Breaking nail news: It’s possible to score longer-looking tips, no acrylics required. Whether you bite them down, keep them short on purpose, or simply have nails that just won’t grow, check out these fast and easy tricks for creating the illusion of longer nails. The experts share their best short nail ideas, including flattering shapes and polish colors, to help you customize your manicure with ease.
Image courtesy of Getty.
1. Remove Cuticles
Getting rid of cuticle buildup at the edge of your nail reveals more of the nail plate itself, so nails instantly look longer, says celebrity manicurist Geraldine Holford. She suggests applying a cuticle remover, like Sally Hansen Nail Treatment Instant Cuticle Remover, $7, Target, then very lightly pushing back the cuticle with an orange stick, moving in circular motions. Once that’s done, wipe the entire nail with a warm washcloth.
2. Create an Almond Shape
Here's an on-trend short nail idea you'll go nuts for. “An almond-shaped nail creates the most visual length,” says celebrity manicurist Michelle Saunders James. Picture, well, an almond and create a slightly pointed tip. Alternately, an oval shape will also elongate the nail, says Holford, who also suggests to avoid going square.
3. Go Nude
Darker polish highlights the actual length of your nail, so to make nails look longer, lighter shades are always best, says Sarah Gibson Tuttle, CEO & Founder of Olive & June. “Much like wearing a nude pump elongates your legs, a nude polish elongates your nails,” Holford adds. A light, opaque shade leads the eye outward; the closer the color to your skin tone, the longer the nail will look, she says. If you want a little bit of contrast, opt for a hue just slightly lighter than your skin.
4. Contour with Dark Colors
While lighter hues are more elongating, if you prefer a dark mani, try Holford’s trick: “Create a more linear shape by not painting right up to the sides of the nail. By leaving a little space at the sides, you’ll create the appearance of thinner, longer nails,” she explains.
5. Choose a French Manicure
One of the reasons the French mani became so popular was because enhancing the free edge with a white tip made nails look longer, says James. The key? “Don’t paint the tip any color other than white, or it can have the opposite effect,” she notes.
Use a simple short nail designs to make nails instantly look longer. “Paint one thin, vertical line in the middle of the nail and add a creative embellishment near the tip. This will lead the eye to the tip of the nail, giving the illusion of length,” says Holford. James likes to create a similar effect by using a dark shade to paint on a triangle in the center of the nail (with the tip of the triangle pointing toward the tip of the nail), then swiping a neutral on both sides. Her go-to color combo: Essie Midnight Cami and Topless and Barefoot, $9 each, Essie.
See? It is possible to have cute short nails. Try one or more of these easy hacks to make your next manicure more gorgeous and your nails look longer than ever.
“You want to get as close as possible to the cuticles without touching the skin, then paint a vertical line up the nail, leaving a small gap between the edge of the nail wall and the gel.”
Certain colors and shades can create the illusion of longer nails. For example, light and neutral colors like beige, nude, pale pink, and light gray can make your nails appear longer. On the other hand, darker colors like black, navy blue, and dark red can make your nails look shorter.
Oval. Similar in shape to almond nails but with a rounder nail tip, oval nails are great for medium length nails and are ideal for both short and wide nail beds. The shape is great for smaller hands as it elongates the nails to give an illusion of longer fingers.
For short nails, metallic shades like silver, gold, and rose gold can create a stunning effect that catches the light and adds instant glamour to your fingertips.
if you have short fingers like I do, almond nails are your best friends. they have an instantly lengthening effect. another good option is a long coffin shape. the width of the tip balances wide fingertips, which makes your fingers look more balanced, longer and slimmer.
Nails grown barely past your fingertips are the ideal length, says Fisher. They look feminine but won't stop you from, say, unzipping him or sexting. See what else guys really notice about your looks.
“For younger-looking hands, orange or peach-based hues work best,” says Colette Keenan, butter LONDON national field manager, adding that shades with orange undertones, such as reds or corals, draw attention away from any signs of aging.
Another tip to make short nails appear longer is to avoid painting all the way to the edge of the nail on both sides -- leave a slight gap instead. This will make your nails appear thinner and longer. Don't worry too much if you get polish on your fingers, you can clean it up afterwards.
“I would say a milky pink [think Chanel's Ballerina], due to the trend of quiet luxury,” says Kandalec. “Or if someone is a gel/enhancement girlie, I'd say an autumnal red that's deeper and more brown based versus a classic red [like CND's Classic Lipstick], or a French manicure with thin, classic white tip.”
Round: Round nails have a soft, rounded edge. This shape is best for people with short nails or wide nail beds, as it can help to elongate the fingers and make them look more slender.
When it comes to nail shapes, the latest trends for 2024 are all about making a statement. From the sharp and bold stiletto and coffin shapes to the elegant almond and deep square silhouettes, elongated nails are taking center stage.
Should Your Manicure and Pedicure Match? Simply put, no – you mani and pedi doesn't have to match. Back in the day, it used to be mandatory to match the colour on your fingernails to your toes but, over the years this trend has become predictable and a little boring too.
Really short nails look better with lighter more neutral colors on them. So stay sheer with polish and always make sure all of your nails are neatly filed and your cuticles are trimmed.
Like square nails, round nails start with straight sides but curve at the edges to follow the natural shape of the fingertip. If you have short or chubby fingers, this nail shape will be the best choice.
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