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If you’re looking for some fresh and fun nail art ideas to spice up your manicure game in the new year, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, I’ll share with you 09 easy January nail designs that anyone can do at home with minimal tools and skills. Whether you prefer classic, trendy, or quirky styles, there’s something for everyone in this list. Plus, these nail designs are perfect for the winter season, featuring cozy colors, sparkly accents, and festive motifs. Let’s get started!
01 | Wavy Reds
Source: @NAILSINC / INSTAGRAM
This nail design is simple yet alluring, featuring abstract swirl lines in different shades of red over a light base. To create this look, you’ll need a thin base coat, a light nude or pink polish, and two or three red polishes of your choice. You’ll also need a fine detail brush or a toothpick to draw the lines.
- Apply a thin base coat and let it dry completely.
- Apply one or two coats of the light polish and cure for 60 seconds.
- Take the detail brush or toothpick and dip it in one of the red polishes. Draw random, freestyled swirl lines that vary in thickness on each nail. Don’t worry about being perfect, art is subjective!
- Repeat with the other red polishes until you’re happy with the result.
- Seal with a glossy top coat and enjoy your wavy reds!
02 | Neon Accent
If you want to add a pop of color to your winter nails, try this neon accent design. It’s super easy to do and looks very chic and modern. All you need is a clear base or something iridescent, and a neon polish of your choice. You can also use a striping tape or a thin brush to create the stripe.
- Apply a clear base coat and let it dry completely.
- Apply one or two coats of the iridescent polish if you’re using one, or skip this step if you’re going for a clear look.
- Place the striping tape horizontally across the middle of your ring finger nail, leaving a thin gap for the neon stripe. Press it firmly to avoid any bleeding.
- Apply the neon polish over the gap and remove the tape quickly before it dries.
- Alternatively, you can use a thin brush to paint the neon stripe freehand.
- Seal with a glossy top coat and admire your neon accent!
03 | Matisse Lines
Source: (@clawsbykell)
If you’re feeling artsy, why not try this Matisse-inspired nail design? It features carefree lines in black over a nude base, creating a minimalist yet elegant look. To achieve this design, you’ll need a nude polish that matches your skin tone, a black polish, and a thin brush or a nail art pen.
- Apply a thin base coat and let it dry completely.
- Apply one or two coats of the nude polish and cure for 60 seconds.
- Take the thin brush or nail art pen and dip it in the black polish. Draw random lines on each nail, following the shape of your nail bed. You can also draw some dots or curves to add some interest.
- Seal with a glossy top coat and enjoy your Matisse lines!
04 | Itty Bitty Metallic Tips
This nail design is perfect for adding some sparkle to your nails without going overboard. It features tiny metallic tips over bare nails, creating a subtle yet glamorous effect. To create this look, you’ll need a clear base coat, a chunky metallic polish, and a striping tape or scissors.
- Apply a clear base coat and let it dry completely.
- Cut small pieces of striping tape and place them horizontally near the tips of your nails, leaving a very small gap for the metallic polish.
- Apply the metallic polish over the gap and remove the tape quickly before it dries.
- Alternatively, you can use scissors to cut small pieces of metallic polish from the brush and place them carefully on your nail tips.
- Seal with a glossy top coat and enjoy your itty bitty metallic tips!
05 | Pastel Mismatch
If you love pastel colors, this nail design is for you. It features different pastel shades on each nail, creating a fun and colorful look. You can choose any pastel colors you like, or use the ones you already have in your collection. The only thing you need is a thin base coat and a glossy top coat.
- Apply a thin base coat and let it dry completely.
- Apply one or two coats of a pastel polish on each nail, using a different color for each one. You can mirror the color order on each hand for a polished look, or mix and match them for a more playful look.
- Seal with a glossy top coat and enjoy your pastel mismatch!
06 | Golden Stripes
This nail design is another way to add some sparkle to your nails without being too flashy. It features golden stripes over half-painted nails, creating a sophisticated and elegant look. To create this look, you’ll need a thin base coat, a nude polish, a gold polish, and a striping tape or a thin brush.
- Apply a thin base coat and let it dry completely.
- Apply one or two coats of the nude polish on the lower half of your nails, leaving the upper half bare.
- Place the striping tape horizontally across the middle of your nails, where the nude polish ends. Press it firmly to avoid any bleeding.
- Apply the gold polish over the tape and remove it quickly before it dries.
- Alternatively, you can use a thin brush to paint the gold stripe freehand.
- Seal with a glossy top coat and enjoy your golden stripes!
07 | Dainty Daisies
This nail design is super sweet and feminine, featuring dainty daisies over a light base. To create this look, you’ll need a thin base coat, a light pink or nude polish, a white polish, and a yellow polish. You’ll also need a toothpick or a nail dotter pen to create the flowers.
- Apply a thin base coat and let it dry completely.
- Apply one or two coats of the light pink or nude polish and cure for 60 seconds.
- Take the toothpick or nail dotter pen and dip it in the white polish. Make five dots in a circle on each nail to create the petals of the daisies. You can make one or more flowers on each nail, depending on your preference.
- Take the toothpick or nail dotter pen and dip it in the yellow polish. Make a dot in the center of each flower to create the stamen.
- Seal with a glossy top coat and enjoy your dainty daisies!
08 | Chrome Specks
Source: @charlottegillisbeauty
This nail design is chic and edgy, featuring chrome specks over a dark base. To create this look, you’ll need a thin base coat, a dark polish of your choice, and a chrome polish with chunky glitter. You’ll also need a sponge or an old makeup brush to apply the chrome specks.
- Apply a thin base coat and let it dry completely.
- Apply one or two coats of the dark polish and cure for 60 seconds.
- Take the sponge or makeup brush and dip it in the chrome polish. Dab it lightly over the tips of your nails, creating a gradient effect with the chrome specks.
- Seal with a glossy top coat and enjoy your chrome specks!
09 | Statement Star
Source: @OLIVEANDJUNE / INSTAGRAM
This nail design is perfect for adding some personality to your nails without being too flashy. It features a statement star over a classic red base, creating a fun and festive look. To create this look, you’ll need a thin base coat, a red polish, and a white polish. You’ll also need a fine detail brush or a toothpick to draw the star.
- Apply a thin base coat and let it dry completely.
- Apply one or two coats of the red polish and cure for 60 seconds.
- Take the fine detail brush or toothpick and dip it in the white polish. Draw an asterisk shape on your ring finger nail to create the star outline.
- Fill in the star with more white polish until it’s opaque.
- Seal with a glossy top coat and enjoy your statement star!
Sources:
[35 Shockingly Easy Nail Designs You Can Totally Do at Home – Byrdie]
[30 Simple Nail Designs That Beginner-Friendly to DIY | IPSY]
[8 Easy Nail Art Designs That Even Shaky Hands Can Do – Real Simple]
