21 of the Sweetest Gingerbread Nail Ideas We’re Screenshotting This Holiday Season

Main image – @dayla_nails/Instagram

What screams Christmas more than a festive mani? Ok, you might have your Christmas knit sorted already, but it simply cannot be the most wonderful time of the year yet until you’ve given your nails the holiday treatment.

In the past, we’ve seen candy cane nail art, snowflake designs and sparkly tips. But this season everyone’s talking about the gingerbread theme – rich block browns, clever cookie crumbles, creamy latte swirls and of course Mr Gingerbread Man himself. 

So, if you’re looking for some nail inspiration with a dash of sweetness, delve into our top 21 gingerbread-inspired nail looks for a holly jolly mani that’s good enough to eat. 

 

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1. As sweet as treacle 

Ditch all other Christmas cameos and make your gingerbread man the star of the show with this deliciously sweet ring finger design. 

 

 

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2. Metallic gingerbread nails

Switch up your usual brown with a metallic version. Because if you’re going to do Christmas nail art, you may as well just go for it. 

 

 

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3. Spiced molasses swirl 

When you can’t decide between a gingerbread hued trend and a sweet nude – have both. Calories don’t count at Christmas….

 

 

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4. Gingerbread cookies

Grab your cookie cutters and be inspired by these sugary treats. It needs a frosty, glittery base and a relatively long set of nails.

 

 

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5. The naughtiest hot chocolate nails

We’d like your most indulgent hot choc please, with a dash of ginger spice. Another simple, yet effective block colour, best done on medium-length, round shaped nails.

 

 

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6. Ginger-spiced pudding  

You could almost pour on the brandy and dig in. Choose the chocolatiest brown and frostiest white and lock the genius in with your best top coat.

 

 

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7. Gingerbread and bows

For the nail fans out there who can’t be without their brights over Christmas, this jolly manicure has it all wrapped up, and with an appearance by our gingerbread friend too.

 

 

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8. French tip gingerbread nails

Do a gingerbread take on the French mani like these biscuit-tipped nails. You could choose one shade or just go for the whole recipe at once.

 

 

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9. Festive mix ‘n match

Why have one Christmas theme when you can have them all? This mix and matched red and nude combo is a festive feast for the eyes. And Mr Gingerbread Man steals the show on every nail.

 

 

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10. Milky gingerbread latte nails

For those wanting to keep it simple, these nude-beige nails are oh-so luxe and super-duper simple. No Christmas bells or whistles, just one milky gingerbread hue one glossy top coat and a hint of candy cane.

 

 

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11. Gingerbread House

We love these gingerbread house-themed nails, mixed in with a bit of festive wrapping paper. Definitely one to screenshot and take to the salon.

 

 

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12. Gingerbread Rudolph

The perfect way to keep things nude, with a twist. Each nail is gingerbread beige-based, but with a little joy added in. Our favourite? The teeny gingerbread men of course.

 

 

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13. Neon gingerbread nails

If you’re typically more of a colourful polish kind of girl but you still want a hint of gingerbread in your festive mani, this one’s for you. Little accents of gingerbread men, with a vibrant neon on selected nails. Best of both worlds.

 

 

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14. Gingerbread batter mix

When you’ve stirred up the batter, but it hasn’t quite all mixed together yet. We love how there’s a different shade of spiced ginger on each nail. 

 

 

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15. Striped sugary gingerbread nails

Candy cane lines with a dusting of glistening brown sugar to finish. You could make all your nails look the same like this, or switch up the direction of your lines on each nail for more of a relaxed effect.

 

 

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16. Spiced latte

A milky latte mani, but with a dash of playful gingerbread spice. Adding something different to your ring finger and middle fingers is an easy nod to nail art, without it looking too busy. 

 

 

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17. Frosty the gingerbread man

Add a bit of frost to your gingerbread hue – anything goes as long as it’s white. Extra gingerbread man charm optional.

 

 

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18. Tinsel tips

Gingerbread-inspired French mani – but make it sparkly. Adding a line of glitter to your French mani gives it a fun, festive twist.

 

 

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19. Best of the batch

Just like a batch of cookies, there’s always one that stands out from the rest. Changing up your ring finger with a milky beige and adding festive stars could not be more stylish.

 

 

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20. Festive fun

Anything and everything all at once, baked in one genius manicure. Would you just look at those teeny Christmas beagles?

 

 

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21. Gingerbread gold

Gold flecks are so effective and, luckily, very on trend too. We love how this edible brown has been dressed up with festive gold.