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While nails are only a small part of our body, they can serve as the best and most fabulous accessories that go with any of our outfits.
But to make them so, we have to ensure that they look ready for the spotlight.
How? Well, try red nails with glitter!
Yes, you read that right. While red nails are already striking on their own, adding eye-catching glitter to them can make a more dazzling manicure.
And you won’t have to worry about these two nail design staples clashing together either.
When done right, your manicure can beautifully show off the enchanting allure of red and the bright sparkle of glitter.
To help you achieve this, we’ve put together 45 ideas for sparkly nail designs in red. Whether you want short nails with glitter or extra long ones, we’ve got you covered.
Keep reading to get inspired!
Table of Contents
- 1 Short Red Nails With Glitter
- 2 Long Glittery Red Nails
- 3 Frequently Asked Questions
- 4 For a Showstopping Manicure, Choose Red Nails With Glitter
Short Red Nails With Glitter
Shimmering Scarlet
To start off our list of the best red nail designs with glitter, here’s this simple and beginner-friendly manicure.
It’s pretty easy to do. Just get shimmery red polish like the OPI Nail Lacquer in Heart and Con-soul and paint it all over your short, clean nails.
Trendy Romantic Nails
If you can’t decide on a single pattern, why not use different ones on each of your nails? Go for polka dots, stripes, abstract, and of course, glitter!
Get all these trendy patterns in pink and red gel polish for a soft, sweet, and romantic look.
All Things Shiny
What if you want more sparkly polish options than just glitter?
Well, you can still go for a red glitter manicure, but make sure to use chrome nail powder and gold foil on your accent nails to make the entire look shine a little brighter.
‘Tis the Season to Be Creative
How about bringing the holiday joy to your everyday life?
When you’re feeling festive, paint Christmas decorations and elements on your red nails using white and gold glitter polish and a thin nail brush.
Candy Canes
In this nail design, candy canes are used to decorate bare accent nails, while a sparkly silver finish is used to top off gorgeous red nails. Extraordinary!
Holiday Cheer
Want to show off your nails while you give away your presents on Christmas Day? Try this red manicure with glitter, stars, and a cozy sweater pattern to flaunt your holiday spirit.
Oh Deer
These rich red nails celebrate Christmas by featuring reindeer nail art on the accent nails.
But to make the entire look more dramatic and sophisticated, a mix of metallic and glittery red polish is used to paint the rest of the nails.
Red and White Snowflakes
Winter nails don’t always need to be icy blue. They can also sport a hot color like scarlet red, which also creates a great background for your snowflake nail art to stand out.
Merlot Red
Not a fan of bright red? Try getting nails in merlot red instead! Then dress them up with silver and white diagonal stripes and contrast them with silver glitter accent nails.
A Little Bit Flaky
Red nails don’t always have to be over the top. As proof, we have these simple yet stunning red nails with a clear top coat.
To make them a little more interesting, large silver glitter flakes are added to the accent nails.
Half and Half
For a dark and glamorous manicure, try red and black nails with glitter.
You can create this look at home. Simply paint half of each nail black and the other half red. Then top them off with glittery holographic nail polish like the ILNP MEGA (L) Holographic Nail Polish.
Two-Toned Holo
Here’s a playful version of the look above.
Instead of splitting red and black into well-defined halves, try using the two colors in random patterns where they seem to melt into each other, then use sparkly holographic polish to complete the look.
Yuletide Ruby Red
Take your holiday nails to the next level with this red gel manicure. Sugar-like glitter, snowflakes, sweater patterns, and even sparkly plaid textures serve as gorgeous details in this design.
Christmas Nails
Sorry, but we’re not done with holiday nail ideas yet! We still need to feature this awe-inspiring manicure with red and glittery gold nails.
What makes it stand out are the tiny details on the accent nails, including the eye-catching red and gold swirls and ridiculously intricate white snowflakes. These nails are definitely perfect for your Christmas party.
Roaring Red
Want to incorporate animal print into your red nail design? Paint cheetah spots on a nude accent nail and let it be the star of your glittery red mani.
