Black nails are everywhere this winter – here’s 12 ideas to try pronto

Step aside beige and greige, as this season it’s all about black nails. Cool, understated and super versatile – this inky hue can be worn matte, glossy, with glitter or metallic accents. A great choice for minimalist nail art, black details work so well with a neutral or bright base, too.

“Black manicures are definitely the ‘winter nude’ of this season,” confirms pro nail artist Julia Diogo (known as @paintedbyjools on Instagram). “They’re super chic, elegant and timeless. It’s also a shade that flatters all skin tones.”

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From solid blocks of glossy black to a black micro French manicure, there are several ways to experiment with this trend. Julia’s advice? Play around with the finish. “Using a matte top coat gives the nails a slightly edgy feel – my favourite is Chanel’s Matte Boy de Chanel.”

1. Glossy black nails

One of Julia’s go-to nail looks, an all-black manicure looks perennially chic. “Finish with a super high shine glossy top coat for maximum impact,” she says. Fan of bio sculpture? Ask your nail tech for shade Licorice to recreate Julia's mani above.

2. Black velvet

Is there such a thing as too much sparkle? We think not. Perfect for party season, recreate these velvet nails with a coat of silver or dark green glitter (as pictured above) painted on top of a black base.

3. Sparkly swirls

Swirls were one of the hottest summer nail trends for 2023 and they’re sticking around for winter, too. Fun and fresh, swap out bright hues for darker shades - and pair with a neutral base for contrast.

4. Matte and glossy

Elevate a classic black manicure by playing around with texture. First, paint the nails with a matte black base before adding glossy black details on top. We adore this combination of shiny stripes and shapes.

5. Pretty palms

From cute candy canes to Christmas tree outlines - winter nail ideas can sometimes feel cliché. If you’re after something a little bit different, give these black palm trees a whirl (or invest in some nail stickers).

6. Double French

The French manicure has come a long way since its ‘90s heyday. From fluro tips to a reverse French manicure, there are so many modern French tip nail designs. Our favourite? A double French, featuring two arcs at the tip of each nail.

7. Celestial black nails

Guaranteed to get you compliments, this celestial inspired manicure makes a pretty statement with black glitter topped off with gold nail art. Attempting this at home? “You can create micro dots using the end of a Bobby pin,” suggests Julia. For line work, “use a fine eye liner brush.”

8. Matte black hearts

A great idea for Valentine’s Day nail art, this cutesy design is so easy to do DIY. Just use a dotting tool (or bobby pin) to draw on two black dots, before joining them up to create the ‘V’ shape. Finish with a matte top coat for a fresh finish.

9. Micro French mani

As the name suggests, a micro French manicure is where an ultra-thin line of polish is applied across the tip of the nail. Suiting all nail shapes, it’s a great way to add length to the nail for a more elegant look.

10. Black and white flowers

Not just for spring, floral nail art can work all year round. For winter, switch up your shades and replace brighter, sunnier hues with a monochromatic colour palette. Our advice? Go for a neutral base to make those black-and-white flowers pop.

11. Black flames

Edgy and cool, these black flame tips are guaranteed to turn heads. To try this at home, use a fine liner brush to apply black French tips before dragging the colour down the nails in waves.

12. Sheer black hearts

Like lip gloss nails but edgier, this moody manicure combines sheer glossy polish with black love hearts for a romantic/gothic vibe. We’re into it.