Let your nails do the flirting.
If you love any opportunity to add a little pizzazz to your winter polish, Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse to get creative and try some of the latest trends in nail art. Whether you're celebrating the holiday with a date night spent with your partner, a Galentine's Day gift exchange, or a fun solo activity, there's no better time than February 14th to rock an on-theme manicure to accompany your V-day outfit (even if you're staying in).
Or maybe you're dealing with a super-busy schedule this year, and between work, personal appointments, and the kids' weekend activities. The easiest way to celebrate V-day is to get a pretty manicure when you have a sliver of time during the week. If your relationship status is currently "single," you can still be intentional about celebrating yourself—you deserve it! Feeling on board but lacking inspiration? The vibrant, artistic options below are sure to spark something in you.
So before you settle for a simple nude DIY mani, we found the cutest Valentine's Day nail ideas that complement both light and dark skin tones—from Pinterest-worthy choices to glitter polish, gold nail stickers, negative space designs, and everything in between—so you can let your nails do all the flirting.
1
Heart Tips
Transform a traditional French manicure by creating heart-like shapes on the tips of your nails. To create a look like this, shape your nails into an almond style, which is "perfect for recreating the heart effect," says marketing specialist from Bellacures nail salon, Rianna Basurto. "Apply a sheer nude shade matching your skin tone as the base, and to create the shape, use a thin line brush and paint an inverted '3' shape about a third way down the nail."
2
Endless Hearts
What's not to love about this romantic mani? It's playful, on-theme, cute, and fun. If you don't have the time (or patience) to DIY this set, you can also opt for similar Kiss press-on nails.
3
As Good as Gold
Elevate a simple red manicure with strips of gold foil in organic, delicate shapes on each finger.
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4
All the Hues
Why go with one color when you can go with them all? Apply a different shade on each finger for a complete Valentine's Day look. The Deborah Lippman Bed of Roses nail polish set is an easy way to recreate a more neutral version of this look.
5
Just a Touch of Gold
If you look too fast, you may miss the golden details of this elegant manicure.
6
Just Like Confetti
For a statement-making look that doesn't require a lot of time or effort, try a polish with chunky pink (or red) glitter.
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7
Dainty French
Switch up your traditional French manicure by opting for a pink base with a thin red tip. It's a modern and fun twist on a classic look.
8
Candy Stripes
This pretty graduated manicure in three shades of pink and red looks just as delicious as the most crave-worthy holiday candy.
9
Psychedelic Hearts
Shine on this Valentine's Day with a holographic base polish. Addiction Tokyo nail polish in the shade Ultra Star is the perfect option for this minimalist manicure.
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10
Evil Eye with a Twist
Give a subtle nod to the day of love with a light pink mani that features a holiday-centric twist on the evil eye symbol.
11
Bubblegum Pink
Valentine's Day meets Barbie with this sparkly pink manicure. Recreate the look using Aprés Nail gel colour in Sweet Cheeks.
12
Glazed French Tip
How romantic are these glazed French nails? We love that it's a subtler nod to the holiday, so it won't look dated come February 15.
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13
Color Me French
Switch up the standard French manicure with a swipe of bright red polish on the tips instead of white.
14
Negative Space
Though it looks elevated, this style is simple enough to DIY if you have a steady hand. Simply swipe a nice pink shade on the top third of the nail, then add a little red dot in the negative space.
15
Blushed Tones
Ombré nails offer the best of two colors. Ask your nail tech to blend your favorite Valentine's Day shade (red, pink, purple, etc) into a neutral base for a wearable yet colorful look.
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16
3D Chrome Hearts
We bet you've never seen a Valentine's Day manicure look so chic. These tiny red 3D chrome hearts are perfect for those who prefer a minimalist approach.
17
Geometric and Moody
If your signature look is more subdued than the traditional Valentine's Day colors, try this modern geometric manicure.
18
Pink Swirls
For those who love to get creative and playful with their manicures, this option has all the bells and whistles—vibrant color, glitter, 3D nail decals, and geometric designs. Sally Hansen recently launched nail decals that make recreating textured manicures at home easy.
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19
Bring the Drama
Is there anything more striking than these dazzling rhinestone hearts?
20
Queen of Hearts
Consider painting your nails using this whimsical take on a classic playing card!
Jane Burnett
Assistant Editor
Jane Burnett is an Assistant Editor at Oprah Daily, where she writes a variety of lifestyle content for the editorial team. She's a journalist with a pop culture sweet tooth—when she isn't catching up on celebrity news, she's usually listening to a podcast! Jane was previously an on-air reporter in local news, and worked at Thrive Global, Ladders News, and Reuters. She also interned at CNBC through the Emma Bowen Foundation, and is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).
Genesis Rivas
Genesis Rivas is the Beauty Editor at Oprah Daily, where she covers hair, makeup, skin, nails, and more. Before joining the Oprah Daily team, she wrote for several publications, including InStyle, Real Simple, and Shape. When she’s not testing, researching, and writing fun and educational beauty content, you can find her dancing and eating her way through New York City. Follow her on Instagram or TikTok
