32 Thanksgiving Nail Ideas to Try This Year

Thanksgiving is a good excuse to try warm colors and a little nail art. We picked 32 Thanksgiving nail ideas from nail artists on Instagram, from pie crust lattice and Snoopy sets to simple brown, orange and wine shades you can paint at home.

Each idea has a level so you know what to expect:

• Easy: polish and top coat at home.
• Medium: a thin brush, chrome powder or a gel lamp.
• Salon: detailed hand-painted or 3D work. Bring the photo to your nail tech.

☰ Jump to a section8 sections

1. Top Thanksgiving Picks
2. Plaid and Pattern Thanksgiving Nails
3. Brown and Neutral Thanksgiving Nails
4. Orange and Pumpkin Thanksgiving Nails
5. Red, Berry and Wine Thanksgiving Nails
6. Green Thanksgiving Nails
7. Metallic Thanksgiving Nails
8. How to Make Your Thanksgiving Manicure Last

Top Thanksgiving Picks

These are our favorite Thanksgiving sets right now. Most of them lean into the holiday on purpose, with pie, plaid, Snoopy and warm glitter.

1. Sparkly Pumpkin Spice Mix

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Photo: @sol_dip on Instagram

Long almond nails in a glossy pumpkin orange, mixed with chunky copper and brown glitter and one red and cream plaid accent nail. It is warm, sparkly and easy to wear to dinner.

Level: Easy. Paint two coats of orange, then pack chunky glitter on two nails. Use plaid nail stickers if you do not want to hand-paint the accent.

Shop the look: orange nail polish, chunky copper glitter, plaid nail stickers

2. Pie Crust Lattice Nails

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Photo: @haysalto on Instagram

Square nails with a golden pie crust lattice painted over red and blue glitter fillings, plus little slices of pumpkin and apple pie on the other nails. This is the set to wear if pie is your favorite part of the day.

Level: Salon. Ask for hand-painted lattice art over red and blue glitter bases. Bring this photo so your tech can match the pie slices.

3. Brown Bows and Gingham

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Photo: @nails_by_jenna.k on Instagram

Almond nails that mix glossy chocolate brown, cream with brown polka dots, brown gingham and cream nails with hand-painted brown bows. It reads cozy and fall without any turkey or pumpkins.

Level: Medium. Use a dotting tool for the polka dots and a thin striping brush for the gingham lines and bows.

Shop the look: dotting tools, striping brushes

4. Snoopy Thanksgiving Freestyle

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Photo: @nails.by.chalyn on Instagram

A playful almond set with orange French tips, 3D Snoopy and Woodstock figures, orange plaid, a pumpkin pie and glossy orange gems. Every nail is different.

Level: Salon. This needs 3D molding gel and hand-painted characters. Show your tech the photo and pick two or three nails if you want a shorter appointment.

5. Copper Chrome and Checkers

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Photo: @thevibenaillounge_ on Instagram

Almond nails in a mirror copper chrome, with brown and cream checkerboard accent nails. The chrome keeps it dressy and the checks add a retro touch.

Level: Medium. Rub copper chrome powder over a brown gel base and cure. Paint the checks with a small flat brush or use checkered nail stickers.

Shop the look: copper chrome powder, checkered nail stickers

6. Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

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Photo: @nailsbysarahruth on Instagram

Long square nails on a nude base, with Charlie Brown on one nail, Snoopy on another and orange tips with pumpkins and autumn leaves. A sweet nod to the classic holiday special.

Level: Salon. Ask for hand-painted characters on two accent nails and simple orange tips with leaf art on the rest.

7. Tortoiseshell and Gold Swirls

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Photo: @nailsbycillag on Instagram

Long coffin nails that mix sheer nude, tortoiseshell, brown French tips and gold chrome swirl lines, with a small gold 3D charm. It looks rich and goes with every fall outfit.

Level: Salon. Ask for tortoiseshell on two nails, brown French tips and gold chrome line work. Bring the photo for the charm placement.

Shop the look: gold nail charms, brown gel polish

8. Dark Brown French with Flowers

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Photo: @remedynails on Instagram

Almond nails on a sheer pink base with dark brown French tips and tiny orange and yellow flowers near the tips. It is a soft way to wear brown for the holiday.

Level: Medium. Paint thin dark brown tips with a striping brush, then add small dot flowers with a dotting tool.

