All the It-Girls Are Wearing Red Velvet Manicures to Their Holiday Parties

Nowadays, there are so many nail trends that can be tailored for the holidays. Aura nails, French illusion nails, and mismatched nails are just a few popular styles that can work especially well with Christmas colors. One of our favorite nail trends for the holiday season, though, has to be velvet nails(specifically, red velvet nails). Designed to look like plush velvet, the ultra-shimmery nail design offers an instantly elevated accent to any nail look, whether it's swirls, French tips, or even a solid coat of color. To show you firsthand how alluring red velvet nails are for the holidays, ahead, find over a dozen red velvet nail art ideas you'll want to wear all December long.

Candy Apple Red Velvet Nails

One of the best things about red velvet nails is that even just a full coat of color has the ability to turn heads and break necks—it's that good. Here, nail artist Dayanna I. Sapiens used Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish ($20) in the shade Pomegranate topped off with the Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish in the shade Gold Velvet ($22). Once layered on, simply swipe the included magnet above the polish and watch as it transforms into this luxe end look.

Red Velvet Santa Nails

Kicking things off with a kitschy nail look, we have this absolutely precious red velvet Santa hat manicure. As adorable as this nail look is, it's not all that difficult to recreate. The Santa hat is just a regular French tip silhouette with a red tail dotted and lined with white polish. So long as you have a set of fine-lining nail art brushes (like the TEOYALL Nail Art Brushes, $5), you should be able to DIY the look. (Of course, French manicure stickers, like the Orly Half Moon Guides, $6, are also incredibly helpful.)

Red Velvet Frosted Snow Nails

While not technically a velvet nail look, this shimmery red and iridescent pearl swirl nail look fits the holiday bill. Nail artist Brittney Ellen used Cirque Colors Handmade Nail Polish ($15) in the shades Soleil and Sashay to create the look.

Minimalist Red Velvet Nails

Red velvet nail looks are so stunning that even just a sliver of color can make an eye-catching impact. Here, nail artist Amy Tran used Kokoist USA Tinted Base Gel ($17) in the shade Strawberry Milk Base. Then, she created the two-tone French tips with The Gel Bottle Inc. Gel Nail Polish ($21) in the shades Blinding Lights and Private Collection.

Red Velvet Plaid Nails

Plaid nails are a holiday pattern that we'll never get sick of. Here, you can see how the timeless design looks in shades of cranberry, evergreen, and nude. you can create the look yourself using the China Glaze Jewels Royale Collection ($9/bottle).

Red Velvet Candy Cane Nails

These pastel candy cane nails are giving us major Cindy Lou Who vibes. Given the intricacy of the asymmetric striped design, you may want to enlist the help of a pro to bring it to life in all its sweet splendor.

Red Velvet Grinch French Tips

Sticking to the Whoville vibe, these green and red velvet nails are giving Grinch in the prettiest way possible. The mani was created using Cirque Colors Handmade Nail Polish ($13+) in the shades Kelly Jelly and Madder. To complete the look, it was topped off with the Cirque Colors Hocus Pocus Glitters ($10).

Red Velvet Stiletto Nails

These stiletteo red nails look fierce. Thanks to their dagger-like shape, they could work just as well for Halloween as they do Christmas.

Red Velvet Art Deco French

If you love French manicures but want to switch up the silhouette, consider this art deco-inspired red velvet design. The sharp points of the tip art create the appearance of stiletto nails without actually having to file away any length.

Red Velvet French Tips

Prefer gold velvet? Opt for red French tips and add a layer of glimmering gold shimmer from cuticle to tip on one side of each nail (or allover, if that's your thing).

Red Velvet Square Nails

Remember, red velvet manicures don't require extra nail art to look their best. Case in point: This square-shaped, red velvet mani crafted with Mooncat Velvet Nail Polish in the shade Reclaim the Flame.

Red Velvet Pop Art

Pop art nails continue to be a unique manicure trend here in 2023. It's among the easier-to-create nail looks, as it simply requires a red velvet base outlined in solid black polish and detailed with white to create the illusions of glowing shine.

Red Velvet Glitter Nails

High-shine red velvet French tips? Yep, we're swooning. The base is OPI Gel Color ($20) in the shade Put It In Neutral and the tips are Beetles Gel Polish ($6) in the shade Berry Wine.

Red Velvet Silver Swirl Nails

Red and silver are two of the most classic holiday colors so swirling them together will make for one seriously festive nail look. While you can likely create swirls with your dominant hand, it may be harder to do so with your non-dom, so you may want to enlist the help of a pro to bring this shimmery nail look to life.

Crushed Red Velvet Peppermint Nails

Peppermint accent nails? A sweet touch to an already stunning crushed red velvet nail look.

Short Red Velvet Nails

Here's even more proof that solid coats of shimmering red color can make for the perfect holiday nail look. The exact color in question here is Christmas Means Carnage by Death Valley Nails. It's currently sold out, so a quality dupe is Poison ($13) by ILNP—and since it's an actual magnetic polish, it's super easy to use.

Red and Green Velvet Candy Cane Nails

Loved the idea of candy cane nails but prefer a neutral base? Allow us to introduce you to your new favorite holiday nail look.

Red Velvet Present Nails

Whether your love language is gifts or you simply swoon over the appearance of a perfectly-wrapped present, this gift-wrap red velvet manicure will make you speed dial your nail artist. The stunning red polish color is a drugstore staple: Salon Perfect Nail Polish ($4) in the shade He's With Me.

Red Velvet Mistletoe Nails

Hoping your red velvet nails will earn you some much-deserved praise? Perhaps this mistletoe manicure will seal the deal.

Red Velvet Abstract Swirl Nails

Last but not least, we have this dark red velvet abstract swirl nail look. It reminds us of a sultry Mrs. Claus, so do with that what you will.

Up Next: 40 Red Nail Ideas and Designs to Wear All Year Long

Read the original article on Byrdie.