When it comes to the holiday filled with chocolates, red roses, and jewelry, we don’t skimp on preparation for the love-filled festivities. From cute handwritten cards to heart-shaped candy dishes, we make sure to show that love is in the air. Whether you’re being whisked off to a romantic candlelit dinner or cozying up for a movie night, you can’t go wrong with sweet-as-sugar nail designs that ramp up the romance of your manicure with painted hearts, stamped smooches, and fun patterns. Valentine’s Day nail art is the perfect way to accessorize for the holiday with dreamy pinks, bright cherry reds, and bold oxbloods. For you star-crossed lovers, a geometric rose gold manicure that emulates the constellations gives an ethereal touch; and for you hopeless romantics, a red heart-tipped manicure drops major hints to your beau across the table. Give Cupid a hand this year by radiating love from your fingertips. You can test your own manicure skills by DIYing one of these designs, or follow our lead by bringing this as inspiration to your nail salon! Here are our top picks for getting fashion forward Valentine’s Day nails.
Half Moon
This classic half-moon design evokes a subtle romance with its white base and cherry red top coat. The easiest way to get this design is by placing a sticky paper hole reinforcement to the base of the nail, using a paint brush or Q-tip dipped in nail polish remover to smooth any smudged lines.
Polka Dotted
This manicure is sealed with a polka dot! Half moon-shaped negative space is topped with candy pink polish and accented with a bright red polka dot.
Candy-Striped
Candy-lovers, rejoice. These candy-inspired nails use negative space and fun stripes to ensure your most playful Valentine’s manicure yet.
Sealed with Kisses
This smooch-heavy manicure uses a nude base to give a fashion forward edge to this nail design, accenting with warm shades of kisses.
Gradient Corners
If you’re not into pink or white, this manicure makes a glamorous option for Valentine’s Day—and it’s incredible easy! Find your favorite three red polishes, from dark to bright cherry, and use tape to create gradient corners.
Pink Houndstooth
We don’t know if we’ve ever seen something as preppy and cute as this pink houndstooth design. We have a feeling that Elle Woods has rocked this manicure from time to time!
Cute Plumes
This cuticle feather design uses fun colors and peacock-feather inspiration to create a Valentine’s Day look worth trying out this year. Switch up the colors to customize for your V-Day outfit!
Sweethearts
This classic Valentine’s Day candy deserves a spot on your nails this year in all of its pastel glory. Find the tutorial here.
Rose Gold
This geometric design mimics the appearance of constellations, fitting for a holiday that honors star-crossed lovers!
Overflowing Hearts
This ultra-girly heart-tipped manicure layers different pinks for a rosy look that matches every Valentine’s Day card or candy you’ve been checking out at the grocery store.
Red Roses
These might not be the only flowers you get this Valentine’s Day, but they do make a worthy substitution for the real thing. Classic nude polish lets the bright red florals shine.
Layers
Layer a bubblegum pink on the bottom of this design for a subtle pop of color, following with a cherry red and vampy oxblood, for an eye-catching effect.
Love Birds
For the French manicure lovers, this Valentine’s Day update lets you play up that fact that “love is in the air,” with two birds cozying up.
Pop Art
This edgy nail art lets each nail shine with a different design, from metallic hearts to stamped-on smooches.
Heart-Tipped
These nails let you hold your heart on your sleeve—or at least on your hands! This design is simple and romantic.
Sweet Daisies
This dainty floral manicure uses baby pink, daisies, and a little glitter to make a girly statement this year whether you’re doing a romantic dinner or move night with the girls.
Ombré Tips
This classy look is for those who have love a French manicure, and the fun pink ombré tips add romance and playfulness to the design.
Metallic Stripe
This pink manicure gets a finishing touch with a metallic hot pink stripe, making this design easy to DIY with a little tape.
Oxblood
Our favorite half-moon design makes another appearance in these lacquered oxblood nails. Negative space, created by using sticky paper hole reinforcements, changes up between nails from horizontal to vertical.
Minnie-Inspired
We’re swooning over this romantic Minnie Mouse-inspired nail design that uses black polish pens to create a graphic design. Whether you’re taking a Valentine’s Day trip to Disney World or just really love Minnie, these nails are a festive pick.
Ombré Glitter
Despite its glittery pop of color, this design keeps it simple with the otherwise clear-coated nail. Using a chunky red glitter polish, begin dabbing the middle section of your nail, gradually layering more glitter onto the tip to create an ombré effect. Finish with a shiny top coat.
Checkered
This isn’t just your old picnic tablecloth design. This red, white, and pink checkered design is fun and festive. Using tape helps ensure the color does not bleed, and make sure to lock everything in with a strong, ultra-shiny top coat!
Love Message
It’s the reason for the season—or holiday? Wear it on your nails, if only for the week, for a festive reminder that love is in the air!
Charmed
These nails take it to the next level with a heart-shaped gem glued on top of clear or nude nail polish. We have a feeling these would look festive and flirty flashing in the candlelight!