Shop the look: dark brown nail polish, French tip guides

9. Red Bows on Lace Tips

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Photo: @nailart.by.annie on Instagram

Short rounded nails with white lace-style French tips dotted with tiny red flowers, plus red bows on the ring fingers. It works for Thanksgiving and carries you into December.

Level: Medium. Paint white scalloped tips with a thin brush, add red dots and finish two accent nails with a red bow.

Shop the look: bow nail stickers

Plaid and Pattern Thanksgiving Nails

Plaid and argyle look like your favorite fall sweater. Pick one accent nail or go all in.

10. Argyle Sweater Nails

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Photo: @chummy.nails on Instagram

Almond nails with a mix of argyle patterns in burgundy, forest green, cream and navy. Each nail uses a different color mix, so the set looks like a stack of knit sweaters.

Level: Salon. Ask for hand-painted argyle with thin cross lines. For an easier version, do argyle on one nail and solid burgundy on the rest.

11. Plaid Cat Eye Nails

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Photo: @craftedbyaprince on Instagram

A creamy white cat eye base with orange, brown and red plaid lines on top. The cat eye shimmer moves under the light behind the plaid.

Level: Medium. Apply magnetic cat eye gel over white, set it with a magnet and cure, then paint plaid lines with a striping brush.

Shop the look: cat eye gel polish, striping brushes

Brown and Neutral Thanksgiving Nails

Brown is the safest Thanksgiving shade. These range from light fawn to deep chrome.

12. Fawn Brown Nails

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Photo: @ncbeautydublin on Instagram

Short rounded nails in a soft light brown, close to a milky latte. It is clean, simple and works for work and the family table.

Level: Easy. Two coats of a light beige brown and a glossy top coat.

Shop the look: light brown nail polish

13. Rosewood Chrome

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Photo: @paintedbyjools on Instagram

Short almond nails in a deep brown with a soft chrome shine on top. It looks like polished wood.

Level: Medium. Rub a pearl or bronze chrome powder over a dark brown gel base.

Shop the look: chrome powder, brown gel polish

14. Tortoiseshell Cat Eye

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Photo: @_citre on Instagram

Almond nails with an amber tortoiseshell look made with cat eye gel, so the dark spots shift as you move your hands.

Level: Medium. Layer amber jelly gel over magnetic gel and blend in dark brown spots before curing.

Shop the look: amber jelly gel, cat eye gel

15. Maple Leaves with Gold Flecks

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Photo: @thenaillologist on Instagram

Short almond nails in deep brown and mauve, with one nude accent nail painted with small autumn leaves and gold flakes.

Level: Medium. Paint solid brown on most nails and use a thin brush for the leaf accent. Press in gold foil flakes before the top coat.

Shop the look: gold foil flakes

Orange and Pumpkin Thanksgiving Nails

Orange says Thanksgiving fast. Go bright, go burnt, or keep it to the tips.

16. Pumpkin Pie Orange

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Photo: @dipwell on Instagram

Long almond nails in a rusty burnt orange with a glossy finish. The color matches a slice of pumpkin pie.

Level: Easy. Two coats of burnt orange polish or dip powder, then top coat.

Shop the look: burnt orange polish

17. Burnt Orange French Tips

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Photo: @bynicolemv on Instagram

Almond nails on a sheer pink base with burnt orange French tips and small gold star studs. It is the easiest way to add orange to a neutral mani.

Level: Medium. Paint deep orange tips with a liner brush or French tip guides, then place small gold studs with nail glue or gel.

Shop the look: gold star studs, French tip guides

18. Apricot Ombre Tips

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Photo: @iramshelton on Instagram

Short nails that fade from a soft nude to bright apricot orange at the tips. It looks soft and fresh.

Level: Medium. Sponge the orange onto the tips with a makeup sponge and blend into a nude base.

Shop the look: makeup sponges for ombre

19. Mustard Squash Nails

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Photo: @jadeandpolished on Instagram

Long almond nails in a muted mustard yellow with a green undertone. It looks like roasted squash and goes well with brown and cream knits.

Level: Easy. Two coats of a muted mustard polish and a glossy top coat.

Shop the look: mustard nail polish

Red, Berry and Wine Thanksgiving Nails

Deep reds and wine shades look rich at night and match cranberry sauce.

20. Blood Red Nails

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Photo: @lolo.nailedit on Instagram

Short almond nails in a deep, glossy blood red. A classic that never looks wrong.

