Courtesy of Instagram//@brownluxenails; @disseynails; @nailsbymimi
You know what we're thankful for? Well, a lot of things, of course, but among them, the myriad of options we have for Thanksgiving nail art. There is truly something for everyone these days, whether they prefer traditional polish, gels, or dip; short and simple or long and shaped; seasonal shades or nail art that takes on a more literal interpretation of the holiday we're celebrating. And this roundup exemplifies all of that.
You may already be thinking about your holiday-themed manicure, but it's not too late to get creative with nail art for Thanksgiving. The warm hues associated with the holiday are a perfect jumping-off point for so many manicure ideas, including intricately hand-painted illustrations, subtle ombré, and color-blocked designs. There's plenty of inspiration here for looks you can do yourself as well as nail art best left to the pros (just be sure your tip reflects how thankful you are for their work).
Here are some of the best Thanksgiving nail art ideas to try recreating. You'll be sure to love looking at your nails every time you reach for more cranberry sauce.
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Courtesy of Instagram/@ykc27121/35
A Very Garfield Thanksgiving
We're here to tell you that adorning your nails with illustrations of cartoon characters is not at all cheesy and is actually a cute way to get into the spirit of Turkey Day. New York City-based nail artist Yukako makes the case for a very Garfield Thanksgiving by adorning the nails with images of Garfield and his canine sidekick, Odie, wearing the signature hats of the pilgrims. Friends and family will also get a kick out of the very blunt message, "feed me," written across two of the nails.
Courtesy of Instagram/@nailsbymimi2/35
Opulent Overlapping
This gorgeous abstract design by editorial manicurist and nail artist Mimi D is actually a nail wrap she created with ManiMe called Bronzed Bombshell. If you're more partial to polish, she says you can recreate this look at home. First, start off with one or two coats of a "full-coverage nude shade," wait for it to dry, then paint "two large sections of the nail" with some metallic polish. Make sure to vary the angles of the metallic sections on each nail. Once the metallic sections are all dry, use a striper brush to draw three to four black lines at different angles.
Courtesy of Instagram/@pastapolish3/35
Artful Apples
Nail artist Pasta Polish proves that it's possible to draw apples on your nails. Better yet, it's a cute, festive way to give thanks for the fruits from the fall harvest. After all, isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about? With a few shades of nail polish — a shade of dark red (we like CND Vinylux Long Wear Polish in Bordeaux Babe), Liquid Leather by China Glaze, Blanc by Essie, and Stripped Away by Color Club, to be exact — a dotting tool (she says a toothpick or bobby pin will also suffice), and a fine detail brush, you can create this design all on your own.
Courtesy of Instagram/@disseynails4/35
Nudes of Fall
Decorate your digits with each shade of the fall nude spectrum like Dayanna Sapiens did with this Skittle-style manicure. Sapiens says she wanted to stick with the classic Skittle design but decided to add her own touch to the look with the half-moon shape at the bottom of each nail. "This is one of the easiest manis to recreate. The most important step to create this look is having a good thin brush to create the half-moon shape," she tells Allure. Investing in "a good cleanup brush and nail polish remover to clean up any mistakes is a must," she explains.
If you don't already own neutrals like these are have trouble creating your own color scheme, looks to a curated set like Nails Inc.'s Keep It Tonal Quad, which comes with four coordinating neutral hues designed for manicures just like this one.
Courtesy of Instagram/@nailsbychenoa235/35
Feasting Fingers
Our eyes are definitely savoring every inch of these nails by Chenoa Koehn (not to mention that they're also making our stomachs rumble). In addition to the delectable-looking slice of pie and adorable turkey, Koehn also dressed up two of her nails in plaid and another with some jewels.
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Courtesy of Instagram/@claire.lapointe._6/35
Painted Patches
Get your nails all dressed up for Thanksgiving by painting patches on your tips. Using a small detailed brush and multiple nail polish colors, Claire Lapointe traded the "classic" fine line of the French manicure with patches for fall. Even if dressing up on Turkey day isn't really your thing, at least your nails will definitely be dressed their best.
Courtesy of Instagram/@frecklepusnails7/35
Subtle Squiggles
Here's another Turkey Day manicure idea for all you minimalists out there: draw some squiggles on the sides of your nails against a nude background. The key to achieving these thin, curvy lines is to use "a super-fine detail brush and [to have] a lot of patience," says nail art connoisseur Jessica Bilson. "Keeping your hand steady is most important."
