When it comes to New Year's Eve, I want to be doused in glitter from my fingers to my toes, quite literally. With 2024 coming to a close (just a few weeks to go!), it's time to start practicing my sparkling smokey eye, finding a sequin-covered outfit, and, of course, deciding on the New Year's nail design to see me through to 2025.
The good news: there's no shortage of inspiration for festive manicures. I could go the classic route with a Taylor Swift-approved red or Hailey Bieber-esque chrome. I could opt for matte nail art with intricate firework designs or do a metallic play on a classic French manicure. There really is a New Year's nail look for everyone and every way you want to celebrate, be it a festive soirée or watching the ball drop on your couch. (I'll be doing the latter, FYI.)
To simplify your salon appointment, I've spent more hours than I care to admit on Instagram looking for the best New Year's nail ideas. I also tapped celebrity nail artist Miss Pop for some DIY inspo. Keep reading for the full reveal of the biggest 2025 New Year's nail trends—and a few pro-approved products if you're an at-home mani fan.
Champagne Stardust Nails
Who doesn't love a glass of champagne to help ring in the new year? Try out these champagne-inspired stardust nails to perfectly compliment your flute of bubbly.
3D Chrome Nails
As Miss Pop says, anything chrome will work for 2025 New Year's nails, and I couldn't agree more. After all, Hailey Bieber, Jennifer Lopez, and Selena Gomez have all co-signed the look. "Go minimalist with a chromed-out French, or go maximalist with 3D swerves and blobs in gel, chromed out in silver or gold to match your jewelry," says the nail pro.
Metallic Navy Blue
It's no secret that navy blue has become the it-color this winter. These navy, metallic nails add the perfect pop of color to any New Year's look.
Black and Gold Orbit Nails
Miss Pop introduced me to the gorgeous art of orbit nails. "Paint your favorite shade, then frame your nail with a thin line of a metallic color," she says. In this fun take, a milky white polish is framed with black lacquer and gold flecks.
Minimalist Glitter Gradient
The French manicure is timeless—just look to Ariana Grande's manicure in Wicked for proof. For a more festive version of a French tip, opt for this glitter gradient mani. The look adds a little bit of glitz and glam while still being chicly minimalist.
Red Vertical Ombré
For a high-fashion design, Miss Pop suggests her beloved vertical ombré design. To achieve the look she suggests that instead of going up and down with your shade blending, go left to right. "I did a bright cherry red to a black cherry red using four shades of Essie for the Retrofete NYFW winter show," she says.
Black Stars
Enter the new year shining with this black star nail design. To add a little extra sparkle (because, duh) stick on some scattered silver rhinestones in between the design. You'll want to use a pair of tweezers for easy application.
Cat Eye Aura Nails
"This look combines two of my favorite trends—the splash of color with aura nails, and the light-catching glitz of cat eye nails," Miss Pop says. The black aura outline and shining pink glitter create a fabulous contrast, but any color combo works. May I suggest green and red if you want a Christmas edition?
Vibrant Firework Design
What's New Year's Eve without fireworks at midnight? Enjoy the colorful light show with this eye-popping set of nails all day. It's actually easier to DIY than it looks—just grab a detail brush and draw little strokes. The design can be a bit messy and still look chic, so it's ideal for beginners.
Dark Glitter French Tip
While you can always rock a basic French tip, why not spice up the classic look for the holidays? Glide on an extra-thin line of dark glitter or metallic polish to the very tip of the nail, and you're well on your way to bringing that sparkly energy into the new year.
A Confetti-Covered Mani
No celebration is complete without a little confetti to close out the night. With shards of metallic polish or triangular decals, you can make it look like glimmering confetti rained all over your mani for an adorable New Year's Eve look.
Iridescent Pearl Nails
Glitter and rhinestones are always fun for a 3D nail accent, but if you're looking to stand out at your New Year's party, give these iridescent chrome nails topped with pearls a whirl. Just make sure to use super strong nail glue to keep them in place long after the ball drops.
Minimalist Aura Nails
This gold glitter and nude polish design is perfect for a minimalist manicure that still has a little spice and sparkle. It looks difficult to create, but you can easily clean up any mistakes outside the lines with a pointed Q-tip and a little polish remover.
