A glittering manicure that shines like tinsel is perfect for the holiday season.

• Tinsel nails include chrome finishes, cat-eye polishes, and sparkling glitter accents.
• Opt for a festive set in shades of red and green, or go holiday glam with rich navy, gold, or silver designs.

If you ask me, decorating is one of the best parts of the holiday season. Whether you go all-out with flashing lights and inflatable reindeer dancing through your front yard or stick to stringing your Christmas tree with beautiful baubles, there’s no denying the cheer that decorations bring. This year, extend the holiday magic to your manicure with tinsel nails.

Just like your holiday decorations, tinsel nails can be as flashy or neutral as you’d like them to be. More subtle interpretations include scattered cascades of glitter on top of milky pink polish, chrome French tips, and shining star motifs. Or, you can go in a bolder direction with cherry red cat-eye polish, shimmering midnight blue tips, or multicolored bows festooning each nail. For a manicure that will still complement your NYE outfit, look to nude nails with multicolored glitter accents or subtle flashes of chrome.

Below, find 15 of the merriest and brightest tinsel nail ideas that will get you into the holiday spirit.

Colorful Ornaments

@ gossipandgloss

These cat-eye nails, in shades of pool blue, gold, turquoise, and magenta, look almost as festive as the ornaments hanging from your tree. Gold chrome outlines give them a more sophisticated, gem-like effect.

Blue Velvet

@ brushedbyb_

Midnight blue is a glamorous and sophisticated polish choice for December. Give it an extra-festive spin with a cat-eye polish—this set also features a subtle French tip.

Drops of Glitter

@ monmayernails

Flecks of colorful glitter feel so playful and nostalgic—they look a little like DIY Christmas decorations. On nude tips, they’re still subtle enough that they won’t compete with any of your outfits.

Pink Christmas

@ gels.byffi

Rock around the pink Christmas tree with this silver and magenta set. These nails are such a cutesy complement peeking out from the cuffs of your favorite oversized sweater.

Holographic Pop

@ melanated.mani

Just one look at this rainbow-shift manicure instantly puts us in a cheerier mindset. You can recreate the look at home with a holographic nail polish—this artist used the shade Ice Angel from Holo Taco.

Star Topper

@ nailsbynatashapaige

A milky white manicure gets a hint of Yuletide flair with a mix of metallic and gold glitter stars. If you get these done right before Christmas, they’ll also be able to carry you through the NYE ball drop.

Festive Foliage

@ ellielouisenails

Emerald green is a rich, versatile classic for the holidays. Give it a hint of sparkle with gold snowflake and starburst accents, plus slim gold lines hugging each French tip.

Sleigh-ing

@ nailsbynatashapaige

Is your Christmas decor all nude with pops of gold? Mirror your luxe aesthetic with this understated yet festive manicure. Gold chrome ribbons frame champagne glitter on top of a neutral pink base.

Topped with a Bow

@ pristinenails

Take inspo from the gifts collected under your tree with this sugary sweet, candy-colored set. Each striped nail is adorned with a darling gold chrome bow.

Glitter Ombré

@ monmayernails

A shower of gold sparkles rains down on these short, glossy nude nails. Not only do they look like tinsel, but they also mirror the fireworks on NYE.

Rich Red

@ disseynails

Go all-in on holiday spirit with metallic red nails wrapped in a bow. With a slim liner brush and a steady hand, this set is totally DIY-able.

Silver Flurries

@ gels.byffi

Whether you’re simply dreaming of a white Christmas or you’re seeing flurries on the forecast, you can’t go wrong with this snowflake set. Sprinkles of silver glitter wrap around a white French tip and swirly accents.

Quirky Christmas

@ elias.nails

This mismatched set offers a playful and modern twist on your standard Christmas manicure. With a high dose of glitter and red chrome accent nails, they feel holiday-ready without being too on-the-nose.

Strings of Silver

@ nailchark

Finally, a holiday manicure made for minimalists. With scattered glitter French tips, a barely there base, and an oval shape, these are understated and classic.

Velvet Ribbons

@ finewinenails

This nail artist used magnets to manipulate burgundy cat-eye polish into these gorgeous, undulating ribbons. It’s a mesmerizing manicure at every turn, especially under the glow of holiday lights.