35 Trending Winter Nail Colors to Try in 2024

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

One annual tip-off that winter is officially here? Swapping the bright shades, French manicures, and nude nails we’ve had in rotation for winter nail polish colors that feel more in line with sweater weather. We’re talking nail colors that look good peeking out of an oversized knit or under a sparkly clutch—or, let’s be real, with the beloved sweats we still can’t quit. Think of them as the mani equivalent of the first play of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You”; the joy they bring is impossible to resist even if they’re hidden under gloves when you’re actually out and about.

With that time of year upon us, we enlisted Glamour editors, friends, and nail polish enthusiasts to share the shades they can’t wait to wear this season. While you’ll find the usual wintry mix of holiday red, glitters, and dark berries perfect for winter nail designs and nail trends, there are also some more unexpected shades in the bunch—including the shade one editor chose for her recent engagement manicure. Whether you’re visiting your favorite nail artist or DIY-ing at home, read on for the best winter nail colors we’ll be reaching for all season.

Courtesy of brand

Essie Salon-Quality Vegan Nail Polish WickedA cult-favorite shade and all-time classic, nothing says winter quite like Essie’s Wicked. “Moody and dramatic, Wicked is a great transition color from spooky season into the holiday season,” says Glamour senior beauty editor Ariana Yaptangco. “The color is super buildable, so if you want more of a red wine shade you can apply one coat. If you want a nearly-black color, go ahead and pile it on.”

2/35

OPI Nail Lacquer Midnight Mantra

Not feeling green or red for the holidays? Hailey Bieber and her nail artist Zola Ganzorigt made a great case for leaning in to blue. DIY the midnight manicure Bieber got in honor of her son, Jack Blues Bieber, with OPI’s Midnight Mantra.

3/35

Orly Prisma Gloss Silver

Prefer something sparkly? Look no further than ORLY’s Prisma Gloss Silver, which Glamour beauty contributor Sarah Y. Wu loves wearing in the wintertime. “Every year when it starts getting cold, I break out this bottle of dazzling holographic glitter,” she says. “It’s so icy it looks like crushed diamonds, or maybe the insides of a snow globe all lit up. Unlike most glitter polishes I own, the particles are ultra-fine, which means they go on smooth and don’t rough up my nails too badly when I remove them. You can layer it over other polishes as a topcoat—it’s stunningly pretty over a navy blue—but sometimes I just like to pile on two to three coats for the prettiest sparkly holiday nails.”

4/35

SSONE An Unexpected Red

When Glamour associate beauty editor Danielle Sinay started making clean beauty swaps, she worried she’d never find a nail polish that fit the bill. “Then a friend introduced me to SSONE, which is 21-free, cruelty-free, and vegan, meaning it’s formulated without animal derivatives, parabens, formaldehyde, and synthetic fragrances, and I fell in love instantly,” she says. “I’m especially obsessed with their An Unexpected Red shade, a bright and bold poppy. It’s just my favorite color, but festive, fierce, and perfect for party season!”

5/35

OPI Black Cherry Chutney Nail Lacquer

“OPI’s Black Chutney is one of those winter shades that instantly feels cozy and chic,” Juli Russell, a manicurist and DIY nail expert for Sally Beauty, tells Glamour. “Its deep, rich, cherry-red color with just a hint of shimmer feels like the perfect mix of ‘dark and moody’ and classic. I just love how luxe this dimensional shade feels.”

6/35

Olive & June Nail Polish CV

Glamour senior entertainment and trending news editor Sam Reed loves Olive & June’s CV, a warm brick red, for the chilly season.

“Olive & June is my go-to brand for nail polish. The flat brush makes it super easy to apply, and with their topcoat, it lasts for 10 days—even in the dry wintertime, when I’m constantly shoving my hands in gloves and applying balm to my cuticles,” she says. “CV also pairs perfectly with my winter wardrobe, which tends to include lots of black, brown, navy, and cream. It’s the perfect pop of color!”

7/35

Essie Expressie Quick-Dry Nail Polish in Take the Espresso

“I’m in my brown era—wearing it right now actually—as a softer alternative to black,” says Glamour commerce editor Malia Griggs. If you’re also leaning into the all-brown-everything trend, Essie Expressie’s Take the Espresso just might be calling your name. “This color is my current favorite take on the shade for nails,” Griggs adds. “I like that it looks like espresso, bringing to mind cozy coffee shops, and its gel formula lasts a little longer than my regular polish.”

22/35

Jin Soon Polish in Sea Clay

“Every now and then I like to take a break from dark polishes and lighten things up a bit—with daylight savings, things are dark enough as it is,” says Yaptangco. “I’m a huge fan of this muted blue with gray undertones, which will pop against my neutral winter wardrobe.”

23/35

Essie Gel Couture Polish in Scarlet Scarlet

“No pigment, or nail polish, is quite as quintessentially “holiday” as a showstopping shade of red, and Essie’s Scarlet Starlet take on the hue is especially perfect for the season,” says Sinay. “This polish’s iridescent and pearly finish gives it a little extra oomph that makes it perfect for all types of parties and celebrations, whether it’s your annual office holiday party, New Year’s Eve red-carpet affair, or staying home in bed admiring your nails.”

24/35

Chanel Le Vernis in Rouge Puissant

Contributor Bella Cacciatore loves red nails all year: “They make me feel put together and Old Hollywood, even though my nails are stubs—but they feel even more appropriate this time of year,” she says. “This polish is the perfect red-carpet red that’s a bit richer than my usual cherry without verging into wine territory, which is a whole other category in my mind. Chanel polishes are worth every cent, each use feels like a little gift to yourself, and they last for a week without chipping.”

25/35

OPI Nail Lacquer in You Don’t Know Jacques

“Taupe might seem tame until it’s done in this sulky shade. It’s dark enough to feel like a ~mood~ but more chic than the average Hot Topic–era black,” says contributor Deanna Pai.

26/35

Gucci Nail Polish in Dorothy Turquoise

When Cacciatore’s nails aren’t red, they’re robin-egg blue. “This year I’m leveling up my usual baby blue for this poppy turquoise shade, which is so cool and unique—almost like a neon pastel,” she says. “It makes me smile when I look down at my hands, and looks so fresh contrasted with my all-black wardrobe. Plus, it’s Gucci. It couldn’t get any chicer.”

27/35

Essie Nail Polish in Love at First Frost

“I love this shade. It reminds me of a figure skater’s dress—baby blue with accent pink and purples that make it feel inviting and sparkly,” says contributor Jenny Singer. “It’s like ’80s disco mixed with a baby shower…in the best way.”

28/35

OPI in Puttin’ on the Glitz

Contributor Erin Parker is “into the shimmery dimension this bluish-purple glitter delivers. It’s giving me mystical, oceanic vibes that feel right for a double water sign like me.”

29/35

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel In Onyx-pected

“I usually go with the typical red or berry nail shade during the winter season, but I decided to go for black this year,” says contributor Khaliha Hawkins. “It just felt right. Lately I’ve been painting my nails all black or wearing a black French tip. There’s so much that you can do with black nails, and it always looks chic.”