Short nails: how to take care of them and what colours to wear

Until recently, long nails have held the spotlight, being considered the best for sporting a bold manicure or nail art. With recent fashion trends changing to accommodate more practical, everyday styles... short nails no longer need to be hidden away! The question is, what can you do with short nails? Team Manucurist to the rescue.. with nail care, manicure and colour tips to make short nails shine!

Compared to long nails, short nails are so much easier to manage. They don't risk breaking at the slightest impact or getting caught on clothing, loose threads or zippers. You can do everything with 10 fingers (sport, cooking, typing on a keyboard, etc.) without wondering whether or not it's going to ruin your manicure. Sometimes, it isn't possible to have long nails, especially if you do a manual job that involves delicate work with your hands. In that case, short nails are the only option.

Another advantage of short nails is that they need less maintenance than long nails, which have to be constantly filed, cut or touched up. They are also generally cleaner because they accumulate less dirt and are therefore less prone to the risk of infection.

Simply put, short nails give you the freedom to live how you want, without compromising on aesthetics! When they're well maintained, they look good for any occasion : in a neutral colour teamed with a sensible outfit for work, or decorated with nail art and worn with a sophisticated outfit for a special event. Because they are so practical and more compatible with our contemporary lifestyles, short nails are making a big comeback and are now worn with pride.

Here are a few simple steps you can follow every day or several times a week. They only take a few minutes and will help your short nails stay healthy and your manicure last longer.

1. Massage a few drops of our Cuticle Remover into the skin around your nails and gently push back your cuticles using a steel cuticle pusher.

2. File the sides of your nails with an emery board for natural nails and shape them to suit. We recommend a shape in between a square and an oval, which will make your nails look longer. Avoid overly rounded shapes, which will make them look shorter.

3. Moisturise and nourish your nails by applying a few drops of Complete Serum. Once the Serum is fully absorbed, finish off with a little Green Oil, a complex of 6 botanical oils with strengthening properties.

If your nails have a tendency to break or split, it's because they're not in the best shape and need a boost tailored to their type. To find out what type of nails you have, complete our nail analysis here.

In addition to daily nail care, we recommend you strengthen your nails from the inside by taking a course of Nail Boost food supplements. This concentrate of vitamins and active ingredients (brewer's yeast, magnesium, bamboo extract) promotes natural nail growth, with visible results in just a few weeks!

To rejuvenate very damaged nails, our SOS Mask enriched with D-Panthenol is ideal. This overnight mask forms an ultra-moisturising film that deeply strengthens your nails and can be removed in a few seconds with soapy water in the morning.

A treatment base coat enriched with AHAs like our Force Base Coat can also be an excellent option for strengthening the nail plate before applying your Green™ polish colour.

In addition, the treatment polishes in our Active range are the saviour of fragile nails. Our Active Shine highlighter enriched with AHAs will both strengthen and brighten your nails. Raspberry and Blueberry Active Glow™ will nourish your nails with a formula rich in antioxidants, AHAs and sweet almond oil, leaving them with a brilliant rosy glow!

Whether you prefer regular or gel polish, the main thing is to choose one that's good quality, plant-based and formulated to keep your nails healthy . If you opt for a gel polish, make sure it contains no methacrylate monomers, a sensitising ingredient that increases the risk of allergies and other unwanted effects.

With Green™ and Green Flash™ nail polish, you have complete peace of mind. Their formulas are vegan and up to 84% plant-based, and you don't have to remove them with an acetone-based remover. To find out how to apply Green Flash™ gel polish like a pro, click here.

Vegan and up to 84% plant-based, our Green™ and Green Flash™ polish is good for your nails and the planet.

Simple and elegant, a French manicure is the best type of nail art to showcase short nails. We recommend the following versions:

• Glow French manicure: combine the rosy glow of Raspberry Active Glow™ treatment polish with a soft white polish for the line at the tip for a modern take on the French manicure that both enhances and nourishes your nails.

• Mini French manicure: also known as a micro French manicure, it has a very thin line at the free edge of the nail, which gives a chic, delicate result.

• Reverse French manicure: instead of drawing a line at the free edge of the nail, why not draw a line along the cuticle? Guaranteed to raise a few eyebrows!

If you want to learn how to do a French manicure step by step, you'll find our special article here.

Glow, Mini, Reverse... a French manicure is the perfect form of nail art for short nails.

Go for a modern, minimalist design to show off your short nails. Lines and geometric shapes will add a sophisticated, artistic touch to your manicure, and are easy to do. On a plain base polish, use a fine brush to draw your chosen shapes, playing with contrasting colour effects or using our Matte Top Coat to create the effect of bright details overlaid on a matte background.

Pared-down nail art with a lightly coloured line in Mimosa and Light Blue on a Hortencia base, finished off with Matte Top Coat. 

@monaj

Dots and polka dots are another fun trend that is easy to do on short nails. This retro look is easy to reinterpret and allows you to be totally creative in your combination of polish colours and patterns. Draw your dots onto an even base colour using our Dotting Tool. You can opt for a minimalist design with a single dot or vary the sizes and colours for a more dynamic effect.

Retro pop nail art on a Mimosa base embellished with a touch of Lilas. 

@monaj

Timeless neutral shades like beige and pale pink are ideal for showing off short nails at their best. Our Beige, with its subtle notes of sand and cream, is the perfect pick for a natural, sophisticated look. It works well with all skin tones and has a lengthening effect on your nails. Soft and semi-sheer, Pale Rose will add a feminine touch to short nails. Its semi-sheerness allows the nail's natural colour to show through, adding depth and shine.

 Beige and Pale Rose - soft, natural colours that enhance short nails.

The great thing about pastel colours is that they always make an impression. An alternative to dark polish (which is not the best choice for short nails), these light colours are a popular pick as summer approaches. Soft and subtle, they work beautifully with your skin, whatever your skin tone. Our favourites include Pastel Pink, Lilas and Mimosa, available in Green™ and Green Flash™ format.

 Pastel Pink, Lilas, Mimosa = pastel fever!

Serial lovers know all too well how difficult it is to resist the allure of beautiful red or coral nails with sun-kissed skin! These vibrant shades have instant appeal and will add an extra dimension to any outfit. Ignite your nails on Valentine's Day with our rich Pomegranate and in summer, flatter your tanned skin with our Bird of Paradise.

 Pomegranate and Bird of Paradise : two colours that will bring your short nails to life.

Want to dazzle like a diva when it's party time? Use our glitter, pearly and iridescent polish to transform your short nails into little jewels that will finish off your party outfit to perfection. Although gold and silver shades are the most popular, don't discount the power of glitter, available in pink, white, blue and green. We're obsessed with Cosmic Rose, Moon and Gold.

Let your short nails shine in glitter, pearly and iridescent effect polish.

We hope that these tips will help you make the most of your short nails and take the care of them they deserve.

Generally speaking, we recommend you opt for a light-coloured polish. Dark colours can make your nails look shorter. Neutral colours like beige or nude and pastel shades are a great choice for short nails. But that's not to say you can't wear an attractive cherry red or glitter polish for a special occasion.