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Party season is the perfect time for clients to experiment with bolder, more festive manicure styles. From Christmas nail art to cat eye effects and dramatic nail shapes, experts predict several standout trends for 2025
We asked leading nail techs to share their top requested looks, how to create them, and tips for promoting nail art services during the busiest time of year.
Festive Christmas nail art ideas: Snowflakes, candy canes and bows!
In the buildup to Christmas, some clients might decide to branch away from solid colours in favour of festive nail art.
“Each year I find that I get asked for a lot of snowflakes, candy cane stripes and bows around the Christmas period,” explains Kim Pinnington, owner of home-based salon The Nail Shed in Crawley.
Offering up her tips for recreating these designs, Pinnington shares, “For snowflakes, I have found that using a dotting tool to mark out the snowflake before pulling the lines straight though the dots has been the most successful method – and not overly time consuming.
“With bows and candy canes, less product is best,” she adds.
When it comes to nail art, Dayna Green, Ipswich-based nail artist and educator for The Nail Tech Org, explains that gel paint is your best friend.
“For designs such as snowflakes and cany canes, this helps to keep the lines super crisp, producing a stunning result,” she explains.
For clients looking to take their festive manicures one step further, Green suggests adding a sprinkle of glitter before curing any gel for some added sparkle.
Cat eye nails: The must-have party trend for 2025
The cat eye nail trend has been a firm favourite throughout 2025 – and Rebecca Kitson, West-Yorkshire-based beauty therapist and nail tech, believes this will continue to be just as popular as we head into part season.
“It’s just so versatile! It looks great on its own as a full colour but is also a great effect for French tips and nail art. It’s also great for people that are looking for a bit of glitz without going for full glitter colours,” she explains.
Most popular nail shapes for Christmas & New Year
It's not just nail art that clients like to experiment with when it comes to parties and festive events – but shape, too.
"I definitely find clients are more keen to switch up their nail length and shape around Christmas and New Year," notes Scarlett Senter, award-winning nail artist, educator and competition judge.
"Many clients go for longer lengths and more dramatic shapes like almond, coffin, or stiletto, even if they usually prefer shorter or round nails. It’s a festive time, so people love a bolder, more glamorous look that suits party outfits and holiday photos."
Pinnington agrees, explaining, "I think my clients often leave their nails slightly longer at this time of year so as to have a little bit more space to fit the nail art they would like. Almond is always a winner!"
How to promote nail art services
If you’re looking to secure more bookings for your nail art services ahead of party season, social media is key.
“Instagram has been invaluable to me to help promote my nail art services and it seems to be most people’s go-to social media for nail art ideas too,” notes Kitson. “I’ve had a lot of business purely from people finding my pictures on Instagram.”
A great tip for choosing what to post on social media is to think about the services you enjoy most, and the specific services you want clients to book in for.
“I tend to only post my nail art sets on my social media and it's definitely helped attract more clients that lean towards the arty sets,” explains Green. “But if your clients aren't sure on nail art, suggest they start small and add one or two accent nails.”
How to prevent cancellations and missed nail appointments
The festive period is a notoriously busy time for the beauty industry – and as such, it’s beneficial to protect yourself with sufficient booking and cancellation policies.
Senter explains that it’s not uncommon for nail techs to adjust or tighten their policies during Christmas and New Year’s.
That usually means:
- Deposits are required to secure appointments
- Shorter cancellation windows (e.g., 48–72 hours)
- No-shows lose their deposit
“This helps manage the high demand and last-minute changes during the busiest season,” Senter notes.
Festive season nails are all about creativity, glamour and bolder choices – from detailed Christmas nail art to dramatic almond and coffin shapes. By staying ahead of trending designs and promoting your best work on social media, nail techs can maximise bookings and keep clients inspired throughout party season.
Nail art ideas for parties and festive events - FAQs
What nail art is trending for Christmas 2025?
Snowflakes, candy cane stripes, bows, cat eye effects, and glitter accents remain the most requested festive designs.
What nail shapes are most popular for festive season manicures?
Almond, coffin and stiletto shapes dominate, as clients tend to choose longer, more dramatic looks for parties and events.
How can nail techs promote nail art services during party season?
Posting creative designs on Instagram, showcasing the styles you enjoy most, and offering accent nail options can help increase bookings.
Why do nail techs tighten cancellation policies at Christmas?
High demand and limited availability mean deposits and shorter cancellation windows help reduce no-shows and last-minute cancellations.
What’s the easiest festive design for beginners?
Snowflakes or simple candy cane stripes created with gel paint and a dotting tool are beginner-friendly and highly popular.
You might also like:
- How to create tortoiseshell nails
- How to clean, shape and buff for a perfect manicure
- How to charge and make a profit from your nail art services
Lead image credit: Jian Hing
