“After a year of economic ups and downs, people will be looking to the holiday season as a chance to put aside their everyday worries and enjoy the season and the joyful spirit of families and friends,” says OPI Products artistic director Susan Weiss-Fischmann. In keeping with that simple, relaxed theme, the trend in nail shapes will be shorter with a gentle, rounded curve.

Red will dominate the season, says OPI, not only because it’s traditionally a holiday color, but because American fashion designers are turning to patriotic colors for the season’s looks.

A French manicure with a bright white tip also will enjoy holiday favour. “With the amount of pure, crisp white in this season’s holiday fashions, the bright French tip will work with almost any fashion, from demure to glamorous,” says Weiss Fischmann.