Elegant Tips
Make your nails sparkle by painting them with red polish and coating them with a layer of sugary glitter powder!
Leave your accent nails for last and paint only their tips to make the manicure less loud and more elegant.
Full of Love
Nails with hearts for Valentine’s day will always be included in the list of the best red glitter nails.
But for a more unique approach to this design, why not make use of the negative space? Instead of using a red background, go for a nude base to which you can add glittery red hearts and red French tips.
Modish Dark Red Nails
Dazzle everyone with dark red nails with a shimmery silver finish. Then combine the two colors in a distinctive geometric French tip for your accent nails.
A Bit More Simple
You can also go for a simpler version of the design above. Instead of giving all your red nails a shimmery finish, just use your regular clear top coat to seal them. Then add the silver glitter only to the tips of your nails for the slightest hint of sparkle.
Eccentric Red and Gold Nails
Rather than doing a traditional manicure, why not use red and glitter polish to create unique nail art on nude nails?
You can decorate your nails with gold glitter, red tips, and snowflakes paired with a few artistic splotches of nail polish.
Sultry Chic
Elevate your French manicure on oval nails with this design. Instead of the usual white polish, apply a sparkly red one on the tips.
If you want your manicure to be more alluring, use the same polish to paint swirls at the bottom of your accent nails.
Timeless Sprinkle Nails
For a clean yet sophisticated look, going for muted red polish with a slight hint of glitter is an excellent choice. This manicure can go with practically any outfit and style.
Opposites Attract
In this monochromatic design, plain bright red nails and dark red nails with glitter are paired together. We can’t explain why, but these two opposite shades create a harmonious-looking manicure.
A Dash of Sparkle
Looking to add glitter to your classy red oval nails? The easiest and most interesting way to do this is to sprinkle white gold glitter powder on your accent nails.
Long Glittery Red Nails
Festive Season
There’s something about a red and gold glitter manicure that makes your nails look like an ornament on the Christmas tree. Make sure to stamp your red nails with white stars and snowflakes for the full holiday-inspired effect!
Holiday Jewels
We think these red and silver nails with snowflakes are perfect for the holiday season as well. But to make the look more interesting, go for an ombré effect on one of the silver glitter nails.
Santa Hat Oval Nails
Get your red gel nails with glitter ready for a visit to the North Pole. Use shimmery red polish to paint your nails, then pair it with plain white polish to create Santa hat tips.
Santa Hat Almond Nails
Inspired by the manicure above, this one applies Santa hat tips on almond nails in a deeper shade of red.
Brighter Santa Hat Tips
Can’t get enough of our glittery Santa hat nail designs? Here’s a more laid-back version that uses bright red polish with subtle glitter for thin Santa hat tips on the accent nails.
Fancy Mrs. Claus
For ultimate holiday elegance, decorate your acrylic extensions with a mix of red foil and powder glitter. Then complete the look with an intricately painted (or stamped-on) snowflake.
Shimmering French Mani
If it’s your first time trying a color as bold as red, why not start with glittery red French tips? This will allow you to assess how you feel about red nails without making a huge commitment.
Plus, you can add candy cane hearts to your bare accent nails for a cute Christmas-y design.
Season for Sass
You can’t go wrong with deep red and gold glitter polish for geometric French tips! Make sure to embellish them with white snowflakes for a sassy seasonal look.
This design works best on almond nails.
Joyous Red Nails
Here’s an edgier, more striking take on snowflake nail art. Forget all the rules and go for loud, red coffin nails with glitter and spiky snowflakes.
Reason to Be Merry
Red can also be paired with green, its complementary color. This is a common color combination for Christmas.
Use red glitter and red polish to paint your long acrylic or press-on nails, then decorate them with holly- and icicle-shaped nail accessories.
Ultimate Red-vival
What about another classic manicure? This is a no-fuss design you can copy. Wear plain red polish on your nails, then paint your accent nails with shimmery lines in a crisscross pattern to make the look more elegant.
Mix and Match
This look features classic red nails with silver glitter and snowflakes paired with red, gold, and white marble nails. So chic!
