24 Gorgeous Velvet Nail Ideas to Try This Holiday Season

December 15, 2023
Jordan Julian
By: Jordan Julian | Makeup.com by L'Oréal
Photo of long silver velvet nails collaged on a blue and green background

In search of nail inspo for upcoming holiday and New Year’s parties? You can’t go wrong with a festive shimmery manicure. But instead of just adding a layer of glittery gold top coat (though that can be totally adorable as well), velvet nails are one of our favorite takes on the sparkly mani look. Keep scrolling to learn more about what the velvet nails trend entails. Plus, we’ve rounded up some dazzling Instagram inspo, from pretty pastels to chic French tips.

What Are Velvet Nails?

You know the way crushed velvet has that soft sheen that sparkles in the light and shines in different colors, almost giving it a duochrome effect? Well, your nails can look the same. Velvet nails, sometimes called cat’s eye nails, are made by simply waving a tiny magnet over magnetic gel polish, which is what creates those mesmerizing shimmers and swirls. Think of it like kinetic sand for your nails. 

How Long Do Velvet Nails Last?

Since velvet nails are achieved with regular gel nail polish, a velvet mani should last the same amount of time as a regular gel manicure. This can be anywhere from two to four weeks depending on the type of polish you use. 

How to Remove Velvet Nails?

The removal process depends on the type of gel nail polish that you use. If you use soft gel, you can soak off your mani by soaking a cotton ball in acetone, applying it to your nails and wrapping them in foil. Hard gel, on the other hand, will need to be filed off by a professional nail tech using an e-file. 


Ready to try the trend? Below, we rounded up some of our favorite velvet nail inspo for you. 

The Best Velvet Nail Design Ideas

Silver Velvet

Green Velvet

Snakeskin Velvet

Blue Velvet

Celestial Velvet

Pink Velvet

Short Velvet Nails

Snowflake Velvet

Butterfly Velvet

Champagne Velvet

Velvet Bow Accent Nail

Green Velvet Swirls

Black Velvet

Jewel-Toned Velvet

Gold Velvet Tips

Multicolored Velvet

Velvet Neutrals

Purple and Green Velvet Tips

Baby Pink Velvet With Rhinestones

Velvet Christmas Lights

Pearlescent Velvet Snowflakes

Red Velvet

Pink Velvet Tips

Purple Velvet

Photographer: Reece Andavolgyi Design: Juliana Campisi

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