Holiday nail ideas for a Christmas in the sun

Holiday classics

A few looks read as Christmas from across the room, and they all work at any nail length:

• Glossy true red or deep cranberry on all ten nails
• Forest green with a matte finish
• Red French tips over a sheer pink base
• Gold or silver chrome on one accent finger
• Snowflakes, candy-cane stripes or a tiny bow on one or two nails

Quieter looks, and your toes

Not everyone wants red and green on all ten fingers. A sheer pink set with one tiny gold star, or a milky base with a single thin red line at the tip, works at the office and at a family dinner, and it still looks right the week after Christmas. Deep emerald with gold tips says holiday without any pattern at all.

Your toes will be on show too. A Classic Pedicure is $35 for about 25 minutes, and on the pedicure add-on list Gel Polish and French are $15 each for about 15 minutes. Design is not on that list, so a matching red on your toes lets your fingers carry the pattern. Little ones can join in with a Princess Pedicure from $28, about 25 minutes.

Looks for a warm December

December here means open-toe shoes, outdoor parties and sunshine, and heavy velvet colors can feel out of place next to a sundress. Daylight also flattens very dark shades, and it makes metallics and brighter reds jump. Lighter holiday ideas fit the weather:

• Palm trees strung with tiny colored lights on an accent nail
• Coral red or poinsettia pink in place of deep cranberry
• Sea-glass green with small gold details
• White snowflakes on aqua, a beachy take on a winter pattern
• A sheer red Jelly Color that looks like ornament glass

Which add-on builds which look

Add-ons for nail sets are listed with the builder gel, Gel-X, dip and acrylic services, each at about 15 minutes, and two or three of them together add up in cost and time. Hand-painted scenes depend on your artist, so bring a photo and ask what can be done.

• Design, from $10, or $15 on acrylic: snowflakes, stripes, palm trees
• French, from $20: red or green tips
• Chrome, from $18, or $20 on acrylic: gold and silver mirror accents
• Cat eye colors, from $20: green or red with a band of light
• Jelly Colors, from $10: sheer reds and greens
• Matte, from $10: a frosted forest green
• 3+ Colors, from $10: red, green and gold together

When to book

Aim for a few days to a week before your first party, which keeps the cuticle area neat through Christmas Day. Want one set to carry you through New Year's as well? Choose something that works for both, such as deep green with gold.

Reds are not all alike, so try a blue-based one, which looks crisp and cool, against an orange-based one, which looks warmer and sunnier, before you settle on a shade. Taking off an old set with a service starts at $10, so count that in if you are arriving with gel or acrylic on.

A Color Acrylic Full Set starts at $60 and a Builder Gel Manicure starts at $70, each about 60 minutes. The weeks before Christmas tend to fill up, and appointments are recommended for longer services and weekends, so book online early. Holiday hours can change, so call 954-236-7922 if your date falls on or near a holiday.

Questions guests ask

Can I put holiday art on just a few nails?

Yes. One or two accent nails keep the cost and time down, and a plain red or green on the rest still reads as festive. Mention how many nails you want decorated so your artist can price it.

What Christmas nails suit short nails?

Solid red, deep green and gold chrome all look neat on short nails. Small snowflakes or a single stripe fit better than large scenes, which need more room to read clearly.

Will deep red stain my natural nails?

Dark reds can leave a slight tint on bare nails, especially regular polish worn without a base coat. The tint is cosmetic and grows out. Ask for a base coat, and wait a few days before your next dark shade if you notice it.