29 Gel Nail Ideas for February That Will Make You Swoon
February manicures instantly conjure up the idea of heart nail art and shades of pink and red polish. While we’re not opposed to a full-on Valentine’s Day-inspired manicure, there are also plenty of out-of-the-box nail ideas to consider this month. No matter your nail length and shape, each of these 29 fun and flirty gel nail ideas for February hit the mark. Save them as inspiration or share them with your nail-obsessed bestie, but whatever you do, make sure to embrace a great manicure this month.
Dainty Ribbon Nails
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Take white chrome nails up a notch by adding nail art. Here, a thin black ribbon design with a pretty, flowy bow on just one nail creates the perfect black-and-white nail look. The length is also ideal, giving just enough real estate for the manicure.
Blinged-Out Nails
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There’s something so pretty and timeless about a gel manicure outfitted with micro rhinestones. Blinged-out nails like these instantly dress up the neutral polish. The key to pulling off this look is to keep the placement of the rhinestones uniform from one nail to the next.
Silver Velvet Nails
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For a conversation-starting manicure, consider velvet nails in a unique black-meets-silver shade. Mixing equal parts shimmer and dimension, these beautiful nails are the perfect look for a winter vibe.
Chrome Heart Nails
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These pretty red chrome-tipped nails are the perfect Valentine’s Day manicure. While we love a classic French tip, adjusting their shape from a rounded one to one that looks more like a heart is an easy way to elevate your manicure.
Mocha Swirl Nails
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If you prefer neutral nails with some punchiness, pair a natural nude polish with a medium brown one for a latte-inspired manicure. The combination of a French tip, some swirly nail art, and solid nails breathe new life into this earthy color, making it the perfect gel nail idea for February.
Garnet Ombré Nails
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We love the look of jewel-toned nails come February. Rather than sticking with a solid color, try this unexpected manicure, which features a deep ombré that starts black and fades into a beautiful garnet shade.
Abstract Checkerboard Nails
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Checkerboard nails are cute, and swapping out the basic black-and-white color palette for a mélange of reds and browns gives the look a new lease on life. The typical square boxes are rounded with a heart design to make things even more appropriate for the season.
Glossy Heart Nails
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For a manicure with a total V-Day vibe, try this look. To make the hearts look even more dazzling, add a layer of chrome to each one.
Ombré Pink Tips
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For an unexpected take on the traditional French manicure, outfit square nails with hot pink gradient tips. Pairing multiple tones of bright pink polish against a milky pinky-nude base creates the most eye-catching contrast.
Deep Bordeaux Nails
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There’s nothing quite like a deep, dark red nail. This Bordeaux shade exudes elegance and timelessness while still being a little vampy and mysterious.
Pink Skittle Nails
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In keeping with the theme of Valentine’s Day for February, pink Skittle nails are the ultimate way to rock a love-inspired manicure. We also like the addition of a mauve-toned middle nail to break up the transition from red to pink.
Fiery Red Nails
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Short nails with a clean shape and perfectly-trimmed cuticles are anything but boring. To make this classy-looking nail more fun and punchy, swipe on a few layers of bright red polish with an extra top coat for an ultra-glossy finish.
Mismatched Mani
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We’ve never met a mismatched manicure that we didn’t like. The juxtaposition of a black-and-white checkerboard and swirl design against bright, glossy cherry-red nails is so chic and out-of-the-box that we had to add this to our inspiration folder. Bonus points for the shorter length, too.
Black Jelly Heart Nails
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Not every gel manicure worn throughout February needs to feature red and pink hearts. Black hearts against a black jelly base give this unconventional Valentine’s Day manicure a moodier feel.
Red Apple Velvet Nails
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This set is the perfect mix of glitter with a hint of metallic sheen, giving the illusion of a velvet-like texture. The red apple color is also stunning.
Magenta Aura Nails
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Aura nails are an easy way to achieve a dreamy manicure with an ethereal edge. This buzzy nail look relegates the chosen colors, here magenta, to the outer part of the nail and a hazy center ring that’s more neutral.
Pink Sparkle Nails
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Milky pale pink nails get a pretty upgrade with clusters of multi-sized rhinestones. While the blingy accessory works against any nail color, we’re partial to it with pink polish for an oh-so-demure pairing.
Mismatched Windowpane Nails
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This shiny gel set has an abstract feel. The multicolor grid pattern creates a cool windowpane design, a welcome departure from typical tartan plaid.
Bright Reverse French Nails
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Sometimes, a simple design is all you need for statement nails. Here, a reverse French, done in an unexpected color combination of coral with a rim of lavender, creates a super chic manicure that will turn heads.
Orange and Pink Ombré Nails
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Swap out typical darker winter polishes for something bright and fun. This summer-inspired ombré nail look uses punchy orange and pink tones for a cheerful look.
Pastel Metallic Nails
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Give a metallic gel manicure a pop of life with thin silver abstract overlays and a few strategically placed rhinestones. While it sounds like a lot, the trifecta works for added dimension to your mani.
Ruby Red Nails
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Pairing solid red nails with a single abstract design creates the perfect juxtaposition. Sometimes, one accent nail is all you need.
White on White Nails
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This winter white manicure is sheer perfection. It is perfect for the modern bride or anyone who likes a white-on-white look. We appreciate that the solid, milky background allows the opaque lines to be the star of the show.
Rose Gold Tiger Nails
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This avant-garde mix of rose gold, black, natural peach, and tiger stripes makes for a sexy manicure. Adding neutral-toned solid nails balances the bold mani.
Jelly Polka Dot Nails
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Nothing compares to this clear jelly manicure, bedecked with micro-white polka dots. It’s minimalist but mesmerizing.
Lipgloss Nails
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For an ultra-shiny, ultra-glossy look, stick with a pretty, light pink polish. A few coats of sheer polish will give your nails a simple yet highly elevated finish.
Sugar Plum Fairy Nails
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There’s never a bad time for glitter nails. As seen here, applying light pink glitter on top of a sheer jelly base will give your nails an airy, ethereal look.
Multi-Colored French Tips
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To recreate this pretty, multi-colored French manicure, start with a neutral base and use a thin nail brush to apply micro-thin bands of gold, white, pink, and red nail polish. Almond-shaped tips will give you more room for this cutesy design.
Pink Two-Toned Nails
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This dual-toned pink-on-pink look is a shoo-in when you can’t choose just one color. Baby pink tips and a rosy base make for such a sweet and sophisticated style.