22 Burgundy Nail Ideas for Autumn, Winter and Beyond

Burgundy is a deep red with a brown or purple tone, and it is one of the most worn nail colors in autumn and winter. Here are 22 burgundy nail ideas from nail artists on Instagram, with solid shades, cat eye, chrome, French tips, polka dots, gold details and glitter.

Each idea has a level. Easy means regular polish and a top coat. Medium means you need gel and a lamp, a magnet, a thin brush, a dotting tool or chrome powder. Salon means detailed hand-painted or 3D work that is best left to a nail tech.

☰ Jump to a section4 sections

1. 22 Burgundy Nail Ideas
2. How to Pick Your Shade of Burgundy
3. How to Wear Burgundy Nails
4. Frequently Asked Questions

22 Burgundy Nail Ideas

1. Burgundy With French Accents

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Almond nails that mix solid burgundy with nude nails that have a burgundy tip. The artist calls the shade burgundy red.

Level: Medium. Paint two or three nails solid and give the rest a burgundy tip with a French liner brush.

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2. Glossy Short Burgundy

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Short square nails in a glossy burgundy gel. The artist lists the base, color and top coat used.

Level: Medium. Two thin coats of gel, cured, with a high shine top coat.

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3. Dark Burgundy Squares

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Short square nails in a very dark burgundy with a glossy finish. The artist names the gel shade.

Level: Medium. Keep the shape short and square and cap the tip so the dark color does not chip early.

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4. Burgundy Red Short Nails

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Short rounded nails in a glossy burgundy that leans red.

Level: Easy. Two coats of a red leaning burgundy and a glossy top coat.

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5. Textured Burgundy and Gold

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Almond nails where each nail is different: burgundy, gold chrome and raised textured details. The artist says she likes textured nails right now.

Level: Salon. The raised texture is built with thick gel and the gold is chrome powder. Bring the photo to a nail tech.

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6. Burgundy Polka Dots

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Short nails that mix burgundy nails with white dots and pink nails with burgundy dots.

Level: Medium. Paint the base colors, then add evenly spaced dots with a dotting tool.

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7. Burgundy With a Silver Dot Border

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Almond nails in burgundy with small silver dots that follow the edge of each nail. The artist names the burgundy and the silver she used.

Level: Medium. Use the smallest dotting tool and place the dots one at a time around the edge.

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8. Burgundy Sparkle

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Short nails in burgundy with a full glitter finish. The artist calls it holiday glam.

Level: Medium. Use a burgundy glitter gel on all nails, or on two accent nails only.

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9. Classic Glossy Burgundy

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Short square nails in a rich, glossy burgundy. The artist says it is one of the first shades she bought and still her favorite.

Level: Easy. You can copy this with regular polish: base coat, two coats of color and a top coat.

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10. Soft Burgundy Cat Eye

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Short almond nails in a burgundy cat eye with a soft band of light. The artist names the gel shade.

Level: Medium. Hold the magnet at the side of the nail for a soft, wide band.

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11. Deep Wine Burgundy

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Short nails in a very dark burgundy that looks close to plum.

Level: Easy. Dark shades need a base coat first so they do not stain your nails.

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12. Burgundy Cat Eye Chrome

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Long almond nails in a deep burgundy cat eye with a bright line of light down each nail.

Level: Medium. Hold a magnet over wet cat eye gel for a few seconds, then cure.

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13. Burgundy and Blue Cat Eye

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Short almond nails with a cat eye that shifts between burgundy and blue.

Level: Medium. Layer a blue cat eye gel over a dark burgundy base and use the magnet before you cure.

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14. Pink and Burgundy Gingham

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Short nails with a gingham check in pink and burgundy. The artist names both gel shades.

Level: Salon. Gingham is painted as crossed sheer lines, so it takes a steady hand and time.

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15. Cherry Glaze Chrome

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Short almond nails with a pink berry chrome finish. The artist used a merlot gel under an iced chrome powder.

Level: Medium. Rub pearl chrome powder over a cured no wipe top coat on a burgundy base.

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16. Burgundy and Soft Pink With Dots

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Short nails that mix deep burgundy and soft pink, with small dotted details on a few nails.

Level: Medium. Paint two nails pink and the rest burgundy, then add a few dots with a dotting tool.

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17. Burgundy With Blue Stars

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Short nails in dark burgundy with small blue stars on a few nails. The salon says the set is done on builder gel.

Level: Medium. Paint the stars with a liner brush or use star stickers under the top coat.

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18. Burgundy With Hand-Painted Details

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Short almond nails in burgundy tones with small hand-painted details on each nail.

Level: Salon. Ask for a sheer burgundy base with fine details in a darker shade.

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19. Dark Burgundy Cat Eye Press-Ons

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Square press-on nails in a dark burgundy cat eye. The seller lists them for purchase.

Level: Medium. For the same look in gel, use a burgundy cat eye gel and a magnet.

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20. Burgundy and Gold

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Short nails in deep burgundy with small gold details on the accent nails.

Level: Medium. Add a thin gold line or a small gold shape to one or two nails with a liner gel.

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21. Short Burgundy Aura

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Short nails with an aura effect, where a dark center fades out to a lighter edge. The artist tags it as a burgundy aura set.

Level: Medium. Sponge the dark shade into the middle of the nail and blend the edge before the top coat.

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22. Burgundy With a Bow and Dots

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Short nails that mix solid burgundy with a nude nail that has a burgundy bow and a nude nail with burgundy dots. A magazine account posted it and credits the set to @biab.byjem_.

Level: Salon. The bow is painted by hand with a liner brush. The dots are easy to add with a dotting tool.

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How to Pick Your Shade of Burgundy

• Red burgundy: closer to cherry and wine red. Bright enough for summer and the holidays.
• Brown burgundy: warmer and softer. It pairs well with gold jewelry and autumn clothes.
• Purple burgundy: close to plum. It looks almost black indoors and shows its color in daylight.
• Cat eye and chrome: the same shade with a moving line of light or a mirror sheen.
• Finish: high gloss is the classic for burgundy. Glitter suits the holidays and a pearl chrome gives a glazed look.

How to Wear Burgundy Nails

• Use a base coat. Burgundy can stain bare nails.
• Apply two thin coats and cap the free edge. Tip wear shows fast on dark shades.
• Burgundy pairs well with gold, soft pink, nude and white details.
• If full burgundy feels heavy, try burgundy French tips or dots on a nude or pink base.
• Clean the skin around the nail with a small brush and remover before the top coat. Dark polish shows every slip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which skin tones suit burgundy nails?

Burgundy works on most skin tones. Fair skin often suits red burgundy, medium and olive skin suit brown burgundy, and deep skin suits purple burgundy and cat eye finishes. Hold the bottle next to your hand before you buy.

Are burgundy nails only for autumn and winter?

They are most common then, but a red leaning burgundy on short nails works all year.

Do burgundy nails work on short nails?

Yes. Most of the sets in this list are short, and a dark glossy shade suits a short square or rounded shape.

What colors go with burgundy nails?

Gold, soft pink, nude, white and silver are the most common pairings in these sets. Two sets also pair burgundy with blue.