32 Short Nail Designs That Prove Elaborate Manicures Are for Everyone
Long nails are like the Marcia Brady of manicures — they get all the attention and are always showing off, displaying their intricate designs on the internet. But let's be honest: short nail designs are long overdue for some time in the spotlight. We're talking much longer than that library book you forgot to return to the school librarian back in the fourth grade, or that one-word text you were supposed to send to that guy you've been talking to on Tinder. Short nails are like Jan Brady, the middle sister who sometimes gets overlooked but definitely deserves the attention just like her big sis.
If you're someone who will never succumb to the siren song of acrylic nails, are a nail-biter, just aren't a big fan of long nails, or are cursed with weak nails that just won't grow no matter how many supplements you take, don't fret. You and your adorable short nails can still hang.
"As a former nail-biter, I can attest that nail art makes every length look extra fabulous," says New York City-based nail artist Miss Pop. "If you have very short nails, consider focusing the design down by the cuticle — try a half-moon or a negative-space look." In fact, these manicures look amazing on all lengths, especially on shorties. Better yet, each of these sets comes in a variety of colors and designs that are sure to satisfy almost everyone's aesthetic palette. Not into pastels? We've got several ideas that fare more on the neutral side. Fancy pink over neutrals? We've got those, too. Consider all your nail art needs to be covered.
Ahead, keep scrolling to find 32 short nail designs that we can guarantee you'll want to copy, add to your nail art mood board, or show to your nail tech at your next salon appointment.
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McQueen bag. Photographed by Heami Lee. Sittings editor: Kat Thomas.1/32Bedazzled Gemstones
"If I want to go over-the-top, I fill the nails with gemstones," says manicurist Miki Higuchi. Here, she balanced big, colorful gems with smaller ones over Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in 625 Silver Storm. Use Kiss Nail Glue and glue dryer spray: "The gems won't budge," she states.
Marlo Laz ring. Bea Bongiasca ring. Coperni bag. Photographed by Heami Lee. Sittings editor: Kat Thomas.2/32Marbleized Metallic
Marbleized metallic nails are individual and funky. To create this look, Higuchi used a makeup sponge to randomly dab on pink, silver, and gold metallic polishes, then blurred the borders using a small paintbrush. "Apply the darkest metallic first so colors don’t become muddied," she says.
La Manso ring. Photographed by Heami Lee. Sittings editor: Kat Thomas.3/32Rainbow Ombré Tips
"Ombré is classic, but an iridescent base coat with a rainbow of metallic colors on the tips makes it less bridal," says Higuchi.
Once the neutral base is dry, dab a metallic color onto the top half of each nail with a makeup sponge, then add one more coat of the same color over dry tips for gradation. Throw in a colorful metallic among rich bronzes and golds (Essie has a great range, including the glimmering magenta Space Out).
Courtesy of Olive & June4/32Two-Toned Tips
This simple split-color manicure has a sophisticated but fun feel to it. Plus, according to nail artist and founder of Sundays Studio, Amy Lin, it can actually help make your nails look longer — no acrylics needed.
"This can be done easily with a brush," she says, adding that using tape is a good option for beginners. "Try using an angular design that will also help elongate the look of your nails."
Instagram/@popbeautynorwich5/32Sweet Strawberries
How could your mood not be lifted in the slightest when looking at this manicure by nail artist Amber Green? The bright pink polish and strawberries that are scattered across some of the nails certainly elude to much brighter, sun-filled days — aka spring and summer. For a similar vibrant pink that will make everyone wink, we recommend giving Ella+Mila's nail polish in Brave a try.
Instagram/@nailsbymei6/32The Far-From-Typical French
This edgy black-and-neon design by New York City-based nail artist Mei Kawajiri is proof that the French manicure can be anything but basic — and pros are on the same page.
"The new French manicure is no longer about the perfect half-moon shape but instead about creating a line, even be it a skinny line with a bright color," says Lin. "It's not about achieving the perfect shape but about using color for self-expression."
For a look like this, feel free to use whatever high-voltage hues you have hanging around in your collection already.
Instagram/@hannahmissennails7/32Bowie Lightning Bolts
Pay homage to singer David Bowie's musical legacy with these expertly painted lightning bolts. To get those red-and-blue bolts down to a tee, Hannah Missen, the nail artist behind this design, recommends "to mark each point of the lightning bolt with four tiny dots, then use a super-thin detail brush to join the lines and thicken where needed." Try Alpine Snow by OPI for a similar soft white polish.