Courtesy of Instagram/@nailgazms8/35
Turkey Talons
Sorry in advance to your Thanksgiving turkey, but this nail design by nail artist Brittney Chin may give it a run for its money. The metallic gold background will definitely steal the attention of all your friends and family around the table.
Courtesy of Instagram/@brownluxenails9/35
Color Collage
Take some direction from Brionne, the nail artist behind the look above, by adding some accents in warm and bright colors to a nude-heavy manicure. If you look closely, the abstract dots of color at the tips also look like bunches of leaves piled next to each other, making them the perfect accents for a Thanksgiving-themed manicure.
Courtesy of Instagram/@coyarose10/35
Cute Corn
We love this interpretation of the corn on the cob because while it's quite literal, it's not, well, corny. Nail art hobbyist Nicoya Grobman shares her matte take on the idea, hand-painting little kernel-like dots on top of the base shades Anchors Away by Sinful Colors, Wax Poetic by Sally Hansen, Bees Knees by INM, and Totally Toffee by Revlon.
Courtesy of Instagram/@jjanellennon11/35
All That Glitters
Everything that glitter touches always imparts a shimmery glow, like this nail look by Janel McCorrister. She reached for Bolt and Be Bold by Essie for the base and Solar Unicorn Skin by Holo Taco for the topcoat. As for the accent nail, she used Play Rosé by Holo Taco on top. To get that glittery finish just right, McCorrister suggests placing the glitter polish "on a cosmetic sponge and dab on the glitter for full opacity."
Courtesy of Instagram/@sierrasnails_12/35
Leafy Accents
Can't decide on a color? Or between a solid shade and a detailed design? Just do it all. Nail artist Sierra Unsicker shared just how great multicolored, matte nail art can look on shorter nails, with rich brown on some fingers, rusty orange-red on others, and fall leaves intricately painted in the same shades on white accent nails.
Courtesy of Instagram/@artofkia13/35
Fiery Marble
Don't let the marble-like design intimidate you, because it easily can be done with some polish and tools at home. Nail artist Kia Phelan says to grab three or four different colors of nail polish, and "dot the different colors all around your nail." Using either a dotting tool or a toothpick, swirl all the colors together until you're satisfied with the look. This acrylic nail art was painted with gel polishes, but Phelan says regular polish will work just as well.
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Courtesy of Instagram/@polishwithcaro14/35
Simple Geometry
We hope your Thanksgiving doesn't involve pouring over geometry homework, but if it should, we think painting this geometric design on your nails is the best way to go. As Carolina Herrera demonstrates above, it can be as simple as drawing some dots and painting the nails with some "burnt orange" (we recommend Playing Koi by Essie) and "sheer pink" (try Rosy Future Nail Lacquer by OPI) nail polish. "I love how this nail art is simple, yet elegant. I was inspired by similar nail looks done by nail artists and other nail polish enthusiasts," she tells Allure. "It was the perfect manicure for Thanksgiving."
Courtesy of Instagram/@nailthoughts15/35
Elegant Ombré
Katie Masters, known on Instagram as @nailthoughts, shared this mesmerizing manicure that combined several nail-art trends without going overboard. Each finger features a different autumn-inspired shade, like orange and yellow, with an intensifying ombré effect and shimmering gold tracing along the cuticles — perfect for a dressier Thanksgiving get-together.
Courtesy of Instagram/@nailsbyajane16/35
Give Thanks in 3D
Go to a pro like Amber Ferrier for this kind of masterpiece. In addition to a cranberry-red shade on several nails, she included Thanksgiving messages on two shimmering gold nails (OJBH by Olive & June packs a similar metallic punch), as well as an intricate three-dimensional cornucopia and turkey to create the ultimate holiday hands.
Courtesy of Instagram/@ptp.nails17/35
Dip-Dyed Digits
You can never fail at Thanksgiving art by painting your nails orange — or in this case, multiple shades of orange — like nail artist Lily Richard did here. The two variations of the color look as if they're bleeding into each other, and that's because they "used Up&Up Sponges from Target to dab and blend two swipes of the lighter and darker orange together, which created the gradient." Create some contrast amongst the orange by topping it off with a bronze-colored line (Richard used Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Terra Coppa) in the center of the nail.
