Fun Summer Manicure Ideas For Short Nails

Once the warmer days roll in, there is no better way to embrace the sunny weather than with a fresh set of nails. Most manicure inspiration photos on social media are often tailored to long acrylics, so it's tricky to find unique looks for those who prefer to keep their nails short and sweet. However, don't let that stop you from indulging in your dream manicure, as you can still get creative with short nail designs.

"There are so many designs you can do with short nails," nail artist Molly Romah tells InStyle. "You just have to customize a little to fit in short nails. If designs are bigger on longer nails, then for shorter nails, do smaller and thinner lines." This summer, we're branching out and experimenting with rich summer shades, French manicures, and delicate pastels. And if you're a dedicated maximalist girlie, consider groovy swirl patterns, multi-design manis, and glitzy-glam polish.

French manicures will never not be in style. What's more, there are endless variations of this classic mani look to enjoy, including the trendy baby French manicure, colorful French tips, and even an inverted French mani. "Choose a more narrow tip for a modern look, or go '90s vibes with a thicker French tip," trend expert Olivia Van Iderstine tells Byrdie.

If you're tired of the subtle shades and crave a color that pops, dip your toes (and fingers!) into a sumptuous blood-orange polish. "Blood orange nails are a fun summer take on that bright, reddish-orange hue," celebrity nail artist Sonya Meesh shares with Byrdie. "It's literally the color of the fruit, a mix of orange and warm red. It's the opposite of the quiet luxury, naked nail look that's been trending. It's bright, bold, and juicy." 

To pull off retro nail art on short nails, the key is to stick with S-shaped waves. Stick with pinks and purples for a girly look, and play around with layering your squiggles over blocks of color. For instance, consider pairing baby pink with a darker pink for the ultimate fun-in-the-sun set. 

Mismatched designs are a perfect option for both the free-spirited and perpetually indecisive, as you can indulge in the best of both worlds by combining multiple colors or styles. For an eye-catching mani, select complementary summer shades, such as sunset orange and pink. Go all out and ask for marble patterns, bright solid polish, and gold tips — all on the same hand. 

The "clean girl" trend has withstood the test of time, which makes barely-there clean-girl soap nails a modern mani classic. "A nude nail color is a neutral tone that has a brown, tan, pink, or white undertone," nail artist Tara Hayes shares with InStyle. "There are many tones and opacities of nudes, both in the cool family and warm family. Usually, they can be anywhere from full coverage to a thin veil of color or a multitude of opacities." Level up a sophisticated nude nail with milky shades and opaque polishes.