New holiday nail-art ideas

Inspired by the first snow of the season, this manicure is clean and fresh.

Step 1: Start by painting all ten fingernails with a nude nail polish (try HIPPxRGB in F2).

Step 2: Layer a white polish, such as Zoya Professional Lacquer in Purity, on top.

Step 3: Take a silver glitter topcoat (we like OPI Nail Lacquer in Pirouette My Whistle) and paint it from the center of the nail toward the tip.

Step 4: Add another layer slightly above the first, and another slightly above that (so the glitter becomes more prominent at the tip).

Step 5: Finish with a clear topcoat to keep the glitter from flaking.

—Stephanie Stone, stephanie-stone.tumblr.com

These peppermint-inspired tips are total eye candy.

Step 1: Apply two coats of white polish, such as Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Scorch, followed by one coat of pearlescent polish, like Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Prism, to give it a glossy, candy-like sheen.

Step 2: Once nails are dry, dip a slanted eyeliner brush into a true red polish, like Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Ruthless, and paint two thick diagonal stripes on each nail.

Step 3: Draw two thinner red stripes between the two larger ones.

Step 4: To avoid smearing, allow nails to dry for five minutes before applying a topcoat.

—Fleury Rose, Illamasqua Nail Ambassador, fleuryrosenails.com

Naughty or nice? These stocking-inspired nails walk the line between both.

Step 1: Paint your nails a bright red shade (try Essie Nail Polish in Really Red) and let it dry completely.

Step 2: Paint the tips of each nail white (we like Sally Hansen Hard as Nails XTreme Wear Nail Color in White On).

Step 3: Add a thin silver line between the red and white sections with the Sally Hansen Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pen in Silver Chrome.

—Jessica Washick, uneedamanicure.tumblr.com

The edgy midnight hue makes this snowflake manicure a true original.

Step 1: Start by painting your nails a deep blue (we love Chanel Le Vernis in Blue Satin).

Step 2: Now for the snowflake accent: Using a white nail-art pen (we like the Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen), draw a vertical line almost to the tip of your ring finger. Paint an X through that line and two small Vs through the tip of each line. Draw an O where the four lines touch.

Step 3: Add small dots around the snowflake as a finishing touch and wait five minutes before applying a clear topcoat.

—Taryn Multack, missladyfinger.com

This design is inspired by traditional Christmas tartans.

Step 1: Apply a plaid nail-art strip as a base (like Sally Hansen Plaid About You). Step 2: Use a black nail-art pen to draw a half moon at the base of the nail and seal with a topcoat. Step 3: Apply varying shapes of black and gold rhinestones using crystal adhesive (available at any craft store) on top of the black moon.

—Madeline Poole, mpnails.com