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'Tis the season of the merry manicures

From the first mince pies to turning on the fairy lights, November marks the beginning of festive cheer. Following a quiet winter in 2020, we look forward to pulling out party dresses, booking those last-minute meals and of course, the beauty brainstorm around the makeup, hair and nails we'll be wearing for Christmas.

So whether you are counting down the days to that well-deserved salon slot or only expect to have ten minutes of me-time, we have rounded up the nail art forecast for Christmas 2021. Continue reading for our favourite festive looks alongside some top tips and predictions from OPI pros, Dani Bailey (@nailsbydanibailey) and Georgia Rae (@raelondonnails).

"Every Christmas the usual suspects return - reindeers, bows and snowflakes dominate!" says Bailey. "I think this year chromed details, matte and shiny combos and playing with textures, which have all been popular throughout autumn, might stay for the festive season too."

“I’d say 80% of my clients normally will go for plain red, red and glitter or red with some nail art. It is the safe option for those who want a touch of festive but not over the top nail art. Other very popular colours have been bottle and military greens and blues and silver; a nod to snowflakes and Frozen vibes.”

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Transition from autumnal tones to mulled-wine manis with one of 2021’s most adaptable nail trends. Gentle ripples have swirled in and out of our summer mood boards and now it’s time to swap pretty primaries and pastels for deep berries and glistening golds.

Take a long, fine nail brush to create sweeping waves of Nails Inc 4-piece Nail Polish Set in “Spice As Nice”. Alternatively, for nature-friendly nail art reach for Nailberry Oxygenated Nail Lacquer in “Rouge” or Ciate Plant Pots in “Good as Gold”.

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Have your mani-pedi match your presents with this trendy take on conventional Christmas patterns. Dots, stripes and waves in traditional festive shades are a great way to creatively customise your manicure without taking up too much turkey-prepping time.

We recommend a pigmented white polish, for example, Peacci “Daisy” or Essie “Blanc White”, as your base canvas, then, get creative with a dotting tool and seasonal jewel tones! Try Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint in “Hot Chilli” for an affordable ruby or OPI Nail Lacquer in “Envy the Adventure” or Grinch-worthy green.

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While we are not relinquishing red, white and gold from this season’s stand out shades, it is undeniable that green is a festive force to be reckoned with. From sage to forest to emerald, the colour has been consistent throughout 2021’s beauty and fashion trends. “Green is the colour of the moment right now so I think we’ll be seeing that a lot heading into and throughout the festive period, worn as a solid block colour or minimal details,” says OPI’s self-proclaimed minimalist manicurist Georgia Rae. Her recommendations? "For a festive green I’d go with OPI ‘Stay Off The Lawn’ or ‘Rated Pea-G’ if you fancy something a little brighter!"

We also recommend Max Factor Masterpiece Xpress 60s Nail Polish in "Après-ski" for a kick of glitter. Finish with gold nail decals or a sheer confetti shimmer for the perfect tinsel top coat. Difficulty: 3/5

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Neutrals have remained a fashionable favourite in 2021 and nails are no exception to the trend. Many are trading their bold brights for comforting chocolate tones, favouring softer, warmer colours for their celebration nail combination.

Mix and marble a variety of cream, cocoa and coffee hues for the ultimate pumpkin-spiced pinkies. Or, for a more precise pattern, use a fine nail brush, like the Le Mini Macaron Le Petit Brush, to create customised swirls.

Find the perfect nude for any skin tone using Makeup Revolution Ultimate Nudes Gel Nail Polish collection or for a warmer espresso look try the My Mood Nail Polish Duo Gimme a Coffee Break.

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For the nail art freestyler looking to get crafty for Christmas, we recommend inviting some familiar festive faces to your nail art ensemble.

When creating your furry or frozen friends always remember to use a quick-drying polish to avoid blending and bleeding between your chosen shades and use a dotting tool, for example the Royal & Langnickel Soft Grip Embossing & Stylus Set, to allow you to add the final dashing details in clean and precise placements.

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The winter weather predictions are in and we are keeping it cool. Frosted fingertips with light snowy decals are the perfect combination of efficient and elegant; a sophisticated finish with a short time requirement.

Use a nail art sponge to create a custom colour gradient or alternatively, we recommend Elegant Touch Luxe Looks French ombre False Nails for any artist amateurs. Add white or silver nail stickers or hand-paint snowflakes to complete the look.

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Get your out winter warmers, this trend is calling for all crewnecks, cardigans and cable knits. Alternate each nail between one bold and one blank white base and then use a fine nail brush to create tiny textured plaits in parallel lines for a perfectly pearly nail look.

For an alternative to the predictable Christmas palette, opt for a bright blue such as Nailkind Polish “Ink Me” or OPI Nail Polish in "Ring In The Blue Year" as used by Dani Bailey to create the original look (left).

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Velvet, chrome and moving metallics are the glitzy and dimensional trends dominating party polishes this year. If you don't fancy a trip to the salon, you can modernise your metal manicure using Nail Inc’s Get Magnetised nail polish, a new texturising technology, at home. This polish, which contains tiny magnetic filaments, can be manipulated into a nail design using the polish lid. A luxe look with little effort required.

Finish your fingertips off with a thick top coat, we recommend Beauty Pie Flexiglass UV Top Coat, for a final layer of glassy shine.

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If you winter wardrobe consists of deep cosy colours and a pop of animal print, this Autumn trend is the perfect transition set to take you through those early advent windows. Tortoise shell patterns are a great alternative to traditional leopard or cheetah prints and can be used across for a full set, accent nails or even French tips. A great option for your next salon session.

For a DIY option, we recommend pairing shell pattern nail stickers or press ons (we recommend Technic False Nails Stiletto Tortoise Shell for a full set) with deep mulled wines, such as Nailberry Oxygenated Nail Lacquer in “No Regrets”, and forest shades for a sophisticated and mature manicure that doesn’t feel too premature in November or outgrown by Christmas.

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Don’t let the Boxing Day blues chip your cheer.

“I think a lot of glitter and holographic is on the way!” Bailey tells us. “Most Christmas we see the glitters make an appearance as details on nails, but because we didn’t have a 'proper' Christmas last year, a lot of clients are wanting to go all out this year."

For nail art that lasts through the festivities and into the fireworks, add a layer of fine or heavy glittery polish, we recommend OPI Infinite Shine Nail Polish in "Confetti Ready" or essie Nail Colour "511 Congrats", to bare nails for a quick hint of sparkle. Or for the polish pro, reach for a chunky loose glitter that can be placed in a mosaic pattern on a clear or neutral base coat for a mirrorball mani that will see you into 2022.