase them in a clear top coat to prevent the edges of the stickers from prematurely lifting.
Minimalist Milky Holly Nails
@iramshelton / Instagram
Dainty holly designs add a classic element of joy to your go-to milky manicure. The art here is pretty intricate, so it’s probably best to opt for nail stickers or consider booking an appointment to have a professional hand-paint the design.
Jelly Cranberry Confetti
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For a monochromatic manicure that’s sure to stun, consider this cranberry confetti creation. You can get the look with an oxblood base topped off with a jelly confetti polish in the same color. Whenever working with ultra-dark nail colors like this one, be sure to touch up your edges for a crisp end look.
Simple Grinch Skittle
@lolo.nailedit / Instagram
Skittle nails work on any nail length—and this manicure is a stunningly festive example. Here, the mix of creamy and metallic finishes with classic seasonal colors takes the guesswork out of creating a December-worthy design.
Rhinestone Holiday Nails
@iramshelton / Instagram
Believe it or not, this 3D sparkly look is easy to DIY. Start with a neutral base color, then use nail glue to affix rhinestones in the pattern of your choosing. Once dry, your nails will glimmer in more than one dimension.
Wrapping Paper Accent Nails
@lolo.nailedit / Instagram
Is it just us, or does this evergreen, burgundy, white, and gold striped manicure look like old-school wrapping paper? This mismatched set gives all the holiday vibes without the typical designs.
Rich Red Plaid
@iramshelton / Instagram
Creating fabric-like texture on the nails is a big trend this year, and plaid is at the top of the list. This nail art may look intricate, but it’s quite simple to DIY. Start with a dark red base, then apply an overlapped vertical and horizontal stripe of navy blue along one side of the nail before adding two vertical and horizontal white lines to finish.
Winter Moodstone Nails
@lolo.nailedit / Instagram
For an ethereal, wintry nail look, consider this iridescent baby blue manicure. The glittery finish nods to the month’s icy feel and magic allure. Wear this hue alone, or top off the set with snowflakes or icicles to complete the chilly chic look.
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