25 Dark and Moody Winter Nail Looks

The second the sun starts setting in the afternoon, dark and moody becomes the name of the game. Going deep with your nail color is a natural shift as we move through this chilly season. "Look for dark polishes that have some warmth and depth to create a moody and chic look," says nail artist Lori Banks. "These tend to look more flattering across a wider range of skin tones. The finish should look rich." Nail artist Mazz Hanna adds: "Shades like deep burgundy, navy, emerald green, and deep plum are perfect for the winter time."

Meet Our Expert

• Lori Banks is a Los Angeles-based nail artist and esthetician.
  

• Mazz Hanna is a manicurist and the CEO of Nailing Hollywood.

• Fleury Rose is a nail artist in New York City and New Jersey.

Go dark with your nails this winter with one of the 25 nail looks below.

Dark and Creamy

“This look is a mix of a creamy dark brown with a lighter neutral shade with an abstract design,” says Banks. “I used a striper brush to create the shapes.”

Black + Chrome

“I created this using ORLY’s Liquid Vinyl with metallic foils,” says Banks. “Liquid Vinyl also looks great alone with a shiny or matte topcoat for an edgy look.”

Cafecito

“This was created with a custom color made at ORLY Color Labs,” says Banks. “It’s an ultra-dark brown, like a mix of Liquid Vinyl and Canyon Clay. The key to a solid manicure like this is to make sure the nails are shaped perfectly.”

Related: 40 Thanksgiving Nail Designs, From Minimal to Over-the-Top

Mr. Darcy

Mr. Darcy Lights Lacquer is a cloudy, grayish indigo shade. It's moody and deep, just like the man it's named after.

Cat Eye

“This dark nail with a cat eye holographic effect is a super easy upgrade to a single-color manicure,” says manicurist Fleury Rose.

Or Worse, Expelled!

Or Worse, Expelled! from Lights Lacquer is a tawny, smoky brown shade. It provides lots of depth without being a super-dark shade.

Shh…It’s Top Secret!

“I love brown nails, and I’ve been seeing more and more as a trend with all the ‘90s and 2000 revivals,” says Rose. She used OPI’s Shh…It’s Top Secret.

Emerald

“Don’t skip dark green as an elegant choice for the winter,” says Rose. “Matte emerald green is one of my favorites alongside this green and gold combo.”

Black Croc

“Monochrome dark manis are always cool when you play with texture, and matte elements like this black croc mani,” says Rose.

No Fig Deal

Orly No Fig Deal is a rich maroon from the brand's breathable collection. It's infused with nourishing ingredients like argan oil and vitamins B5 and C.

Blue & White

Deep blue is offset by a milky white shade to keep this look airy. The white nails are accented with super small silver dots.

Related: Milky Nails Are a Modern Update to the Timeless, Neutral Manicure

Celestial Matte

Often galaxy-inspired looks rely on a ton of sparkle, so it's fun to see a look like this that has a matte top coat. It still has glitter, but it's less reflective, allowing the flecks to look like distant stars.

Mahogany Obsidian

“Update your marble nails for this winter, and skip the rose quarts, or white marble,” says Rose. “Opt instead for a crystal to draw inspo from like this mahogany-obsidian inspired design.”

She Ruins People’s Lives

She Ruins People’s Lives is a muted, moody eggplant from a collaboration between Mean Girls and Static Nails.

Evergreen

Dive deep into winter nail looks with this evergreen mix-and-match look that features 3D, cable knit, matte glitter, and tiny snow-covered evergreens.

Related: 40 Winter Nail Designs Ranging From Icy to Cozy

Put a Ring On It

Put a Ring On It is a polish that fully embodies winter vibes. It's an icy shade full of chunky silver glitter.

Brownie

Wearing this rich chocolate brown shade is like walking around with hot cocoa on your fingers. It's embellished with gold foil.

Diva

Luxio Diva is the deep burgundy polish that coats these nails. Note that it's a gel polish so it requires a UV light to cure along with corresponding top and base polishes.

Brick Red

This brick red shade really sings under this matte top coat. It makes the color super cozy and perfect for winter.

Chunky Charms

“Chunky charms mixed with dark color nails are always cool, and so fun to wear,” says Rose.

Safari

DND Safari is the green shade used in this manicure. It's dark and perfect for winter without screaming Christmas.

Diamond Crush

Dark navy and silver glitter —the perfect winter nail combination. The high-shine finish takes this look to the next level.

Midnight Kiss

Londontown USA's Midnight Kiss is a moody denim blue that's super-cool-toned and wintery.

Sugarplum Soirée

“One of my favorite darks for winter right now is ORLY Sugarplum Soirée,” says Hanna.

Black Rivoli

Hanna says she's also loving Black Rivoli from Dior lately. It's a deep purple shimmer that's so dark it leans black.

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