√ Forget the Candy Canes Winter Nails Are Going Icy This Year

Forget the Candy Canes Winter Nails Are Going Icy This Year

January 07, 2026

Winter is finally here, and honestly? My feed is currently a literal blizzard of icy nail inspo.

Don't get me wrong, I love a classic red holiday mani as much as the next person, but our poor nail techs are probably exhausted from painting candy canes and Santa hats all December. If you’re looking for something that feels a bit more "fresh" and a lot more "cool" for January, it’s time to lean into the icy aesthetic.

Here are the designs I’m currently obsessed with:

The "Clean Girl" Ice: Whites & Chromes

If you want something that goes with every outfit, White Polish is still the GOAT. It’s crisp and looks expensive. But if you want to kick it up a notch, try Vanilla Chrome. It’s basically the winter version of the "glazed donut" trend—shiny, milky, and very chic.

The "Cool Girl" Black (Noir)

Black nails in the winter just hit differently. It’s not everyone’s first choice, but a Noir set (especially in matte) looks so sophisticated against a big winter coat. It’s moody, clean, and a nice break from all the bright holiday colors.

Blue, But Make It Frosty

You can’t talk about icy nails without Cool Blue. A deep royal blue is stunning, but if you want something softer, a pale pastel blue is the move. It looks especially good with a silver shimmer topper to give it that "frozen lake" vibe.

Texture & Bling

Holographic Accents: This is for when you want your nails to actually twinkle. It’s the accent you didn’t know you needed.

Melted Chrome: Think teals and silvers swirled together to look like liquid metal. It’s a bit more "artistic" and perfect if you’re bored of solid colors.

Pearl Details: Tiny pearls are everywhere right now. Putting them on a sheer, sparkly base looks so ethereal—almost like bubbles trapped in ice.

Defrosted Tips

If you’re not ready to go full-on Elsa, try the Defrosted Tip. It’s just a neutral/nude base with some white or silver glitter sponged onto the tips. It’s low-maintenance but still feels festive for the season.

The Vibe: Stay chilly. Whether you’re into the blinged-out crystal clusters or just a simple shimmer, there are so many ways to do winter nails without a single snowflake sticker in sight.

Where I found these:

Nailcon Media / Essence Gant (and some serious scrolling through @lolo.nailedit and @phoebesummernails on IG).

Carol January 07, 2026