Pink Glitter Polish
Glitter is always a go-to for New Year's, but most lean toward neutral tones of black, gold, and silver. Why not pink?! This glittery manicure is perfect to pair with a silver sequin dress for a hint of color.
Rhinestone Countdown Nails
The countdown to midnight couldn't be easier with a clock as an accent nail. Circle the clock nail art with some rhinestones and you'll be sure to wow everyone with this set. You'll be ringing in the new calendar year just in time.
Glitter Bow Nail Art
If you fell in love with bows in 2024 like the rest of the world, you can finish off the year with one more nod to the coquette trend. Swipe on some black glitter polish and top off the look with a silver bow on one—or many—of your fingers. It's a straight-from-the-runway look that will dazzle everyone in the room.
Champagne Bubble Nails
I've honestly been waiting for an excuse to talk about this incredible nail art technique, so here we go! To emulate the look of bubbles in your bubbly, apply gel polish and lightly dip your nails in real soap bubbles. Before wiping off the suds, cure under an LED light. Once cured, replace the layer of bubbles with a layer of champagne-colored chrome powder, and you're set.
Pop Art Confetti Outline
For a small pop of color, circle your nude nails with tiny, rainbow doodles of confetti shapes and dots. Finish the look with a matte top coat to really help the nail art stand out.
Simple Silver Rhinestones
You can easily make your neutral nails a little more special by adding a few silver rhinestones to pinky-nude polish. For an extra dazzling touch, circle each gem with silver starburst designs. Think of it like this: you're manifesting a sparkling 2025.
3D Balloons
In my opinion, every celebration requires a few balloons. To welcome in the new year, upgrade your nails with 3D "2025" balloons painted on top with whatever color you please. Add a squiggly black string down towards your tip, and voila!
Sweet Snowflakes
Let's be real. Who isn't looking forward to the first snowfall of 2025?! To get your winter wonderland fix early, add a few snowflakes to your nails using a thin liner brush and dotting tool.
Rainbow Rhinestone Confetti
Fortunately, rhinestones come in all colors. If you're looking to emulate glimmering confetti or just add a vibrant dazzle to your New Year's nail design, apply multi-colored rhinestones over a neutral polish. I personally like two a nail (it's not too much, not too little), but you can go for three, four, or five if your heart desires.
Shining Mixed Metals
Why choose between silver and gold when you don't have to? Remember, chrome is everything this New Year's, and you can mix and match as many metallics as you please on your nails.
Black Polish and Gold Glitter
Sometimes, simple nail designs are classics for a reason, and you can't go wrong with black and gold on New Year's. Swipe on black polish and top it off with a gold glitter top coat. It's so quick and easy!
Gold Metallic Triangles
For the perfect pop of gold (or any color for that matter), simply paint on gold triangles around your nail bed. Close to a half-and-half mani, the simple metallic addition adds just the right amount of glitz to your set.
Sequin Nails
Sequins are EVERYTHING when it comes to New Year's outfits. To give your nails that sparkly look, apply a generous layer of chunky glitter polish. Think: chrome 2.0.
"Cheers" Nail Art
Here's a toast to champagne covered nails. Before you grab a glass, try out this champagne-inspired nail art, complete with painted-on glasses and gold glitter gradient.
Glimmering Gold Stars
You'll be sure to win a gold star for these New Year's nails. Whether using a stencil, stamp, or free-hand, adding gold stars to your nail design is the perfect, easy look for New Year's.
Disco Ball Nails
Two years ago, Natalie Minerva, the nail lead on Euphoria, stepped out to a NYE party with pink disco ball nails, and I haven't stopped thinking about them since. Place a bunch of reflective squares on each nail to replicate her groovy look.
Chrome French Tip
New Year's Eve is the perfect opportunity to swap out the usual French tip for a chrome version of the classic design. Whether it be silver, cold, iridescent, or colorful, this reflective mani will make you the star of the show.
Pink Satin Ruffle Nails
Miss Pop went above and beyond when she created this set of satin pink ruffle nails for Valentine's Day. Luckily, the shimmering polish and fancy, flowing design also works for any New Year's event.
Best New Year's Nail Polishes
