We love bright manicures as much as the next person, but every once in a while, we feel inclined to switch things up with a dark nail look. Winter is an especially great time to adopt a darker manicure, as moody colors like cranberry, navy, and brown are signatures of the season. To help you envision the many ways rich, deep polish shades can enhance your manicure, we’ve curated a list of 20 dark nail ideas perfect for the winter. Keep scrolling to see them all.
Plum Glitter Nails
How sweet are these shimmery plum nails? For a similar look, use Lights Lacquer Nail Polish ($11) in the shades Clueless and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish ($7) in the shade The Queens Velvet ($7).
Navy Blue Accent Nails
You can use dark nail polish as an accent, too. For this look, use the Mooncat Getting Even Nail Primer ($13) as the base, and create the swirly nail art with Mooncat Nail Lacquer ($14) in the shades Head in the Clouds, Into the Abyss, andAntivenom.
Dark Skittle Nails
Skittle nails might traditionally showcase bright, rainbow-colored polish, but opting for darker shades creates an equally stunning look. We love how the tortoiseshell accent nails add dimension to the nail look while the subtle gold cuticle accents offer a luxe touch.
Sultry Geode Nails
These multicolored cat-eye nails are incredibly striking. Use Cirque Colors Heavenly Bodies Collection, specifically the Nail Polish ($15) shades Cassiopeia and Perseus to get the look.
Holographic Chocolate Swirl Nails
These glittery brown swirl nails are giving major Wonka vibes. All you need is Lights Lacquer Nail Polish ($11) in the shades Roast the Mallow and Espresso to achieve this chocolate swirl mani.
Amethyst Aura Nails
For a magical dark nail look, consider copying this amethyst-inspired aura mani. You’ll need Mooncat Nail Lacquer ($13) in the shades From the Ashes, Freudian Slip, and A Doll’s House.
Glossy Brown Nails
There’s always the option to keep it simple with a single color. If you’re a fan of these glossy brown nails, the color in question is Hermès Le Mains Nail Enamel ($50) in the shade 95 Brun Bistre.
Burgundy Chrome French Tips
For a bold nail look, opt for burgundy chrome tips. You can easily recreate the French manicure using Cirque Colors Nail Polish ($15) in the shade Life on Mars.
Plum Velvet Nails
You can never go wrong with velvet nails, especially during the winter. And by opting for a dark shade, they’ll look even more on-trend for the season. Nail artist Phoebe Summer created these plum velvet nails using Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish ($20) in the shades Fig and Silver Velvet.
Burgundy Ombre Nails
How pretty are the burgundy ombré nails? You’ll need OPI Nail Lacquer ($12) in the shades Big Sagittarius Energy and Lincoln Park After Dark to recreate the look. Simply paint the two polishes onto a sponge and press it into your nail to achieve the subtle gradient effect. Then, paint on a layer of top coat for a smooth, glossy finish.
Dark Blue Swirl Nails
Navy and negative space look pretty good together, don’t you think? To DIY this nail look, use a fine-lining nail art brush dipped in navy blue polish and trace the squiggle-edged shape onto each nail. Then, use another nail art brush to add a silver border to each. Don’t forget the top coat.
Dual-Finish Plum Drip Nails
We love a dual-finish nail look, and this drip design is a prime example of why. To create the ultra-cool look, use a plum matte nail polish for the base, then use a nail art brush dipped in the high-shine top coat (like the Olive & June Top Coat, $10) to create the glossy drips.
Polka Dot Jelly Nails
Jelly nails made a splash over the past year. While the nail trend is often reserved for vivid polish colors, we love the alluring appeal of black jelly polish paired with opaque French tips. The polka dots are an elegant finishing touch.
Bedazzled Cherry French Tips
Dark cherry French tips? We’re here for it. Bring this mani to life using Lights Lacquer Nail Polish ($11) in the shades Americano and Oui’d paired with DND Gel in the shade Sunset Suede ($8). Achieve the cherry designs with the Lights Lacquer Gemstone Charms ($8).
Black Multichrome Nails
For a dark, artsy nail look, consider this black multichrome nail look. It reminds us of the shattered glass mani trend, albeit in a matte finish.
Navy Floral Nails
While we wait for spring to arrive, this navy floral manicure will hold us over. The handpainted blue and gold flower accents are beyond gorgeous.
Heart Cutout Nails
There are so many ways to work negative space into your nail looks. This brown mani, for example, showcases a crisp, clear heart on the ring finger.
Dual-Finish Black French Tips
Here’s another dual-finish nail look worth recreating. A matte black base with glossy black tips works well for everyday and special black tie occasions.
Mixed Glitter Nails
Not sure what you want to do with your nails? Experiment with a little bit of everything. This nail look was created using the Mooncat Glitch in the Matrix Collection. While the whole collection is sold out, two shades remain available: Firewall ($15) and Access Denied ($14).
Gold Foil Nail Art
These whimsical astrology nails make for a one-of-a-kind manicure. Create this nail look using the Lights Lacquer Nail Polish ($11) in the shades Tuxedo Mask and Clueless, and top it off with the Lights Lacquer Gold Celestial Stickers ($8).