Courtesy of Olive & June8/32Geometric Half Moons
This festive red manicure isn't just perfect for the holiday season. Wear this cut-out, geometric half-moon design any time of year and you're bound to get compliments.
"A negative space design like this can be long-lasting and stays on even when your nails grow out," says Lin in regards to why it works for short nails. As far as execution is concerned, she suggests using tape, as it's your best shot at getting super clean and precise lines.
Instagram/@akikonails_nyc9/32Floral Ombré
This lavender manicure with floral accents couldn't be easier to recreate at home. Just grab your go-to purple polishes for the base, and then use a tiny paintbrush to draw on little white flowers wherever you like. The pretty ombré effect — which you can learn how to do in this helpful video — has a way of making the nails look naturally longer.
A pro tip from Lin? Make the flowers smaller than half the size of your nail for a fun dainty effect that won't look too overwhelming on short nails. "I'd also only do floral designs like these on a few nails to make them the focal point," she says.
Instagram/@fleuryrosenails10/32Soft Smiles
This adorable smiley-face manicure can be easily achieved with just three colors — nude, yellow, and black — along with a trusty dotting tool. If you don't own one, Los Angeles-based nail artist Mazz says there are definitely items around your house that will do the trick, too.
"Never underestimate the power of a bobby pin and a toothpick when creating nail art at home," she says. "They are some of the best tools for making nearly perfect circles, and you can also use an old eyeliner brush to create fine lines in a look like this. If the brush is too thick, simply trim some of the bristles away with scissors."
On the flip side, if you don't feel like doing the legwork, get a pair of some fun press-ons. In fact, you can even get some nail decals and just stick your smileys on. We're fans of Inked By Dani's Color Nail Art Tattoos, which come in a variety of designs, including smiley faces, flowers, and stars, to name a few. Don't worry about making it too perfect, either. It'll come out cute no matter what.
Instagram/@jennifer_nails_it11/32Pretty Palm trees
Take your nails to the beaches of the tropics — well, just imagine, at least — with this vibrant tropical-themed manicure created by Jennifer Petersen. To complement the blue and pink sky that falls behind each of the palm tree accents, she painted the rest of the nails in a variety of colors that speak to the luscious colors of the beach, which include neon green and pastel pink. Truly tropical, right?
Instagram/@sweet.as.hell.nails12/32Twinkling Stars
Give your nails a subtly chic twinkling effect with this manicure by nail artist Daisy Tann. Don't let those gem-like sparkles interspersed among the stars fool you, though. Tann says she used only "a small amount of silver glitter" to achieve the jewel-like sheen for the sparkles.
Instagram/@snowball62413/32Precious Polar Bears
You've probably never heard the words cute and polar bears in the same phrase, let alone sentence, but this manicure by Aleksandra Mihajlovic will have you convinced that polar bears are one of the cutest animals on the planet.
To create those cute little faces that are perking out from the nail's edges, Mihajlovic tells Allure that she "drew a quarter of a circle in the corner of [each nail], put some ears on each head, made two black dots for the eyes and another for the nose. She used Liquid Vinyl by Orly for all the miniature facial details.
Instagram/@fleuryrosenails14/32Hint of Animal Print
A little leopard print goes a long way — especially when it comes to spicing up short nails. When it's only applied to the accent nails, it winds up making more of a statement because it stands out against the solid colors.
"For shorter nails, I suggest using animal print on a few fingernails, though not all of them, as this draws more attention to the manicure while also adding more variety to your nail art," says Lin.
In terms of how to do your own animal print designs, manicurist Mar y Sol Inzerillo recommends using a dotting tool and the brush that comes with your polish. "I like to finish the nails that will not have nail art on them first so that they dry while I work on the rest.
Then, on a small piece of tinfoil, dab the color you'd like to use for the animal print and get to work," she says. "Make sure to leave a good amount of space between the print as the negative space makes it look more realistic."
Instagram/@abigailchater15/32Shimmering Reverse French Manicure
Sometimes, going in reverse can actually be a good thing, as evidenced by this reverse French manicure created by nail artist Abigail Chater. She gave this revised approach to the French manicure a sparkle-topped finish using two coats of Brillbrid's Hypnotic Diamond Gel & Lac in 142. To make sure the reverse French effect remained visible, she did not paint the glitter polish down to the cuticles and sidewalls of each nail.
After adding two coats of the shimmering polish, Chater used a nail buffer "to smooth the surface ever so slightly." "This is key to your black gel applying easy with no lumps," she says. "If you miss this step, your look could take longer to create & more difficult to get a clean line." She reached for Glossify's One Coat Gel in Black for the U-shaped edges.
