White nails in winter are such a vibe honestly. They look fresh. They look elegant. They look timeless. They look season appropriate. It’s the easiest winter nails trends to get on board with!
They can look fancy too if you want, sometimes they feel simple but then you add tiny details and everything changes and becomes SO special and I’m obsessed because the vibes are totally my thing.
We’re here for it and we can get you the latest white winter nails inspo that’s actually both cute and simple.
As an amateur (but pretty experienced amateur) nails enthusiast, I test things that feel wearable and trendy and unbelievably cute on real hands, short nails or long nails or square/almond, I try it all! I also adore how all these designs all work differently and look SO unique because we love to mix it up and try different techniques.
Pick your favorite ideas. Hit the Pinterest ‘Save’ button. Save a few backup ideas as well! Then you’ll have your winter nails inspo sorted. You know we looove to keep everything stress-free and easy, so we also drop some nail polish recommendations if you need a starting point.
Crisp Solid White + Single Snowflake
Plain white looks clean and perfect. Add one tiny snowflake on one nail, it’s simple and adorable and definitely chic and I love the calm vibes it gives off. I’d use OPI Alpine Snow or Essie Blanc as the base, then stamp one little snowflake with a MoYou London plate or paint it with a fine liner brush if you prefer doing it by hand. Wear this to office days or coffee runs or a winter baby shower and it’ll look amazing.
Elegant White Winter Nails With Snowflakes
Soft milky base color that’s not quite opaque. Thin little flakes on two nails only, it photographs soooo pretty and I’m totally obsessed with how delicate and stunning it looks in pictures and real life. Try GelBottle BIAB in a sheer shade like Teddy under Mylee Break The Ice white polish, then draw small flakes with a 5mm liner brush. This is great for holiday dinners and engagement photos where you want something special.
Frosted Almond Ombre With A Snowflake
Sheer pink fades up to white at the tips. One tiny flake sits near the cuticle looking delicate, airy and soft and totally cute for almond tips and we love it so much. Use an airbrush or a makeup sponge for the ombre effect with Essie Mademoiselle blending into fine white glitter polish, then add a single flake with a stamp or use a liner brush to paint it on top. Perfect for events and fancy brunch dates.
Frozen Lace Tips With Snowflake Accent
Lace-like white tips that look intricate – adooorbs! One snowflake on an accent nail for that winter vibe, it feels romantic and unbelievably cute like iced thread on your fingertips and I adore it completely. Create the lace pattern with a fine detail brush and white polish over a sheer base color, then add a snowflake decal, stamp, or just paint it! Wear this for date night or a fancy work party and people will notice.
Glittery White Ombre Winter Nails
White melts into micro glitter at the tips. Shimmery snow look that catches light, festive but not loud or over the top, definitely wearable and sooo stunning for parties. Blend OPI Bubble Bath into Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Frost Bright or use a fine silver glitter if you prefer that look, like Essie Set In Stones instead. Great for New Year’s Eve celebrations or just if you want a bit of bling.
Snowy French Tips On Square Nails
Bright white tips with a blurred snowy tip. Clean, crisp, fashion-y vibes that look totally cute and modern. Use approximate French tip are and blot on white polish until it looks like snow. A sponge is great for this job. Perfect for work weeks and job interviews and simple holiday outfits that need a polished touch.
Sugar-Frost Almond Tips
For this you can use sugar powder on just the tips of almond nails, or use fine white glitter polish. Soft sparkle effect that’s subtle, it looks like frost on glass and it’s adorable honestly and makes me smile. Sprinkle clear acrylic powder or fine sugar glitter over wet white gel polish, then cure under the lamp and dust off the excess. Cute for literally any occasion.
White And Blush Chrome Nails With Snowman
White and blush chrome colors combo. Cute and serene at the same time. Sounds fun? All you need to do is paint tiny snowman accent on one nail that’s playful, whimsical, imperfect and soooo cute. Apply a blush chrome powder over a pink gel base like GelBottle Dolly, pair it with OPI Alpine Snow on other nails, then paint a little snowman using dotting tools for the body parts. Super winter-y.
White And Pastel Blue Snowflake Nails
White with pastel blue snowflakes – a great wintery combo. The french tips makes the design look classy. Cool and calm feeling, I adore the icy feel of this combination, totally pretty and unbelievably cute in person. Use any white polish and something like Mylee Blue Skies for the snowflakes and Frenchies.
White Candy Cane Stripes
White stripes on blush base, mixed with solid white classy looking nails, it’s the minimalist look that’s still kinda ‘standout’. Sweet, graphic and cute and I love the holiday vibes this creates. I used OPI Alpine Snow to achieve the look.