Level: Easy. Two coats of deep red polish and a glossy top coat.

Shop the look: deep red nail polish

21. Red Velvet Nails

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Photo: @nailartbyqueenie on Instagram

Almond nails in a dark wine red with a velvet cat eye shimmer that catches the light across the nail.

Level: Medium. Apply a velvet or cat eye gel in red over a dark base and move a magnet across the nail before curing.

Shop the look: velvet cat eye gel

22. Cabernet Almonds

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Photo: @marketka_puskac on Instagram

Long almond nails in a deep cabernet red with a high shine. It pairs well with a glass of red wine.

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

Shop the look: burgundy nail polish

23. Plum Season

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Photo: @themanicurist.cm on Instagram

Long almond nails in a deep plum purple with a glassy finish. It is a step away from red but still dark and moody.

Level: Easy. Two coats of plum polish or BIAB in a plum shade.

Shop the look: plum nail polish

24. Maroon Chrome

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Photo: @beautyspace_charlotte on Instagram

Short square nails in a dusty maroon with a soft chrome sheen. It is muted enough for every day.

Level: Medium. Rub a pearl chrome powder over a maroon or mauve gel base.

Shop the look: chrome powder

25. Cherry Cat Eye

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Photo: @beautybyelee on Instagram

Square nails with a red cat eye over a dark base, which gives a glowing deep cherry stripe down each nail.

Level: Medium. Apply red magnetic gel over black or dark red and pull the shine to the center with a magnet.

Shop the look: red cat eye gel

26. Berry Mix with Flowers

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Photo: @bynicolemv on Instagram

Almond nails that mix berry ombre French tips, a berry marble nail and a small painted flower on a soft pink base.

Level: Medium. Sponge berry shades onto the tips, swirl two berry tones for the marble and dot on a flower.

Shop the look: berry gel polish

27. Frosted Apple Red

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Photo: @isabelblakenails on Instagram

Short rounded nails in a bright raspberry red with an icy chrome finish on top, so the color looks glazed.

Level: Medium. Rub a white or icy chrome powder over a red gel base and cure.

Shop the look: icy chrome powder

Green Thanksgiving Nails

Olive and forest green feel like fall leaves and look great next to gold rings.

28. Forest Green Accents

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Photo: @elsgels on Instagram

Short nude nails with a few nails in deep forest green and tiny dot details. It is subtle and easy to wear.

Level: Easy. Paint nude on most nails and forest green on two, then add a small dot with a dotting tool.

Shop the look: forest green polish

29. Glazed Olive Nails

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Photo: @dndgel on Instagram

Almond nails in olive green with a white chrome glaze on top. The shine makes the green look soft and pearly.

Level: Medium. Rub white chrome powder over an olive gel base.

Shop the look: olive green gel, white chrome powder

30. Fall Skittle Mix

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Photo: @nails_by.ry on Instagram

Almond nails in a different fall shade on every finger: olive, peach, orange, dark green and chocolate brown, with small gold stars and lines.

Level: Medium. Paint each nail a different fall shade and add gold stars with a thin brush or stickers.

Shop the look: gold star stickers

Metallic Thanksgiving Nails

Gold and textured chrome feel festive enough for a holiday dinner.

31. Gold Chrome Nails

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Photo: @tantalizing_tips on Instagram

Long almond nails in full mirror gold chrome. They look bold and shine in every photo.

Level: Medium. Rub gold chrome powder over a black or dark gel base and cure, then top coat.

Shop the look: gold chrome powder

32. Textured Gold and Wine

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Photo: @overglowedit on Instagram

Almond nails that mix raised gold chrome waves, a sheer nail with tiny gold studs, a brown French tip and a wine red marble nail.

Level: Salon. Ask for 3D gel waves with gold chrome on top, plus one marble and one French accent.

Shop the look: 3D builder gel

How to Make Your Thanksgiving Manicure Last

You will be cooking, washing dishes and carrying plates, so a few small habits help your nails survive the holiday.

• Get your nails done two to four days before Thanksgiving so they still look fresh.
• Wear gloves when you wash dishes or scrub roasting pans. Hot water and grease lift polish.
• Add a thin layer of top coat over the free edge every two days for regular polish.
• Use cuticle oil every night. Dry cuticles make even a new mani look old.
• Choose shorter almond or rounded shapes if you will be cooking a lot. They chip and break less.

Shop cuticle oil and long-lasting top coat on Amazon.