Holiday Nail Art: Cheesy or Fun?
If you're anything like me, hair and makeup is the first thing on your checklist when getting ready for a party (click here to get the perfect holiday look for your face shape). But there's nothing worse than spending hours on your look only to walk into a party and blend right into a sea of smoky eyes, tousled curls, and little black dresses.
So this year, I decided on a new "get ready" routine: Spend less time on my face, and more time decking out my nails.
I know what you're thinking. Holiday nail art? That's almost as bad as wearing one of these ugly Christmas sweaters. But it's so not the case with these 15 fun and festive nail art looks. To prove my point, I've decided to show you my six favorite holiday looks below.
Look No. 1: Reindeer on the Run
1. Start with a base coat.
2. Once dry, apply two coats of gold nail polish.
3. Then it's time to add the reindeer. The reindeer image is actually a nail stamp you can find at BundleMonster. Cover the stamp with red polish and scrap off any excess polish.
4. Position the stamp where you'd like it on your nail and press.
5. After it's dry, complete with a top coat.
Look No. 2: Candy Cane Cravings
1. Start with a base coat.
2. Once dry, apply two coats of shiny red nail polish.
3. Next, paint diagonal stripes on your nails with a nail art pen/brush. Make sure to vary the thickness of the stripes, as well as the distance between the stripes.
4. After you're done, complete with a top coat.
Look No. 3: Penguins on Parade
1. Start with a base coat.
2. Once dry, apply two coats of a periwinkle nail polish (try China Glaze's Secret Periwinkle, $5.99).
3. Now it's time to "build" the penguin. First, apply two coats of white nail polish -- or use a white nail pen -- in a rounded rectangular shape; the periwinkle should look like a border around the white.
4. After the white dries, use a black nail art pen to make two dots for the eyes of the penguin.
5. Use another nail art pen, preferably in neon so it pops against the white, to apply larger dots for the nose and feet.
6. Finish with a top coat.
Look No. 4: Candy Canes Everywhere
1. Start with a base coat.
2. Once dry, apply two coats of a mint green nail polish (try Essie's Mint Apple Green, $8).
3. Next, use a white nail pen to draw on little white candy cane shapes. You should angle the candy canes in different directions, and don't be afraid to cut off a candy cane at the tip or edge of the nail.
4. Once the candy canes dry, use a red nail pen to add the stripes, which are so tiny, they'll probably look just like dots.
5. After that step, use a yellow nail art pen to dot around the candy canes.
6. Finish with a top coat.
Look No. 5: Snow Angel
1. Start with a base coat.
2. Once dry, apply two coats of "Snow Angel." "Snow Angel" is a mixed nail polish made by a woman named Lynn aka Lynnderella. She comes up with all different colors and mixes in her New York City kitchen. You can order her polishes here.
3. To finish, apply a top coat.
Look No. 6: Pining for The Winter
1. Start with a base coat.
2. Once dry, apply two coats of a textured gold nail polish. Then, using nail art pens in two different shades of green, build your branches starting with the tip of your nail. We suggest using one color at a time and allowing them to dry in between -- this way you can layer your colors.
3. After the branches are done, use a brown polish to place a small dot/oval on a couple of the nails. This is the pinecone, so make sure it's attached to the branch; you can even paint a few more branches to overlap the pinecone.
4. Finally, draw the ridges onto the pinecone in black with a very fine nail art brush.
5. Finish with a top coat.
Click here to see 9 more holiday nail art ideas. Then check out these fashion bloggers' holiday looks for even more ways to avoid being the wallflower at your next party.
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