In the beauty world, the color red is forever a classic —especially on the manicure front. Whether keeping it simple with a swipe of crimson or going for an intricate design, bold red nails will never go out of style.
Before you just paint your nails a random shade of rouge, though, keep reading to uncover over a dozen gorgeous red nail ideas.
Tomato Red Nails
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Red is one of those colors that’s so stunning all on its own that simply choosing the perfect shade is enough to create a flawless nail look. One look at these squoval-shaped nails proves it.
Ruby-Red French Tips
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A surefire way to rock red on your nails in 2024? In the form of a bold French mani. To perfect your arcs, use French manicure nail stickers, like the Orly Half Moon Guides ($6).
Pink and Red Mismatch
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Allow us to remind you: pink and red is a color combo that can be worn all year round — not just on Valentine’s Day. This year, try getting creative with the pretty hues by working them into a mismatched mani.
Cherry Red
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Does it get any better than this red? It’s a tough one to beat in our book. The exact shade is Game Over by Cirque Colors, which is part of the Vice 2023 Collection Set ($60).
Red French Manicure With Heart Accents
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Love the idea of a red French mani but want to flaunt some fun nail art, too? Check out these cutie heart-and-daisy accent nails.
Red Chrome Nails
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If you prefer the look of non-holo chrome, here’s a reminder of just how gorgeous it can look in red. FYI: If you want this exact nail shape but struggle to grow your nails out, you can cop it using the Aprés Gel-X Sculpted Almond Medium Tips ($30).
Red Holographic Chrome Nails
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Chrome nails were huge in 2023 and aren’t going anywhere in 2024. For a playful twist on the metallic nail art trend, opt for a holographic finish. To get this exact look, you’ll need a bottle of the Nail Reserve LA Gel Polish in the shade Let’s Have Some Fun ($11). It’s a magenta hue, but when topped with the ICEGEL Sunset Glow Powder ($50), it reads like a cherry-red shade.
Matte Red and Pink Nails
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Here’s another mismatched mani showcasing the hottest color of the year. What sets it apart — beyond the trendy checker print — is the matte finish. To transform any red polish into a matte masterpiece, stock your nail-care collection with a bottle of the OPI Matte Top Coat ($12).
Red Almond-Shaped Nails
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Truly, just how gorgeous is a solid red mani? It’s simple, classic, and bold all at once. (FYI: This is another example of how the Aprés Gel-X Sculpted Almond Medium Tips look in action.)
Red Cat Eye Nails
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If you love the idea of a solid red manicure but are hoping for a bit more depth, consider a cat-eye nail look. With Holo Taco Nail Polish in the shade Sacrificial Lacquer ($15), you can DIY the nail trend with a simple swipe of color.
Red Strawberry Accent Nails
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Over the past year, there’s been an enhanced adoration of all things emulating girlhood. If you ask us, these daisy-dotted, strawberry-accented French tips nail the look. (Psst: If you love the shape, you can snag it for yourself with the Aprés Gel-X Sculpted Stiletto Tips, $30.)
Red Floral Nails
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These playful red-bordered floral nails remind us of vintage dinnerware and festive fiestas. As intricate as the design seems, it’s rather simply to DIY so long as you have a steady hand and dotting tools. Each of the flowers can be made with a single dot in the center and dragged-out dots for each petal. Then, the border can be outlined with a fine-lining nail art brush and detailed with evenly spaced, drawn-out dots.
Firecracker Red Nails
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For an extra fiery red manicure, reach for a bottle of Death Valley Nails Nail Polish in the shade Hiss ($14) . The trick to making it look professionally painted is to touch up the edges of each nail bed with an angled brush dipped in acetone.
Pink and Red Holly Nails
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You can rock festive nails while throwing a touch of pink in the mix, too. These pink and red striped nails are positively party ready with their cute little holly accents, which, BTW, are easy to DIY with nail dotting tools.
Red Seashell Nails
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Whether you’re dreaming of the beach, embracing your inner mermaid, or looking for the prettiest vacation mani, this gold shell-embellished red French mani is a must. It was created using the Cirque Colors Coquille Charms ($10).
Bow Accent Nails
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Bows are the most popular style detail as we head into 2024, so these dainty bow-accent almond-shaped nails are an obvious pick for the weeks and months ahead. The polishes at play here are OPI Nail Lacquer ($12) in the shades Rebel With a Clause and Alpine Snow.
Red Swirl Nail Ideas
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Another way to wear red polish? In a swirl design. Just know that, unless you have a super steady hand, this nail look is likely best achieved by a professional nail artist.
Red Velvet Nails
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Velvet nails were everywhere in 2023 and the luxurious nail-art trend is forecasted to remain in fashion in 2024. Nail artist Dayanna I. Sapiens created this nail look using Gelcare Official UV Gel Nail Polish ($20) in shades Gold Velvet and Pomegranate.
Red Angel Number Nails
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Looking for luck as we head into 2024? This 777, Vegas-inspired French mani will make you swoon. To recreate the look at home, you’ll need the Cirque Colors x Kelli Marissa Collection Set ($52), which comes with six polishes, as well as the decals.
