The end of 2023 is extremely near (yeah, I know, crazy!), which means it’s almost time to don a glitter smoky eye, rock a festive new Christmas outfit – sequined, duh – indulge in the holiday party hair of your dreams, and, of course, figure out which New Year’s Eve nails are going to be the perfect addition to any lewk.
Now, we’re NGL, but the Cosmo beauty team have over 300+ New Year’s nail ideas saved on 0ur Pinterest boards (that is, collectively) and they include nail art inspo to show your nail tech and DIY options you can do at home. The beauty (pun intended) is that the choice is all yours.
And since we’re over-sharers without a gatekeeping bone in our bodies, we rounded up the best New Year’s Eve nail ideas and designs for the end of 2023/beginning of 2024, as seen below. So, whether you prefer minimalist nail art or full-on glitter, keep scrolling for all the inspo and get ready to make a nail appointment or even break out your at-home mani supplies ASAP…
Our favourite New Year’s Eve nail ideas and designs
Chrome silver nails
Chances are that you’ve seen the chrome silver nail trend poppin’ up all over your feeds in the past few months. We’ve seen the metallic nail colour as an accent on plain nails, the tip of a French manicure, and, as pictured above, a statement all-over colour. Even though you can rock these nails any time before NYE, you can’t deny they would make the perfect addition to any party lewk.
Statement red
Red is the colour of the 2023 autumn/winter season. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at the recent Fashion Week runways and uhum, the above BTS model snapshot from the Philipp Plein S23 show. Claws for daysss.
Now, I know what you’re thinking; Red is very Christmassy. But why not rock it throughout the entire season and NYE, too. Timeless, yet effective. Mwah!
Swirly magenta
Want to convince everyone at the NYE party you know what’s up? Walk in with these swirly, glittery magenta nails and give one last ode to magenta, aka Pantone’s Colour of the Year, for 2023. The extra shimmer feels just quietly festive, especially when paired with this simple yet modern design.
Black-and-silver
When it comes to New Year’s Eve, black might just be the most festive colour, especially when paired with glitzy metallics, like these black-and-silver nails. The mani is both timeless and trendy (shout-out Wednesday for bringing out the inner goth girl in us all)—so when you’re looking back at pics years from now, you won’t cringe.
Glitter stars
Get ready to see a lot of glitter nails this New Year’s Eve. Like, a lot. And I’m not mad about it, especially this look with black stars, which makes it feel a lil elevated and extra festive for New Year’s Eve. If you’re attempting to try this at home (teach me), stick on a few black star decals and paint on a long-wear top coat to make ‘em stay.
Rainbow confetti
Confetti cannon meets nails in this rainbow manicure. Take a tip from me, who just showed this exact inspo to my nail artist for my New Year’s nails: Make sure the confetti embellishments you bring to your appointment are small enough for your nails (and yes, it’s best if you buy your own). I brought confetti that was way too big and left with a very different mani than what I envisioned, lol.
Holographic chrome French tips
I’m legit mesmerised by these nails, and they’re actually fairly simple if you want something eye-catching that isn’t too out there. Instead of a classic silver-chrome, choose a holographic-chrome powder that’ll give off a rainbow effect when your nails hit the light.
Rhinestones
Go big or go home, amirite? To keep these rhinestones on through 2024, book a gel manicure so your artist will be able to “cure” (aka set) the rhinestones in hard gel, meaning you won’t have to worry about them popping off. Or just stick on a set of rhinestone press-ons—minimal effort, hella payoff.
Gold-chrome
If you’re vowing 2024 is the year you get ~funky~ with your nail art, try these 3D nails for NYE. A sheer, shimmery base with gold chrome keeps them mostly minimal, but the raised details give your nails that edge that’ll def have people asking where you got your nails done. Curious how it’s done? Your artist will likely use hard gel as the base for the chrome powder to get a textured effect.
Minimalist rhinestones
These blingy rhinestone nails glimmer in the light (as seen in the pic above), so if you’re heading to a party with a disco ball or a strobe light, try this nail look. It’s actually fairly simple to do at home with just a nude nail polish and some rhinestones, so I’d def recommend DIYing it. And yes, Taylor Swift would approve.
Rainbow stars
If you’re yawning over all of these minimal nail options, try this colourful rendition instead. You could keep it simple with a traditional rhinestone at the centre of each star, or stick with one colour across your whole hand. But for a next-level mani, bring out a full rainbow of shades and match your rhinestone to the colour of each star for a monochrome effect.
Iridescent-purple
If you love the multicolour look of water-marble nails, upgrade them for New Year’s by choosing a couple of shimmery nail polishes. Bonus points if you swipe on a glittery top coat for a confetti-like effect.
Holographic glitter
Don’t fret if you don’t have a steady hand for DIY nail art or your nail tech is all booked—just give yourself an at-home mani with a super-glitzy holographic nail polish instead. To get a super-opaque look, paint on three coats of polish and follow with a shiny top coat.
