Kayla Young
If you are looking for the latest trends in short acrylic nail designs, you’ve come to the right place! While over-the-top long nail designs in stiletto and coffin shapes with inset rhinestones and bold colors will forever be popular in certain circles, shorter nails are making a comeback in a big way.
Short acrylic nails are more durable and, let’s face it, much more practical for everyday life. And while long nails have in the past hogged most of the spotlight on nail trends, the tides are changing and shorter nails are all the rage at the moment.
We have scoured the Internet for the latest trends in short acrylic nails to bring you 30 of our favorite trendy short acrylic nails. So whether you were looking for a style to take to your next mani appointment or just a little inspo, we’ve got you covered.
We’ll also let you know what colors are trending for 2023 and beyond.
Contents
Are French Tips Still In Style?
A French manicure will never be out of style.
But right now, French tips are everywhere. And not only are we seeing them in the classic nude with white tip combo, but we are also seeing them re-imagined and updated in so many different ways.
Keep reading to see our favorite versions of French tips on short acrylic nails that you will definitely want to try!
Trendy Short Acrylic Nails
There’s no arguing that shorter nails are more practical. If you want to send a text message or key in your pin number at the ATM, wash your hair, open a can of soda, type on a keyboard, or basically anything that requires using your fingers, short nails are way easier to work with.
But just because you have shorter nails doesn’t mean they can’t look chic and sophisticated. Manicures are not reserved for the 1-inch talons of those who have given up the ability to use their hands for the sake of nice nails.
Short nails are just as deserving to look as stunning as long nails, and we’re going to show you 16 short acrylic nail trends and 30 of our favorite nail designs.
French Tips
As we mentioned above, the classic French manicure will never go out of style, but we are seeing more contemporary, updated versions of French tips everywhere right now. Here are just some of the French tips styles for short acrylic nails that are trending right now:
1. French Tips with Nail Art
We love a good French tip, especially when it’s paired with abstract nail art to make it more interesting.
2. Colored French Tips
If the classic French tips are a bit too bland for you and you were looking for something a little more fun, colored French tips are now all the rage. They are still understated because it’s just the tips that are colored, and the rest of the nail is nude or clear.
You of course have the option of going all one color, by why not do a different color on each nail?
3. V-Cut French Tips
V-cut French tips are yet another version of the classic design only instead of going straight across, the tips form a chevron, or a ‘V’. This is an especially great version of the French tips for very short nails because it will make them look longer!
You can get V-cut French tips in the classic white as well, but we just love this two-color design in pink and yellow.
4. Micro French Tips
Micro French Tips are another popular nail trend right now where just the very tips of the nail are colored.
You can go as bold on the color as you want, so any color will still look chic. Purple is super on trend!
5. Micro-Glitter French Tips
A colored nail with a glitter micro tip is a classy way to add a little bling without going into the raver-girl realm.
The same color polish and glitter also keeps this nail design reigned in, keeping it subtle and elegant.
6. Multi-Colored Ombre French Tips
Instead of having a distinct line between the tip and the nail bed, the tip transitions from a color to a nude shade. We absolutely love these nails!
The different pastel ombre for each nail is so pretty. It’s just a subtle hint of color without being in your face.
7. Glitter Tips with Golden Foil
Inspired by the French tip, this is a much looser interpretation.
Gold and silver foil are very popular at the moment to give nails a little bling. Here gold foil is paired with a deep burgundy polish – perfect colors for fall and winter.
8. Abstract Swirls on Nude
Nude nails don’t have to be boring. Liven them up a little with some abstract nail art!
9. One Glitter Nail
Painting your nails all a solid color, except for one that you paint with glitter polish is also a big trend for short acrylic nails at the moment.
Just a little bling to keep things interesting! Some people build this up to mean different things, but we think that’s silly. If it looks good, go for it!
10. Nail Art On One Or Two Nails
One of the biggest trends in short acrylic nails is painting three or four of the nails on each hand a solid color and adding nail art to one or two nails.
Nail art on every nail can be a little too busy. But just having the nail art on one or two nails is a great way to take your plain manicure up a notch while still keeping it chic.
Here are a few of our favorite examples:
11. Marbled Nails
This is a nail art technique we can definitely get behind. When done right, a marbled nail looks extremely elegant.
It’s especially sophisticated when done on only one or two nails on each hand.
12. Ombré Nails
Ombre nails are super cool and as we move through the fall season, heading into winter, ombre nails using the rich colors of the seasons are spectacular.
Keep reading because we’ll also show you the hottest nail colors for fall and winter!
13. Velvet Nails
Speaking of winter…. How about nails that make you want to wrap yourself in them in front of a cozy fireplace!
Velvet nails can of course be done in any color. But velvet nails in deep, dark evergreen will no doubt be the color for the upcoming holiday season.
Credit: Instagram / glosshouse
14. Textured Nails
A popular nail trend at the moment is using different techniques to create texture on the same nail. Here we have a green metallic polish combined with a deep, dark, flat green polish and a high gloss top coat.
15. Transition Nail Art
There is something super stylish about a manicure that incorporates different nail art techniques on the middle nails to create a transition from one color to a completely different color, and manages to make it look seamless.
Credit: Instagram / zefir.nail.studio
16. Animal Print
It’s not just for nails, animal print is trending in fashion, too! And it’s not just leopard print, it’s all animal prints – snakeskin, alligator, tortoiseshell, giraffe. If it’s an animal and it has a pattern, it’s trending right now!
The tricky thing about animal prints is that you really don’t want to have too much of it, otherwise the stylish and fun animal print will end up looking cheap.
We would actually recommend not doing animal print nails with other animal print clothing or accessories.
Instead use an animal print on your nails as your statement piece.
When it comes to animal print, less is definitely more.
When it comes to animal print, less is definitely more.
So when doing animal print on your nails, it’s best to do it in small doses. Have a look at some of the great animal print nail designs that we are more than just a little bit obsessed with to see what we mean:
Trending Nail Colors For The 2023 Fall & Winter Seasons
As the temperatures start to dip, nail colors change from bright, summer shades to deeper, moodier tones, better for wrapping around cups of hot cider or cocoa.
While nude shades will remain a constant throughout this fall and winter, we’ll be trading in this summer’s vibrant trends, like bright citrus tones and ocean greens and blues, for darker colors and richer metallics.
Regardless of the nail trends, a solid, one-color manicure will never go out of style as long as you choose the right color for the season!
All Browns
Some of the hottest colors this fall are browns, from the lightest to darkest end of the spectrum. That’s to say from warm caramel to rich chocolate brown – and every brown in between.
Apricot
There’s nothing that says fall like a rich, warm shade of apricot!
Greens
Both warm and cool greens are big players this year. For fall we’re looking at warmer greens like olive and pea soup green, and as we head into winter, darker, cooler shades will be the go-to greens.
Just remember that different shades of green will work better or worse depending on your skin undertone.
Deep Red
Deep ruby red is a color for both fall and winter. Why not have a little fun with some nail decals !
Plum
Both medium and dark plums are trending this fall and winter season.
Black
Credit: Instagram / itslumini
We are rounding off our list of the most nail popular colors for this fall and winter with black. It’s elegant and moody, and it’s everywhere right now.
Conclusion
We’ve shown you 30 trendy short acrylic nails. Hopefully, you’ve got loads of inspiration for your own acrylics!
Almost anything goes when it comes to nail design, so don’t be afraid to experiment and start your own trend!
