19 Winter Gel Nail Ideas That Balance Mesmerizing Trends with Seasonal 2025

Winter gel Nail is upon us—and with it, a need for a fresh set of nails. No matter how long you wear them or what shape you opt for, the colder months call for a handful of colors and designs that blend seasonal themes with fresh inspo. Think: iridescent finishes for a frosted look, bows for something festive, cozy tones to reflect the (sought-out) warmth of the season, and glossy, reflective finishes (hello, gel polish!) to mirror the lighthearted energy of a new year and fresh snowfall.

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Flushed Chrome Nails

Winter’s chill has a way of giving us a natural flush. Mirror the rosy effect on your nails with a peachy-pink polish. To make it even more wintry, opt for an iridescent finish for a frosted, freshly fallen snow effect.

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Black Bow-Tied French Tips

Black nails may feel most suited for Halloween, but as you’ve likely seen on Instagram lately, deep, dark nails are trending for winter gel nail. To give them a softer side, try adding pale pink bows on top, which you can create with a thin nail art brush.

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Black Ice Nails

Another way to dress up jet black nails for the season? With a sheer, silvery top coat. For an even wintrier effect, opt for a velvet finish.

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Northern Lights Nails

The Northern lights have been popping up in rarely seen places over the past few months. If you haven’t been lucky enough to see them for yourself, do yourself a favor and paint them on your nails. With gel cat eye polishes, you’ll be able to nail the deep tones and ethereal shine of the natural phenomenon.

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Ombre Snow-Capped Chrome

Chrome continues to capture hearts as we close out 2024. As cool as the nail trend looks on its own, a silver velvet fade at the tips makes for a seasonally appropriate, snow-capped effect.

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Bordeaux Marble

Cherry cola is one of the biggest color trends in beauty right now, inspiring everything from lip combos and hair shades to eye looks and gorgeous manicures. This marbled bordeaux design is sure to stand out with its mesmerizing hints of shimmer.

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Glossy Cherry Mocha Nails

Of course, rich burgundy shades are so decadent that sometimes you don’t need a design at all. This Winter gel Nail, your next manicure can be as simple as two coats of your favorite cherry mocha gel polish.

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Burgundy Bow Mix-n-Match Nails

Obsessed with burgundy and bows? Don’t stress over choosing which to include on your mani. As you can see above, there’s more than enough room to use the color to create some of the season’s most popular nail art themes.

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Ice Blue Marble Nails

Blue nail polish is trending for Winter gel Nail 2025—and all shades go. That said, if you want a whimsical frozen effect, we suggest reaching for a pale hue like sky blue or periwinkle. To add some oomph, trace tiny white lines from cuticle to tip for a marble effect.

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Square-Tip Charcoal

If you prefer neutral nails but don’t want to stick to nude polish, consider a slate gray mani. The deep yet muted hue nods to the chill outside while still adding a chic accent to your everyday look.

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Cozy Cream Chrome French

Pure white polish is rising to the top for Winter gel Nail 2025, but we’re also seeing lots of creamier takes on the color, which make for a cozier end look. Just look at this stunning cream chrome French mani: We have no notes.

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Chrome Winter Wonderland

Another way to achieve ice queen nails? Start with a bluish-silver chrome base, then use builder gel to create dainty 3D designs on top. (Or, let’s be honest: Book a nail appointment so a pro can do it for you.)

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Cutesy Cherry Cola French Tips

Pale pink and burgundy make for a cozy color combo we’d happily wear all Winter gel Nail long. The minuscule pearl bow accents are the most precious finishing touch.

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Color Block Blue Swirl

Can’t choose a single shade of blue for your Winter gel Nail? You don’t have to: A color block design offers a cool contrast for the season.

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Evergreen Tweed Nails

Tweed is a popular textile for Winter gel Nail, so it’s no wonder this mani stopped us mid-scroll. It’s surprisingly easy to DIY, too: Simply start with a metallic silver base, then use a thin nail art brush to overlap lines of black, white, and gold on top. Finish with top coat and cure to glossy perfection.

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Mocha Mousse Aura Nails

We love how this aura mani captures the simultaneous comfort and chill of the Winter gel Nail season (plus, it reminds us of Mocha Mousse, the 2025 Pantone color of the year). To get the look, paint the edges of a small makeup sponge with taupe polish, adding a dollop of cool dusty blue to the center. Touch up the edges, then cure it under the light. Finish with top coat.

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Snowdrift Nails

Love a themed seasonal nail look? You’ll want to recreate this shimmery frosted aura mani ASAP.

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Frosted Cranberry Nails

Speaking of frosted nail looks, check out this pretty cranberry aura design. Magenta and other rich shades of pink offer an unexpected pop of festive color for your Winter gel Nail.

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Shimmery Lavender Double French

If you prefer lighter colors, consider a lavender gel mani for Winter gel Nail. No matter the finish you opt for, you can look forward to a soft and sweet nail look.