20 Red Nail Ideas to Inspire Your Next Mani

In the beauty world, the color red is forever a classic—especially on the manicure front. Whether keeping it simple with a swipe of crimson or going for an intricate design, bold red nails will never go out of style. But they will go with everything and anything in your closet. An all-red ensemble? Perfect. An all-white or all-black look? Consider red polish an easy way to add a pop of color.

And because gel lacquers are easy to work with, there is no shortage of designs to don on a red nail. Below, you’ll find the best ideas for a good red nail design. We’ve included classics like French tips and even got a bit experimental. You’ll see the latter when you get to the red holographic chrome nails. (Trust us—it’s worth the wait.)

So before you paint your nails a random shade of rouge, keep reading to uncover 20 gorgeous red nail ideas.

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Tomato Red Nails

Red is one of those colors that’s so stunning all on its own that simply choosing the perfect shade is enough to create a flawless nail look. One look at these squoval-shaped nails proves it.

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Ruby-Red and White French Tips

A surefire way to wear red on your nails? In the form of a bold French mani. Bonus points if you have several accent nails fo frr that extra oomph. To perfect your arcs, use French manicure nail stickers, like the Orly Half Moon Guides.

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Pink and Red Mismatch

Allow us to remind you: pink and red is a color combo that can be worn all year round—not just on Valentine’s Day. This year, try getting creative with the pretty hues by working them into a mismatched mani.

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Red French Manicure With Heart Accents

Love the idea of a red French mani but want to flaunt some fun nail art too? Check out these cutie heart-and-daisy accent nails. Flowers are optional, but they’re definitely an adorable addition.

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Red Chrome Nails

If you prefer the look of non-holo chrome, here’s a reminder of just how gorgeous it can look in red. FYI: If you want this exact nail shape but struggle to grow your nails out, you can cop it using the Aprés Gel-X Sculpted Almond Medium Tips.

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Red Almond-Shaped Nails

Truly, just how gorgeous is a solid red mani? It’s simple, classic, and bold all at once. (FYI: This is another example of how the Aprés Gel-X Sculpted Almond Medium Tips look in action.)

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Bloody Halloween Nails

Many people get their nails done to match a given season. This Halloween-inspired manicure is equal parts spooky and chic. Though not all the nails are red, it’s undeniable that the hue plays a prominent role in this look.

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Red Heart French Tips

Here’s another holiday-inspired mani showcasing one the hottest colors ever. What sets it apart is the heart French tip. Though you could don this look any time of year, we think it’s another great option for Valentine’s Day.

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Cherry Red

Does it get any better than this red? It’s a tough one to beat in our book. For something similar, try China Glaze in Italian Red, a bright, fiery hue with orange undertones.

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Red Cat Eye Nails

If you love the idea of a solid red manicure but are hoping for a bit more depth, consider a cat-eye nail look. With Holo Taco Nail Polish in the shade Sacrificial Lacquer, you can DIY the nail trend with a simple swipe of color.

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Red Strawberry Accent Nails

There’s something comforting about a manicure that emulates girlhood. If you ask us, these daisy-dotted, strawberry-accented French tips nail the look. (Psst: If you love the shape, you can snag it for yourself with the Aprés Gel-X Sculpted Stiletto Tips.)

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Red Floral Nails

These playful red-bordered floral nails remind us of vintage dinnerware and festive fiestas. We love how the nail artist alternates between plain red polish and the design. This helps the flowers pop even more.

As intricate as the design seems, it’s rather simple to DIY—so long as you have a steady hand and dotting tools. Each of the flowers can be made with a single dot in the center and dragged-out dots for each petal. Then, the border can be outlined with a fine-lining nail art brush and detailed with evenly spaced, drawn-out dots.

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Firecracker Red Nails

For an extra fiery red manicure, reach for a bottle of Death Valley Nails nail polish in the shade Hiss. The trick to making it look professionally painted is to touch up the edges of each nail bed with an angled brush dipped in acetone.

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Pink and Red Holly Nails

You can still have festive nails while throwing a touch of pink in the mix. These pink and red striped nails are positively party-ready with their cute little holly accents. In case you’re wondering, they’re easy to DIY with nail dotting tools.

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Red Seashell Nails

Whether you’re dreaming of the beach, embracing your inner mermaid, or looking for the prettiest vacation mani, this gold shell-embellished red French mani is a must. It was created using the Cirque Colors Coquille Charms.

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Bow Accent Nails

Bows remain a popular style detail, so these dainty bow-accent, almond-shaped nails are an obvious pick for the weeks and months ahead. The polishes at play here are OPI Nail Lacquer in the shades Rebel With a Clause and Alpine Snow.

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Red Swirl Nails

Another way to wear red polish? In a swirl design. Just know that, unless you have a super steady hand, this nail look is likely best achieved by a professional nail artist.

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Red Velvet Nails

Velvet nails use a luxurious nail-art design that appears soft to the touch. Nail artist Dayanna I. Sapiens created this nail look using Gelcare Official UV Gel Nail Polish in shades Gold Velvet and Pomegranate.

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Poker-Inspired Nails

This 777, gambling-inspired French mani will make you swoon. To recreate the look at home, use classic black and your favorite shade of red. As for the decals, consider BePretty Poker Nail Art Stickers (we like that they come in several sizes).

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Abstract Red Nails