Snowflakes
If you’re not quite over festive manicures, opt for wintery vibes for New Year’s instead. You can make these feel a bit more NYE appropriate by adding rhinestones around your nails for some bling, or by opting for a shimmery base colour underneath the snowflakes. Pro tip: If you’re not Van Gogh, stick with a nail decal rather than a paint job.
Gold-and-silver
Fact: I baaasically predict beauty trends for a living (cool gig, huh?), and I’m already seeing mixed metals being huge in 2024. So, if you want a light intro to the new “it” colour combo, paint your nails with two coats of metallic silver nail polish, then brush an ultra-thin line of gold polish along your tips for a very cool contrast.
Glitter cuticles
Don’t have a ton of nail space to work with? No worries, just line a glitter nail polish around your cuticles in a reverse French. This rendition with black and silver glitter feels very classy for NYE. But feel free to choose your favourite shade or match it to your New Year’s Eve makeup.
Ombré, white, and gold V-shaped French
If you’re ready as hell for 2022 to end (relatable), this sharp, V-shaped French manicure is calling your name. Make it extra edgy by skipping the creamy tones and painting a dark-brown or black shade across all of your fingers, or add a lil bit of softness with this ombré, “Skittles” effect.
Silver glitter butterflies
Not to get all ~deep~, but New Year’s is about fresh starts and a new chapter, which is what I think of when I look at these butterflies. So if you’re excited for all the new to come in 2024, commemorate it on your nails with this glitter butterfly art. Bonus: It’s giving Y2K, which you already know will continue to be one of the biggest trends across beauty and fashion next year.
Moon and stars
If you’re not out here with pro-level nail art skills, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the New Year’s Eve nail fun. All you need for this look are some gold moon and star nail charms and a top coat to seal them on. And even though this nail base is super pretty, you could swap it out for any shade you have in your arsenal.
Stars and rhinestones
Can’t paint inside the lines? No prob. You don’t need to be good at painting your own nails to pull off these, so chill on the nail polish kits. Instead, you just need a neutral base colour, tiny gems, and star stickers to get this manicure. And once again—say it with me, folks—follow it up with a top coat.
Pearls
Even if you’re not into pearls around your neck, I can guarantee you’ll be into these pearl-studded nails. Nail art hack: Use a wax pencil to easily place your tiny studs so you don’t end up with a giant, sticky mess.
Wavy silver glitter
What is New Year’s Eve without a makeshift photo booth featuring a tinsel backdrop that still has the creases in it?! These cool, wavy, glitter lines along the sides of your nails are what your tinsel wishes it looked like. Just know you’ll probably have to do three to four coats of glitter polish to get it fully opaque, but the result is worth it, bb.
Confetti
If you were to sweep up the glitter on the floor after the party (hi, TSwift), and then slap it on your nails, this would be the look. If you plan on popping any confetti at midnight, might as well wear a mani that goes with it. Try nail art confetti for a more realistic look, or just swipe on some confetti polish if you’re in a pinch.
Gold stars
If you want a simple yet chic New Year’s nail design, look no further than these minimalist gold stars. Legit, it’s just a simple neutral nail polish with gold star decals. To make sure they stay on, though, paint on two thin (! crucial) layers of top coat.
Glitter ombré French tips
The trick to packing on the glitter without having to paint a million coats is to first paint the nail polish onto a cheap sponge. Once the sponge is covered, use it to press the flecks into place.
Black and gold stripes
Yes, yes, NYE = glitter, but there are a ton of ways to channel glitz. This Art Deco-inspired style is so graphic and luxe, everyone will stop and admire them. Even better, if you wanna DIY it: The stripes are textured and a little uneven, and that’s honestly part of the charm. (This particular look used gel polish at a salon, but you can also use regular polish and a thin brush.)
Glitter nail stripes
Usually, “glitter” and “subtle” don’t really go together, but these stripes are all the proof you need. It’s a fun pop to add to any bare nail. Just clean up any glitter fallout or mistakes with a nail polish remover pen.
Iridescent glitter ombré
If you want a winter nail art look that mimics the look of snowflakes but also captures the festive energy of New Year’s Eve, this sparkly iridescent nail look does all of the above without being totally over the top. Paint two coats of neutral polish as a base, and then coat your tips with glitter nail polish, slowly brushing it down your nail to create an ombré effect.
Silver glitter confetti
This nail design is giving me big NYE energy. Play around with this trend by picking up a silver nail polish and silver nail glitter. And to get that crisp line? Lay a strip of tape under the tip of your nail before swiping on the silver.
Clear crystal nail design
You’ll need gel nail extensions to get the clear tip look shown here, FYI. But trust: It’s so worth it. Mine consistently last at least a full month. So, if you’ve got a handful of holiday parties, New Year’s Eve, a birthday, and hot date comin’ up, you’ll have these crystal nails to show off.
Matte black and gold
This metallic and matte mani ties together two classic NYE colours but with a hella-modern, trendy coffin nail shape too. So these will be ideal if you’re down to try something new for 2024 but like to take things a step at a time (which is v responsible, might I add).