Instagram/@popbeautynorwich16/32Lovely Lavender
Another serotonin-inducing design by nail artist Amber Green, this look was inspired by the bucolic, pastoral landscapes in the show, Bridgerton. Fans of the hit Netflix show, be sure to place this design at the top of your list ahead of your next nail salon appointment.
Instagram/@noellefuyunails17/32Funky Fruits
Fruits and flowers collide with the funky, mod aesthetic of the '70s in this manicure by nail artist Noelle Moore. Moore tells Allure that this set was inspired by a print (which you can check out here) created by artist Marisol Muro.
"Since the color scheme is colorful but dull, I mixed brown in every color I used, such as pink, blue and yellow," she says about the design. "I adjusted the amount and type of brown I mixed with each color to not kill the vibrancy of the original color."
Instagram/@mpnails18/32Metallic Minimalism
These green and gold nails are gorgeous and especially perfect for wearing to a party or any fancy occasion. The luxe, velvety finish gives this look something undeniably special.
"Adding a metallic stripe is an interesting way to create more contrast between the colors in your manicure," says Lin, who also recommends using tape for this look to avoid any slip-ups.
Moreover, Inzerillo says you shouldn't be scared to use multiple metallic shades in a look like this. "You can combine any types of metallics as long as there is a neutral in there for the contrast," she says.
Instagram/@mpnails19/32Flower Power
Everyone fancies some flower power now and then, and this cheerful manicure puts it at your fingertips. Note that the cherry-red base makes the three-tiered floral design stand out even more, which we love.
For this look, placement is super important, says Lin. "Where you put the flowers can be crucial for short nails — for instance, placing them in a vertical order like this can enlarge the nails and draw more attention to the center of the nail."
Instagram/@sfpartynails20/32Green Tortoiseshell
It goes without saying that tortoiseshell tips are one of nail art's most popular designs, and they'll probably continue to be for years to come due to their timeless nature.
Nail artist Taylor Watson updated the tortoiseshell's traditional dark brown and tan color scheme with a Kelly green background. For a lush hue of green similar to the one Watson used, we recommend trying the Best of Beauty Award-winning Jinsoon Nail Lacquer in Palma.
When it comes to the dark shell marks, Watson says having two polishes on hand — "a sheer as well as an opaque black" — is key "to create layers and depth."
Instagram/@kimkimnails21/32Glitter Tips
Worried your short nails won't get noticed? Simply add some sparkle and you're good to go.
“Adding glitter to tips can make short nails appear longer — plus, it's a great way to extend the life of a manicure once it starts chipping," says Mazz. "Layering fine glitter polish under a chunkier option also adds dimension and extra sparkle."
Additionally, Lin says you don't have to be too precise when using glitter nail polish, which is most definitely a bonus. "Glitter polishes are easier than regular ones to apply, as you don't have to put your polish on perfectly smooth and it'll still look good," she says.
Instagram/@nailsbychacha22/32Matisse Masterpieces
Turn your nails into a colorful, walking art gallery with these Henri Matisse-inspired nails. If you're not familiar with his work, this page on the Museum of Modern Art's website has plenty of examples. ChaCha Nova, the nail artist behind this manicure, says the client who received this manicure shared several reference photos of Matisse's work in order for the nail art to come pretty close to looking like Matisse's masterpieces. "The main focus was to make it clean," Nova says in regards to the design.
Because this was a gel-based set, she also emphasized the importance of using clean acetone. "You're using so many different gel colors. You don't want them to get muddy," she explains.
Instagram/@nailsinc23/32Starry Night
We're smitten with this subtle starry style, which can work with any nail color you want. The main feat with a manicure like this is getting the appliqués to stick — that said, there are things you can do to ensure they won't budge.
"Using a super thick gel-like topcoat can help the gems stay in place," says Mazz, whose favorite is Seche's Vive Gel Effect Top Coat. "It's super glossy, makes manicures last for weeks, and dries in under five minutes."
While it's a little tedious, we recommend applying only one or two gemstones at a time to get the cleanest finish.
Instagram/@cuteycles.nails.by.emily24/32Glitter Cuffs
This glitter cuff manicure by nail artist Emily Archdale is undoubtedly another way to add some subtle sheen to your mani without overdoing it. For the glitter borders, Archdale tells Allure she used "a highly pigmented glitter gel polish" called Blessed from The Gel Bottle. Like with many nail designs that call to pay close attention to detail, Archdale reached for a striper brush, specifically Magpie Beauty's Striper Nail Art Brush.
