16 Valentine's Day nails that will add a touch of luxury and romance to your look

What’s not to love about Valentine’s Day nails? From sophisticated solid shades to stylish nail art, there are so many ways to elevate your standard manicure for February 14th.

"Valentine's Day nail designs are the perfect way to get prepped for the most romantic time of the year without feeling over the top," says expert manicurist Sophie Louise Martin. "Sometimes just a solid shade of pink or red can be the perfect nod to our valentine, or if you're feeling adventurous there are plenty of nail art designs to try out." 

So, if you're looking to mark the romantic holiday with some simple Valentine's Day nails - that will remain wearable and in keeping with the 2024 nail trends, long after the date has passed - or more statement designs, we've rounded up 16 manicures that are sure to steal your heart...

16 Valentine's Day nails, from signature reds to classy heart design

Heart nail designs

No shape or symbol is as apt for celebrating Valentine's Day as a red love heart, and when done well, the effect can be both stylish and downright adorable. And for those looking to do their heart nail designs at home, Sophie Louise Martin has shared exactly how to do so in three easy steps - which can be applied to all of the heart designs below.

"A favorite design amongst all nail techs is the scattered heart design," says Sophie Louise Martin, which consists of micro love hearts painted onto each nail. "Not only does it look great but it's also relatively easy to recreate at home," she adds. Here's how: 

• Step 1: Apply base polish. "My favorite way to wear this design is with a classic nude base," says Sophie. 
• Step 2: Get dotting. "Take a small dotting tool and dab it into your chosen nail polish (red or gold looks great). Next, place two small dots onto the nail positioned next to each other."
• Step 3: Join the dots. "Grab a fine line brush and start to drag the two dots diagonally down until they meet at a point. You'll then need to fill in any gaps and voila, there's your love heart." 

1. Subtle heart accents

Wear your heart on your hands by recreating this minimalistic look, which features micro red hearts painted onto a fresh, barely-there base. While you can cover every nail with a red decal, we'd instead recommend opting for just one, solitary heart - perhaps applied to each thumb or wedding finger. For the best results, follow our 11 essential nail care tips ahead of your manicure to get your nails in tip-top shape.  

2. Pink and red love hearts

In keeping with the love heart theme, ask your manicurist to experiment with shapes and sizes for a fresh, modern take. Fancy trying this at home? Learn how to do gel nails at home for a look that will last. 

3. Negative heart nails

For a modern twist on heart nails, go for these negative space nails. To recreate, simply select the nail (or nails) you want to feature your heart design and then either paint the shape with a detailing brush or use a stencil.

4. Luxe love hearts

For a more luxurious take on the classic love heart Valentine's Day nail art, ask your manicurist for gold foil hearts on top a milky sheer base. Oval and sqouval nail shapes suit this design best. 

5. Red heart tips

For a flirty take on the classic French mani, try these beautiful red love heart tips. This one is probably best left to the pros, and to nail the design, ask for your nails to be filed into an oval or pointed shape that will act as the 'V'.  

Red Valentine's Day nails

What could be more romantic than red? Much like the best red lipstick, a classic red manicure looks great at any time of year but is particularly apt as a subtle and classy nod to Valentine's Day. It also just so happens to be one of the biggest 2024 nail trends, so not only will you be on-theme for the occasions but also on-trend.

6. Red abstract nails

This abstract nail art is cute enough to wear on Valentine's Day and beyond. To master the mani, file your nails into an almond shape before you (or a professional) start painting—this shape will elongate your nails and compliment the design. 

7. Scarlet half moon

Half moons are trending and we can totally see why. This simple yet intricate design involves painting polish around the rounded shadows at the base of each nail (otherwise known as the lunula). To make the lunula pop, opt for a cherry red. 

8. Rouge glitter nails

Glitter is an easy way to dial up party makeup as well as Valentine's Day nails. All you'll need are two polishes—one with a glitter finish and one that's opaque—to recreate this fun, glitzy statement nail look. 

9. Burgundy nails

Dark red nails are very stylish right now and are especially perfect for Valentine's Day. For a really polished finish, top your chosen wine-like shade with a high-shine top coat.

10. Cherry Squoval red nails

As mentioned, red while always being a timeless nail colour, is having quite the renaissance this year, so we'd definitely suggest tapping into the trend for Valentine's Day with bright blocks of cherry red nail polish. Easy to do at home, the key is to apply a high-shine top coat for a glossy, expensive-looking finish. 

Pink Valentine's Day nails

A pink manicure is supremely flattering and a sweet way to tip your cap to V-day without going too far - and will remain wearable well into the spring season, especially if you opt for a pastel pink hue.

11. Ombré pink nails

Ombré is a type of manicure whereby a light colour at the base of the nail gradually blends into a darker colour towards the tip - or vice versa. To do this yourself, try using a slim makeup sponge for small areas to press on the darker shade and finish with a clear coat of polish. 

12. Pink gradient nails

After a simple style, that's easy to DIY? Turn your attention to this effortless gradient mani. All you need are five polishes in varying shades of pink, starting with the lightest on your thumb, to recreate the look. 

13. Jelly pink nails

For a minimalist look that's perfect for Valentine's Day and beyond, opt for a pared-back, glossy manicure with a sheer, pink tint. Pretty and super flattering on all nail shapes and lengths, this is really easy to recreate at home. 

Valentine's Day French tip nails

French tip nails are truly timeless and can always be counted on to elevate a look, so adding a hint of Valentine's red or pink is a surefire way to achieve a chic but subtle manicure. Red French tips are especially apt for the romantic holiday and thanks to the rising demand for red shades in general, your nail look will still be on-trend long after February 14th.

14. Burgundy tips

There are so many ways to mix up a classic French manicure. One of our favourites is opting for a colourful tip like this deep wine shade. If you're attempting this at home, start by painting your base colour before drawing a curved line, using a thin brush, along the smile line, and filling in the tip. 

15. Almond red French tips

If you have longer nails, almond-shaped French tips offer classic elegance no matter the occasion but look especially expensive with a lick of statement red. To recreate, we recommend investing in a French nail stamper, which will help you achieve uniform crescent-shaped lines.

16. Pastel pink French tips

With spring fast approaching, a pastel pink French nail look doubles as both a gorgeous (but understated) Valentine's Day look and a soft, everyday mani for when the warmer weather hits.