Short Nails

About short nails

Short nails are practical, comfortable and far more stylish than they get credit for. They do not catch on keyboards or hair ties, they break less, and they suit almost every dress code. The key is choosing the right shape and color so that a short nail looks deliberate rather than bitten down.

For most hands, a soft round or a short oval is the most flattering shape at this length, because it follows the natural curve of the fingertip. A short square works well on long, narrow nail beds. Short almond is possible too, but it needs a little free edge, so it suits people whose nails grow past the fingertip. If you are not sure which one is yours, the Nail Shape Quiz will point you in the right direction in about a minute.

Color matters more on short nails than on long ones. Sheer nudes and milky whites make the nail bed look longer. Deep shades such as burgundy, navy and black look sharp and modern on a short nail, while very pale opaque pastels can make nails look shorter and wider. Our guides in this section cover short nails for work, short gel manicures, short French tips and simple designs you can do at home, each with tags you can filter in the Nail Matcher.