White French Tips With Holly Accent
Sharp skinny white French tips are always classic and look great on short nails. A single holly sprig with berries on one nail, the pop of green and red is sooo adorable and definitely festive for the season. Use GelBottle Daisy for the tips, then dot little berries with Essie Really Red and paint leaves with Essie Off Tropic green. Totally perfect for early December.
White Marble With Gold Glitter Skinny French Tips
Soft white marble effect on most nails. Skinny gold glitter tips on some, luxe contrast that feels stunning and we love it honestly so much. This literally will look stunning for any occasion and with any outfit, very versatile and stylish design.
White Velvet Matte 3D Snowflake Nails
Velvet matte topcoat over everything. Raised 3D flakes that you can actually feel, soft light catch that looks sooo cozy and I’m obsessed with the texture. Draw gel in lines to build 3D flakes and sprinkle clear acrylic powder for more texture, then cure.
Intricate Snowflake Nails
Thin snowflake lines drawn carefully. Intricate patterns on a sheer milky white base. So chic and simple at the same time. Sheer white base underneath, delicate like jewelry on your fingers, totally elegant and unbelievably cute and special.
Blizzard Silver Confetti On White Milky Base
Want elegant and not too whimisical? Got ya. Milky white base that’s almost see-through. Silver confetti scattered like snow falling, lively and easy and sooo cute on short nails definitely (use silver foil or a little bit of silver glitter polish and scatter it around with a sponge). Very practical.
White Winter Nails With Charms And Bows
For girly girlies. So classic french tip. Add some fine silver polish swirls. Add tiny bow charms or just paint them on over one or two nails. Then finally decorate with some pearl gems. Keep the base simple and clean, it’s adorable and cute and I looove the playful vibes this creates.
White Winter Nails With Gold Stars
Creamy white base on all nails. Scatter tiny gold stars randomly, warm shine that feels stunning and totally sweet and festive. Place gold star sequins on tacky gel before curing or use star stamping with GelBottle Gold instead. Wear this to holiday musicals or nice dinners or twinkly city walks at night.
Cozy White Sweater Nails With Tiny Snowflakes
Knit texture accents on some nails. Micro flakes added on top, snug and cute and unbelievably cute and we’re here for it. Draw cable knit patterns with thick white gel over matte white base and sugar it with clear acrylic powder, then add tiny stamped flakes. So good for cabin weekends and ugly sweater parties with friends.
Milky White Nails With Pastel Blue Snowflakes
Milky cloud base that’s soft. Soft blue flakes on top, calm and dreamy and sooo cute for short nails and I adore it. Use OPI Funny Bunny as the milky base and stamp flakes with Mylee Pastel Blue using a snowflake stamping plate, stickers or even just paint them (if you have steady hand).
Outlined White Chrome French Square Nails
White chrome tips that shine. Outline the smile line with thin color, clean and modern and totally sharp and I love the edge it gives. Rub white chrome powder over cured no-wipe gel on tips, then outline carefully with a white polish and liner brush.
Simple White Winter Nails
Just white winter accents. NSome snowflakes, some white candy cane stripes, nothing else needed. Timeless and fresh and definitely chic, honestly I’m obsessed with how easy this is.
White And Gray Winter Nails
White plus cool gray mixed together. Add one or two small flakes, sleek palette that matches coats and scarves and vibes are cute. Alternate OPI Alpine Snow with OPI Cement The Deal on different nails and stamp a tiny flake on just one nail. Add silver glitter to the mix if you like a bit of bling.
Winter Nails With Black Fine Line Snowflakes
White (or off-white in this case) base with black flakes drawn on. Thin lines only, graphic and crisp and sooo fashion-y and we love it. Perfect for literally everyday and for minimalist girlies.
Snowdrift Gradient Coffin Nails
Soft white tips that fade down. Sheer base below them, smooth like a snowdrift and totally stunning on coffin shapes. Airbrush OPI Funny Bunny toward the tip area, or use a sponge for a soft fade effect, then seal with glossy topcoat. You can alternate white and light blush polish if you want to make it more interesting.
Winter Landscape Nails
Ok this one’s a bit more out there. but we love it! Tiny scene painted with white and brown shades over neutral base. Snowy forest, minimal story on your nails and it’s unbelievably cute yet still chic. Paint silhouettes using a fine liner – it’s a forgiving design in terms of mistakes. Every tree can be slightly different and unique.
