October has come and gone, and so, it's already time to start thinking about winter nail inspiration. This fall, we loved manicures with tortoise shell, muted metallics, elevated earth tones, and micro French tips in unexpected colors—for example, my tips are currently a bright but still fall-appropriate green. But if we've learned anything about color trends in general, it's that hues aren't exclusive to certain seasons—we actually encourage you to be a little seasonally inappropriate with your nails every now and again.
As the seasons have changed, we've been drawing nail inspiration from our favorite celebrities: Hailey Bieber's chai latte nails had us thinking about new neutrals, Kendall Jenner and Zoë Kravitz's bare nails had us wondering if we should ditch manicures for good, and Charli XCX reminded us that deep moody reds are for all seasons.
For winter, we're considering festive touches, new animal prints, jewel tones, and more. Ahead, you'll 12 expert-approved winter 2026 nail trends to consider for when the weather really cools down and the holiday season approaches.
Meet The Experts:
Tom Bachik is a celebrity nail artist who regularly works with Selena Gomez, Hailee Steinfeld, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Lopez, and more.
Thea Green is the founder of Nails.INC, an award-winning British beauty brand that makes nail polish, press-on nails, and nail care products.
Tiffany Simms is a manicurist at Orly, as well as a nail educator and specialist in sculpted acrylic art and builder gel.
Stephanie Stone is a Los Angeles-based celebrity nail artist who frequently works on editorial shoots, magazine sets, and with stars for red carpets. Her clients include Charli XCX, Margot Robbie, and Ruth Negga.
Britney TOKYO is a celebrity nail artist known for her elaborate designs and 3D charms. She frequently works with Ariana Grande, Rosalía, Lily Allen, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and more.
Sarah Chue is a celebrity nail artist who works with Elizabeth Debicki, Teyana Taylor, Taylor Russell, Amy Adams, and more. She has also worked on campaigns for brands like L'Oreal and Calvin Klein and did nails for TV show All's Fair and The Shards.
Champagne Sparkle
Photo: @gelcare.officialWinter is all about the festivities—and we're drawn to shimmery statement glimmer that feels celebratory, like the champagne sparkle Tom Bachik did on Selena Gomez's toes for her Rare Beauty Gala. "We're going to see people wanting larger, chunkier sparkles. We've done the mirror chromes and the shimmers and the pearls in the past, so I think we're going to start seeing larger particle sizes and different-shaped particles," Bachik says. "The Flash Glitters in the Aprés Enigmatic Collection work perfectly for achieving this look. And you could also layer those! Let's say you want that sparkle, but you want it to be a little bit more subtle. You could layer the jellies in the collection over the top of the sparkles, just to tone things down a little bit more."
Ghosted French + Jelly Ombré
The Y2K-inspired French tip isn't going anywhere this winter—but it is getting an upgrade. "I think French is going to continue as well for winter, and that's a perfect layering opportunity. It's almost like a Ghosted French, a twist on the American manicure. You get that stained jelly red on the nail plate, but then you have that solid, full-coverage, blended tip," Bachik says. "Do Blood Moon on your tips, or a deep bordeaux, and then use the jellies from Enigmatic over the top. That's a perfect combination for ombré-ing. Take Blood Moon, or your deep, dark espresso color or bordeaux, and sponge that on your tip first so you can ombré that up. Then do the red jelly over the top, whether you want the brighter red or the deeper red, creating a ‘there-but-not-there French,’ which is really cool.”
Black Cherry Glaze
Photo: @gelcare.official This winter, we'll still be leaning on deep, rich, and indulgent reds. They're moody, sexy, and dark enough to function as a neutral. The color feels timeless and complements winter textures like velvet, cashmere, and leather. "Think almost-black burgundies, delicious merlot tones, and glossy, wine-inspired reds. It’s a little moodier than your traditional festive red, but just as glamorous," Thea Green, Founder of nail polish, treatment, and press-on nails brand Nails.INC, says. "I absolutely love this shade on short, softly squared nails, but it looks equally beautiful on a longer almond shape."
Manicurist Tiffany Simms suggests combining a red wine tone with a metallic micro French tip for a shiny twist. "Think wine and jewelry," Simms says. "Deep plums and rich wine colors are one of winter's coziest nail looks. It pairs beautifully with metal tones like gold, rose gold and silver."
Tom Bachik recommends a translucent bordeaux. "People are loving the deep, rich tones, but they're still loving a semi-transparent finish. I feel like they're still looking for a bit of translucency, because I think that softens the look. As we go into winter, we're going to see a lot of jewel tones. We're going to see that deep, wine-red ruby, that cherry mocha, and those rich Bordeaux shades," he says. "I just did a custom color on Hailee Steinfeld where I put a coat of Blood Moon down first, then Broomfall, like a cherry red, over the top of it. Putting that one coat of Blood Moon down first gave us that solid, chocolate base because she didn't want to see her natural nail through it. But I still wanted that depth and translucency, and to pop that red out, so putting Broomfall over the top created a very cool, unique color.”