Courtesy of Instagram/@devs_nails18/35
Field of Thanks
This is your sign to not sleep on pumpkin nail art once Halloween is over. The orange fruit is a fall harvest staple, which means adding pumpkins to your nail art still applies to Thanksgiving festivities. Devan Serene really tapped into the pastoral aesthetic with this design by adorning her nails with a shade of dark green and some pumpkins.
Courtesy of Instagram/@bycheznails19/35
Warm-Toned Swirls
Bring in the heat this Thanksgiving with these warm, chic swirls. For this design, Emily Zheng tells Allure that she drew inspiration from French manicures by literally "adding a twist to the classic design." According to Zheng, you can easily create this look at home with the brush of your nail polish, but how you use it is key to getting the design down. "I would recommend using the side of the brush so you have more control over where you are painting," she says. "Then, you can use a smaller, more detailed nail art brush to clean up the edges to make them look more precise."
Courtesy of Instagram/@joyofnails20/35
Gorgeous Ginger
To make it clear, we're not talking about gingerbread — yet — but the color ginger, a variation of orange. Besides decking out your digits in the aptly named shade of orange, try alternating between some neutral-colored swirls atop a shade of dark brown as nail artist Joy Robinson demonstrates above.
Courtesy of Instgram/@pikkacolor21/35
Au Naturel
Showing your gratitude towards the Earth this Turkey day can be as simple as recreating this look full of Earth-y tones and prints. Nail artist @pikkacolor painted this pair of digits with black, green, and brown polish. We especially love the golden accents of the cheetah-like print pattern.
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Courtesy of Instagram/@tessa.lyn.nails22/35
Bountiful Mountains
Move mountains this Thanksgiving (well, sort of) with these sepia-colored mountains on the tips. Tessa Lyn says she used the edges of her nail polish brushes "to layer [the] shades from lightest to darkest" in order to create these cascading mountains. Grab all your warm-toned nail colors and get to painting.
Courtesy of Instagram/@houseofanaildesign23/35
Beautiful Bird
Nail artist Alana Folger shared an incredible manicure featuring a detailed turkey illustration that's so beautiful, it deserves to stretch across three nails instead of one. The off-white base color really lets the feather colors flourish, and the pinky and thumbnail bookend the art with sparkling brown polish. The more space for detail, the better, with this manicure, so we recommend pairing this design with acrylics or growing your nails as long as you can (learn how to grow strong nails with some expert tips).
Courtesy of Instagram/@the_perfect_polish24/35
Mix It Up
Instagrammer Amy Murillo stayed in the same color family but painted each nail differently for an easy DIY nail-art idea that looks awesome on shorter nails. Solid mustard yellow and chocolatey brown flanked an orange and white plaid nail and a glittering gold one, creating a manicure that looks professional but can be done the night before your in-laws arrive for Thanksgiving.
Courtesy of Instagram/@heygreatnails25/35
Checkered Claws
With this checkered pattern set, perhaps you and your mother's Thanksgiving table cloth can match, or not. Aisté, the nail artist behind this design, was actually inspired by the pattern on a Staud dress. She originally created this look with a pastel color story for the summer but decided to give this look another go-around for fall. "Since color-block nail designs are still trending, I just wanted to create something on-trend that would look simple, classy, and this time have a fall season vibe," she explains.
Courtesy of Instagram/@nailxaesthetics26/35
Thanksgiving Tips
By no means are we giving any tips on how to spend your Thanksgiving, but we'll say this: paint your nails like this. Nail artist Manahil Azeem used several shades from OPI, such as Stay Off The Lawn, Red Heads Ahead, and Don't Tell a Sol. She also reached for two colors from Jolie Vegan: Empowered and Yes I Can. For nail-art newbies, Azeem recommends painting these tips on some vinyl nails. "[They] help with getting the perfect french tip smile line," she says. You can also do this with a set of plain glue-on nails (here are some of the best press-on nails).
Courtesy of Instagram/@nailsbykristaa27/35
Lovely Leaves
Painting leaves on your nails is always the move, regardless of the autumnal occasion. Gather some inspiration from this set by nail artist Krista Lockwood. This design not only captures fall foliage in fine detail but also shows them hanging on their branches. No leaves are falling on our watch just yet.