"Make sure you don't overload your nail art brush with excess product because the design is super fine and detailed," she says about the look. "Too much product application could lead to the design flooding, spreading, or bleeding out across the nail plate."
Instagram/@nail_swag25/32Raining Rainbow
How cool is this whimsical rainbow mani? Everyone will be asking about your nails when you step out with this squiggly, pastel look, which features asymmetrical black cloud tips with tiny stars for a cute celestial theme.
"Taking classic designs and making them more abstract not only looks great on short nails, but it's easy enough for a beginner to DIY at home," says Mazz, who suggests using a toothpick and a bobby pin for this particular manicure.
Courtesy of Instagram/@callmemazz26/32Rose Quartz
This dreamy rose quartz manicure is just another look that's especially ideal for short nails. "If your nails are short because they are damaged from improper gel or acrylic removal, rose quartz-inspired nail art is a great way to hide imperfections on the nail plate," says Mazz.
To create this mesmerizing design, Mazz used Orly's polishes in shades Kiss Me I'm Kind and White Tips.
If you're also trying to grow your nails out, make sure to keep them constantly hydrated. "Use a cuticle oil made with nourishing oils frequently to help nails get healthy and strong," says Mazz.
Instagram/@sfpartynails27/32Eager Eyes
Add some extra pairs of watchful eyes to your nails by taking some direction from this other manicure created by nail artist Taylor Watson. These eyes certainly look pretty small, which is why Watson tells Allure that using "a super-thin striper brush is key for getting the details right." She adds that a dotting brush is also crucial in order to "create the circles in the eyes."
Instagram/@noellefuyunails28/32Cute Blobs
Blobs are… well, blobs, but we don't think any blobs can compete with how cute these blobs are. Nail artist Noelle Moore finds this design to be great for those with short nails "since there's not much surface area compared to, for instance, nail extensions. [A smaller surface area is] actually great because it enhances the blobbiness," Moore says. Short nails have never met a cuter design more than this one.
Instagram/@nailsbychacha29/32Fungi Fun
Mushrooms aren't that fun to deal with when they take over your backyard, but they sure as hell make for great nail art, as demonstrated in another design by nail artist ChaCha Nova. "[They] are fun to do because they are truly so wonky-shaped that it makes it easy to create them without [the] worry of accuracy," Nova explains. To create the mushroom, she says she starts with the stem, then ends with the cap. Painting mushrooms on your nails sounds like a lot more fun than digging them out of your yard.
Instagram/@nailsdnt30/32Soap Bubbles
Soap is another one of those things that is unlikely to be associated with nail art. However, Oleksandra Deineka proves that soap bubbles actually make for a great nail design on short nails. You can watch Deineka create this manicure in real-time by checking out her tutorial right here.
To recreate this look on your own, she tells Allure that you need three things: a stamper (Deineka recommends Uber Chic Beauty's XL Clear, Short Stamper, in Purple Metal), a dotting tool (or anything with a round end), and an opaque polish. Start by placing a dot of polish on the stamper using the dotting tool. Afterward, "quickly wipe the dotting tool and press again in the center of the dot while the polish is still wet to remove the inner part of the dot. Then just transfer the obtained circle from stamper to the nail," she explains.
Deineka confesses that it does take a bit of time to perfect the stamping process, but like anything, practice makes perfect.
Instagram/@jennifer_nails_it31/32Zodiac Signs
Those who believe that our fates rest in the stars should totally get behind this other manicure by nail artist Jennifer Petersen. Each nail features a Zodiac sign painted in gold against a navy blue background.
If you're considering recreating this look on your own, Petersen's tips are pretty straightforward. "Try to not overthink it," she tells Allure. "I try to just focus on one line at a time." Oh, and try using gel polishes instead. "It's so forgiving," she says.
Instagram/@nailartbyqueenie32/32Neutral Reverse French Manicure
Up the ante on the runway-approved neutral manicure trend with a reverse French manicure using a neutral polish. Nail artist Queenie Nguyen, better known as Queenie, created this reverse mani on actor Carey Mulligan for the 2021 Met Gala. For the neutral base, Nguyen mixed Mineral Fusion's Bare Minimum and On Pointe together "to create the perfect nude base color to compliment her skin tone." As for the Fuschia French tips, Nguyen used a polish from Dior in the shade Lucky.
Nguyen finds this design to be ideal for short nails "because of the micro delicate French tips. It adds a subtle pop of color to short nails without overpowering and covering a lot of the nail surface," she explains. "It is chic and long-lasting due to the shorter nail length because there isn't too much nail polish on the nails' free edge."