Chocolate Cashmere
Photo: @gelcare.official We haven't forgotten about the moment Hailey Bieber debuted dark brown locks and chocolate brown nails to match. Suddenly, we started thinking about brown as the go-to neutral this fall and winter. "We’re talking beautiful shades of espresso, melted chocolate, warm cocoa, and rich mocha. It feels softer than black but has just as much impact, particularly when paired with a beautiful, minimal nail shape," Green says. "I love it on short, rounded nails for that understated, polished aesthetic, or on an elegant almond shape for a more fashion-forward finish."
Topaz Tones
Photo: @sterlingsetsThis season, all jewel-toned colors are trending in both fashion and beauty. But it's an orange hue that we'll see trending on nails this winter. "I love jewel-toned nails, and Topaz—November’s birthstone—is set to be my go-to this winter. While Topaz might be associated with different colors, it’s the burnt orange that really catches my eye," Stephanie Stone says. "Something like the 'Flame On You' shade from Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri ColorShift Collection is already handy in my bag!"
Enchanted Emerald
Photo: @gelcare.officialTopaz isn't the only jewel tone we'll be embracing this winter—we'll also be turning to bold emerald greens. "With bold textures trending from Paris Fashion Week this year, interesting finishes are everything," Simms says. "Deep evergreen meets intricate finishes with ORLY's Nouveau Riche for the perfect winter look. This lacquer has a slight chrome finish, making it an effortless statement manicure without struggling with nail art tools."
Frosted Baby Blues
Photo: @gelcare.officialWinter doesn't mean that we have to retire pastels—instead, some might perfectly complement the crisp, cold weather. "While it might be unexpected, baby blue nails actually make perfect sense for the upcoming season. Think of a soft winter wonderland moment, or shimmering frost on a crisp morning," Stephanie Stone says. "Sally Hansen’s 'Let’s Get Digital' Miracle Gel polish comes to mind when I think of this trend—try it on your bare nails for a subtle, ethereal shimmer, or layer it over a cooler blue polish for a more opaque, icy effect."
Iridescent Pink
Photo: @gelcare.official Speaking of winter pastels, pretty pink manicures aren't going anywhere—but we're giving them an icy twist. "I’m predicting a move towards soft, frosted pinks, delicate iridescence, and beautiful, light-reflecting finishes. It’s a much more sophisticated interpretation of shimmer, with delicate, translucent finishes rather than chunky glitter or heavy metallics," Green says. "The classic milky manicure isn’t going anywhere, but for winter we’re giving it a gorgeous, frosted update. It’s minimal, feminine, and has just the right amount of sparkle to feel special during the festive season."
Festive Finishes
Photo: @gelcare.official It's almost time to pull out our Christmas reds—and to style our nails to match. Although red nails. "One thing I’ve noticed is that while red nails are trending all year long, it’s about what kind of red you pick, depending on the season. During the summer, I usually opt for bright, warm tones, while in the fall, I typically lean dark and moody. By winter, I want something festive and shiny," Stephanie Stone says.
Velveteen Animal Print
Photo: @nails_byelyWe've been loving animal print nails all fall long and, this winter, the trend is receiving a textured and dynamic upgrade. "Animal print is the absolute star of winter fashion this season, but flat patterns are taking a backseat. Combining leopard print with a glowing velvet effect adds instant drama, warmth, and high-fashion luxury that perfectly complements heavy knits and dark winter coats," nail artist Britney Tokyo says. "Apply a brown magnetic gel polish and use a magnet to create a velvet sheen before curing. Apply a matte top coat, then paint subtle leopard spots over the surface using a sheer black or dark espresso gel with a fine detail brush. Leave the spots glossy against the matte base, or top with 3D gel for added texture."
Croc-Embossed Leather
Photo: @nailedbytavWe're continuing to see an overlap between fashion and beauty trends. Next up: croc-embossed leather. "A design featuring a 3D crocodile pattern with a matte, leather-like finish. Leather and suede textures are a major fashion trend, bringing an edgy touch to your fingertips," Britney Tokyo says. "Apply a deep winter color and a matte top coat. Then, use a thick clear builder gel to draw the crocodile scale pattern and cure it."
Moody Cat-Eye
Photo: @yokinailzThe cat-eye nail trend prevails! This season, we're applying the trend to darker hues. "This trend will move into the winter months in more moody, darker colors such as burgundies, browns, and blacks. This is an easy option to give your nails a little bit of jazz to it without having to give them texture," nail artist Sarah Chue says. "This style uses a specific gel infused with magnetic particles to give off its reflectiveness. You can achieve this by choosing any cat eye gel color of your desire. Using the magnet tool, you would move the magnetic particles around until you love the pattern."