Pink Charmer
What we love most about this glam manicure with pale pink and glittery red nails are the white dots that outline the glimmering hearts.mage
You can wear this to a date with someone special or whenever you want to feel extra pretty.
Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers
This nail set will surely get you plenty of compliments! The rich, deep red color and sparkly glitter make the nails appear enchanting, while the dark glitter flakes near the tips add depth to the entire look.
Not Your Ordinary French Mani
Want a simple manicure but don’t want your nails to be completely bare? Go for curved French tips and amp them up with a fiery red color.
Make sure to line the tips with gold glitter for added flair.
Red Hot Chilli
These bright red nails with glitter the size of pepper flakes deliver extreme spice to your hands.
This look features two accent nails for contrast: one is completely covered in glitter flakes, while the other only has a few glitter flakes near the cuticles.
Tantalizing Nails
Are we allowed to have favorites? Because these red acrylic nails with glitter would definitely be our top pick.
Featuring fully painted red nails, plain red tips, and glittery red tips, this is one of the most attractive manicures on this list!
Not Too Much Sugar
Sugary nails are on trend these days. If you want to give them a try without making a mess, go for this look instead.
Here, the thin sugar tips are placed over matte red nails, which makes the manicure a little understated.
Red Waves
We love how this manicure uses both matte red and glittery red polish for a beautiful 3D effect. The matte red polish serves as the base, while the glittery red polish is used to create swirly lines.
Red Diamond
These red glitter nails are stunning! The powder glitter is gorgeously blended with red and clear nails, creating an attention-grabbing sparkly ombré.
No Time for Simplicity
Red nails are absolutely more eye-catching when they’re extra long, just like these coffin red nails.
As if the color and length aren’t enough, this nail art is adorned with rhinestones in different shapes and sizes for even more drama.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should You Have Short or Long Red Glitter Nails?
If you want extravagant nails, go for long red glitter nails. After all, the longer your nails are, the more space you have to place decorations and experiment with your nail art.
However, keep in mind that long nails can be high-maintenance.
If you plan to go au naturel and grow long, healthy nails on your own, you’ll need to keep your nails healthy to prevent them from breaking. You can do this by maintaining a healthy, nutrient-rich diet and caring for your cuticles.
But if you can’t wait for your nails to grow on their own, you can use fake nails instead.
On the flip side, if you’re looking for comfort and convenience, you may be better off with short nails. They’re more practical to wear, especially if you often use your hands at work.
Moreover, short nails are easier to maintain because they’re not as prone to attracting dirt or breaking off as long nails.
And although short nails give you a smaller canvas for your nail design, they still allow you to sport a cute and charming red manicure.
Are red nails classy?
Yes, red nails are sexy and striking. But you can make them look classy and professional if you pair them with nude-colored or black-and-white business casual outfits.
You can also pair red nails with elegant co*cktail dresses or floor-length gowns to add the right amount of spice to your formal looks.
Do red nails make you look older?
Red nails actually do the opposite. Warm-toned reds, in particular, brighten dull skin and draw attention away from signs of aging, such as age spots or bulging veins.
So if you want a youthful, lively manicure, go for bright, orange-based red nails with glitter.
For a Showstopping Manicure, Choose Red Nails With Glitter
A red glitter manicure can be your instant confidence booster.
Bold, attractive red nails with a sparkly finish can make you feel more alive and energetic — so you’re always ready to face the world.
Plus, glitter designs on red nails can vary from subtle to dramatic and go well with short, long, or mid-length nails.
In short, you can sport red nails with glitter in any style you want!
Want more nail design ideas?
Take a look at these articles:
- 69 Black and White Nails for Trendy Mani
- 50 Prettiest Lavender Nail Designs for Spring
- 40+ Peach Nail Designs That Are Cheerful and Chic
Rachelle Velasco
Rachelle, is a sought-after freelance hair and makeup artist, shines particularly in the world of hair color. From subtle ombres and balayages to vibrant hues and intricate root work, she crafts unique styles tailored to individual preferences. Beyond her artistic talents, Rachelle also holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, showcasing her diverse skill set and dedication to learning.
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