Courtesy of Instagram/@nythasnailbeautique_28/35
Gratefully Gradient
Gradient nails started trending in the spring of 2019, and they're showing no signs of falling out of favor, especially since they can be tweaked to take on the colors of each season. Whether styled in a coffin shape like the one seen here or worn on short nails, painting each nail a different color — in this case, yellow (the Best of Beauty award-winning Pear Nova Luxury Nail Lacquer in Lemon Drop Logic makes for a similar shade), tangerine (for a similar color, try PCH Love Song Nail Lacquer by OPI), terra cotta, dark red, and a deep purply brown — is a lovely way to get into the autumnal vibe.
Courtesy of Instagram/@nail.art.by.tea29/35
Chic Curves
"My inspiration [for this nail art] is the silhouette of women's dresses that include cut-out curves. I [went] with brown to create a bold and sexy look," nail artist Tea Chau tells Allure about this design. To try your hand at this look yourself, Chau likes to start by painting "the larger color block[s] first," and outline the big color blocks afterward. She makes the outlines with detailed brushes from the Makartt Three Piece Nail Art Set.
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Courtesy of Zoya 30/35
Fall-Friendly French Manicure
Miss Pop created this gorgeous French manicure for an Oscar De La Renta show, but the high-fashion look is absolutely perfect for Thanksgiving, too. Each model was given a skin-tone-flattering base shade ranging from beige to dark brown, which was topped off with Zoya Nail Polish in Sawyer, a soft coral, as the tips and dots at the cuticles. Simple yet seasonally chic.
Courtesy of Instagram/@nailartfairy31/35
'70s Splendor
From the warm color story to the curvy lines, this manicure by nail artist Samantha Pasaye looks as if it's straight out of the 1970s. Even though a counterculture nail design doesn't exactly scream "Happy Thanksgiving," the warm color scheme perfectly reflects the colors of the leaves that are falling from the trees.
Courtesy of Instagram/@esbeautystudio32/35
Classic Nude
Up the ante on the classic nude manicure by painting a black line down the middle of each nail. Try Nail Lacquer in Run the World by Mischo, which recently picked up a Best of Beauty Award. "Clients often ask for simple designs with nude colors. It's a very classy look," says nail artist Felicia T. about this look. Better yet, the neutral color scheme will complement any Thanksgiving outfit.
Courtesy of Instagram/@nailpolishedlife33/35
Fall Flowers
Floral-themed nail art is definitely in this season, even though flowers aren't in full bloom at this time of the year. "Fall color palettes are always incredibly inspirational to me, so I took these warm and cozy colors and applied them to my overall obsession with florals," says Amy Tan, the nail artist behind this look. The flowers are only painted at the tips and are quite small, so Tan advises to "place both hands on a stable surface and [to use] your pinky to stabilize your hand, [which] minimizes shakiness" while working on this design.
Like many detailed nail designs, she also had detail brushes handy, specifically Orly's Short and Long Detailer brushes. Some of the colors included in this look were Sienna by Olive Ave Polish "for the perfect fall caramel yellow straight from my dreams," For Ever by For Tmrw, and Basic by Loud Lacquer.
Courtesy of Instagram/@blushingpalmspa34/35
Fizzy Cola
Nail artist Christina McCallister used a combination of gel shades – including layers of shimmer and glitter — for this subtle yet sassy seasonal manicure. Most of the nails are a solid, creamy beige shade (we're partial to For Tmrw Non-Toxic Nail Polish in For Later, but it's brought to life with a glistening brown blend that, on the ombré accent nail, looks almost like effervescent cola being poured into a glass.
Courtesy of Instagram/@polishmeliz35/35
Argyle Swatches
Adorn your nails for Turkey Day in argyle. As with many of these designs, nail artist Lizet Pimentel says it's all in the details. "I recommend using a long thin nail art brush and resting your wrist on a table to help you create straight lines," she tells Allure. Pimentel also suggests letting the polish dry after each layer is complete "and using a thin angled brush dipped in 100 percent acetone to fix any mistakes will allow you to create the perfect Thanksgiving mani at home."
KeywordsManicuresmanicurethanksgivingnail artnailsNail PolishholidaysZoyaSally Hansenrevlonnail artistmiss popopishoppingserviceolive & juneessieCND