Sheer White Nail Polish With Large Snowflakes And Gemstone Accent
Sheer white base that’s barely there. That’s already a look. One or two big flakes plus a gem on one nail, sparkly and elegant and sooo pretty and definitely eye-catching. Add a Swarovski-style (but cheaper haha) crystal with nail glue. People will definitely comment.
Shimmery White Winter Nails With Hollies
Pearly white polish with shimmer. Small holly leaves at the edges of nails, the shimmer lifts everything and I love the festive vibes it brings. Go for irridescent polish or just add chrome finish over a white polish. Then paint tiny leaves and berries with a detail brush and dotting tool. Easy!
Classic White French With Flurry Of Snowflakes
Crisp French mani is a classic. Then take it to the next level! Scatter little flakes on two or three nails only, classic and seasonal and totally refined and cute.
White Sweater Nails With A Heart Accent
Sweater nails are still a thing, don’t worry, the trend is not going anywhere. Do the sweater texture on two nails. Tiny raised white heart added, or you can just paint it on with a slightly brighter polish. Sweet and adorable and sooo cozy to wear with winter sweaters and cardigans.
White And Blush Pink Nails With Glitter And Stripes
Want a design that’s simple yet Christmassy? These line patterns almost look like a wrapping paper! Mix blush and white colors. Add glitter polish to make it even cuter. Then paint white stripes on top, simple and pretty and totally wearable.
Half French + Snowflake Accent
Half-tip white only. One snowflake accent nail, negative space keeps it light and sooo modern honestly. Use a curved half-moon guide and fill with Mylee White polish, then add a single elegant looking snowflake. Cute for minimalist outfits!
Iridescent Ice Oval French Tips With Glitter Accent Nail
Iridescent oval tips that shift colors. One full glitter nail for an accent, but make the glitter spread out and sparse, almost see-through like a veil. I’m obsessed with the icy shift and it looks stunning when it catches light.
Silver And White Double Frenchies With Snowflake
Futuristic? Y2K? Cute? Yes, yes, and yes. Double lines in white and silver. Add one delicate flake, refined and bright and totally pretty. Perfect for Christmas parties and girl nights out.
Squoval Frenchies With Tiny Snowflakes
Squoval shape nails – a recent classic. Classic Frenchies mani plus mini flakes scattered anywhere and everywhere, wearable and clean and unbelievably cute soft vibes. Paint tips with OPI Alpine Snow and same for the teeny snowflake. Understated yet adorable.
Skinny French Tips In Glittery White + Minimalist Snowflakes
Ultra-thin glitter tips. One or two simple flakes, minimal and elegant and sooo easy to grow out. Use a fine liner with a white micro-glitter gel to make hairline tips and to do the snowflakes.
Neutral Pink-And-White Mix With Snow Dots
Simplicity works! Neutral pink and white mixed. Add tiny snow dots on top, lighthearted and cute and totally simple and we love it. Use OPI Bubble Bath with Essie Blanc, then dot snow with a tiny dotting tool.
Icy Blue Gradient With White Flakes
Make your white winter nails more interesting by infusing them with just a tiniest hint of pastel blue. Make icy blue tips fade to white gradually. Very winter-approved. Place crisp white flakes on top, result is dimensional and subtle without going too loud. Honestly, just stunning. You can try Mylee Pastel Blue, and any favorite white/milky white polishes.
Pearl Glacier Short Nails With Delicate Lines
Pearl white on short nails. Fine icy lines drawn, glossy and clean and unbelievably cute and I love how easy it is. Use OPI Kyoto Pearl and drag faint white polish lines with a thin brush. Makes short nails instantly elegant and unique.
Silver Chrome Tips With White Icicles And Rhinestone Accent
Want something icy and not fully white? Go for silver chrome tips with icicles. Thin white icicles over metallic tips, and one french tip with rhinestones look sharp and shiny and totally dramatic. Rub silver chrome powder on tips, paint icicles with Mylee White gel, add clear rhinestones over one tip. This design will definitely make you shine and sparkle.
Subtle French Tips With Gemstones At The Cuticle
Soft white tips. Tiny gems at the cuticle area, jewelry look that’s sooo refined and we’re obsessed. Use Essie Blanc for tips and place clear rhinestones with nail glue. Ideal if you want classy but still cool.
Subtle White Marble Nails With Accent Glitter Nail
Faint white marble mixed over sheer neutral polish. Modern and polished and not too ‘on the nose’. Who says white winter nails are all about snowflakes? And if you want to mix it up, add some solid pearl white nails to the mix. It’s clean aesthetic, but still very pretty.