20 Red Nail Ideas For A Classic Manicure With A Twist

There is nothing boring about a simple red manicure. Here, the slightly rounded square shape adds a touch of softness to the striking shade.

If the almond shape is too sharp for your aesthetic, gently rounded red nails are just as elegant.

Herald in the chilly season with a timeless russet red. The touch of darkness brings a sense of cosy intimacy.

Last year, the fervour around chrome nails reached a fever pitch when Hailey Bieber introduced us to glazed doughnut nails – a confluence of neutral colours made modern with a chrome finish. This season, up the ante with a metallic, festive red.

Summer might be over but that doesn’t mean the balmy sunsets of Grecian beaches need to go with it. This gradient wash – an undulating red blending to orange to nude – is a grown-up way to incorporate colour without feeling too young.

A red French manicure is already a popular choice in nail salons across the country. The addition of a tiny red dot in the centre of the cuticle adds an avant-garde quality that elevates and differentiates.

Something of a camouflage manicure, this pixelated effect feels festive without veering into the very jolly or juvenile.

A twinkly, sophisticated way to add gems and stars to your red nails, this design can be painted on every digit or just one for a statement effect.

There’s shimmer and then there’s shimmer. The latter adds dimension and depth without the large flakes of glitter that can look clunky and unevenly spread.

Double down on the drama of red nails with a coffin nail shape.

Forget about regrowth with a red nail design that leaves a little gap between the polish and the base of the finger. Oh, and it looks stunning, too.

A touch of shimmer can turn red nails from everyday to special occasion wear.

An easy way to switch up your red manicure is to ask for a matte top coat. It creates a soft, diffused effect to the colour that always delights.

A classic style made infinitely cooler with a surprising red tip.

Go bold with two or three shades of red arranged in an ombré style. Keeping the lighter colour towards the tip will elongate and draw the eye up.

For the cool girl who loves red but needs a little oomph.

The key to nail art that can carry you from work to play and in between is to balance fun with negative space. These cherries are finely drawn with sweet round fruits but don’t take up all of the nail bed, allowing the design to breathe.

A neon-adjacent shade that balances fun with elegance, jot down the word ketchup for your next nail appointment.

Another twist on the classic French, this Valentines-inspired shape is a sweet alternative.

The beauty of red is that it pairs well with other reds, funny that! Here, only one nail is darker but you could choose to do an alternate system or thumbs only – the world is your oyster.