Step by step manicure for short nails. Manicure for short nails: features, ideas (175 photos). Where to start - the necessary materials and manicure tools

Beautiful well-groomed nails are an essential attribute of a modern woman. For those who follow fashion and prefer to do a manicure on short nails, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the samples in the photo.

Focusing on the drawings you like and turning on your creative imagination, you can choose the best option for yourself.

The advantage of short nails

Increasingly, the fair sex prefers short nails. It is practical, economical and fashionable. A beautifully done manicure is versatile and appropriate for any environment - everyday life, business setting, festive atmosphere.

Professional manicure masters are able to create original drawings on short nails, embodying the fashion design trends of 2017.

From French classics to trendy abstractions, endless variations in the color and texture of varnish, a variety of patterns, giving the nail hole any shape - there are no restrictions for short nails.

The best ideas for creating an exclusive manicure at home.

How to take care of short nails

To have neat well-groomed nails, it is necessary to do a manicure correctly and in a timely manner. This is a set of procedures aimed at complete hand care: relaxing and nourishing baths, adjusting the shape and length of nails, removing cuticles, varnishing, coloring, polishing nails and others.

Every woman will have clean, healthy, non-peeling nails if she properly cares for her hands and eats a balanced diet.

The shape of the nail plate for short nails can be chosen round, oval, almond-shaped, triangular, square, with a double contour, it is preferable that it be closer to natural.

If the fingers are long, it is better to stay on the square version, an oval or a rectangle is preferable for short ones.

Nails can protrude up to half a centimeter, their length must be strictly the same, otherwise the difference is striking and violates the aesthetics.

The cuticle must be removed in a timely manner for short nails - this way their length visually increases, and they look more well-groomed.

You can do a manicure yourself or trust a professional: at home, it is often impossible to achieve the desired result with maximum efficiency.

The master will help you choose the best option for each specific situation, taking into account the personal preferences of the client and the condition of her nails. There are many coating options for the nail plate - traditional varnish, gel, acrylic, shellac.

For weakened nails with damaged hand skin, a hot manicure is recommended when warm oil or cream is used. European, or unedged manicure is also appropriate for short nails.

It is real to feel the specifics of natural ingredients if you do a Japanese manicure. The salon may offer to do a hardware manicure.

Short nails - which manicure to choose

Many women have appreciated the benefits of shellac manicure for short nails. A 30-minute procedure using a special varnish that is dried with a UV lamp helps not to worry about a new coating for up to 3 weeks. The main color, of course, is variable.

You can stop at a French jacket - classic (modernization of a fan jacket with rhinestones) or choose a non-standard option, a millennium.

Stylists offer many options for delicate pastel colors, rich shades, with patterns, abstractions and ornaments.

It is appropriate to make a manicure on short nails with gel polish. Lunar manicure will look exquisite - at the base of the nail is a crescent pattern.

Short nails will not become an obstacle on the way to beauty and grace! Contact the masters or do a complex manicure yourself, borrowing the best fashionable designs and realizing your creative ideas.

Photo manicure for short nails

A woman always has a reason to look unsurpassed. For this, everything should be perfect - manicure, hairstyle, makeup, beautiful outfit. But at the same time, it is not always possible to visit a manicure master in time to acquire a high-quality nail design. But if you work a little, then you can make a beautiful and original manicure yourself, using simple drawings on the nails.

Where to start - the necessary materials and manicure tools

Any quality manicure starts with good nail preparation. How to do this is up to the woman. At will, an edged manicure is done, and if possible, a special tool (milling cutter) is a hardware one.

In order for the nail plate to acquire a base color, a coating is necessary - varnish, gel polish, gel. And here is further – this already deal creative. But it is still difficult to do without such tools and materials:

At home, you can find many improvised tools that you should use to create a pattern on your nails. For example, a dotsu replacement is an invisible hairpin or a sewing pin with a different diameter of the ball-tip.

How to draw patterns on nails?

The nail art industry is developing so fast that it is very difficult to keep track of the technique for creating drawings on nails. Who would have thought that a popular method of drawing a picture on a nail would be water. But the more familiar methods should not be underestimated.

You can create patterns on both natural nails and artificial ones. Learning how to draw complex patterns and ornaments with simple tools is not difficult, you just need to have patience.

Using ordinary tape or foil

The essence of this method is to create an even geometric pattern or figure on the nails. But first, they cover the surface of the nail with a base varnish (any color that is needed is chosen). But it is worth understanding that the main layer will eventually become the color of the drawing itself.

The pattern itself depends on how the adhesive tape was glued: in thin stripes or wide, straight, zigzags, diagonally, or it covers part of the nail, forming geometric shapes.

For manicure it is better to take masking tape. It has less adhesion to the surface of the nail and will not damage the polish when removed. At the same time, its stickiness will be enough to make a beautiful drawing.

In addition to adhesive tape, they also use a special foil tape for design. It is easier to use, since you do not need to monitor the width of the strip. Finished tapes can have different thicknesses, and it is not necessary to remove it. It can become part of the design.

Ordinary needles

To make a drawing with a needle, you need at least two colors of varnish (more can be, depending on which drawing is conceived). One - for the base (complete drying of this layer is necessary before drawing the drawing), the second and further - for painting. There are many options for creating simple but effective drawings. Nail designs that are made with a needle do not require much time, additional costs.

The next effect on the nails can be done with a thin dots tip, but the easiest way to do this is with the sharp end of the needle.

Nail design option with a needle and two colors of varnish

The technique of applying a pattern with a needle is available even to those who have not previously been involved in nail design at all. The main feature is to have time to apply a beautiful pattern until the varnish on the needle is dry. And if the drawing is done pointwise, then until drops of varnish dry on the nail.

If you paint with a needle, then the applied line will be thin. Also, the needle can outline the contours of the picture.

Using dots

The result on the nails, if you paint them with dots, will be similar to what is done with a needle. Only the use of dots for painting is more convenient - such an amount of varnish is wrapped around the ball of the tip that it does not interfere with work (it does not roll off in large portions and it is more convenient to draw even lines without “mistakes”).

Choose a color for the base. The drawing is applied with a “ball”, which is dipped into the varnish of the desired color. If you need to change the color, you can simply wipe the tip of the tool with cotton wool or a tissue moistened with nail polish remover.

fine brush

A thin brush gives more chances for high-quality nail painting. With its help, you can make an unusual floral pattern, neat thin lines. You can especially “walk around” on long nails.

To start painting with a brush, you need to cover the nail with the main color (white, colorless, red, pink, black, multi-colored varnishes, including gradient manicure). The coating must dry completely. Then the pattern is applied with the thinnest brush. You can do this with ordinary paint brushes, but it is better to use special brushes with nylon fibers. To achieve different effects when painting, you may need other brushes with different thicknesses.

It is most convenient to apply beautiful patterns with a brush. Enough varnish or acrylic paint is held on its fibers to draw a long line without additional addition.

regular toothpick

A toothpick is a great tool for drawing a pattern on a nail. The technique of drawing a picture with these tools requires accuracy, since a large amount of varnish is wrapped around the wooden base of the toothpick and then rolls unevenly, which interferes with work.

Nail decoration can take place on a dried and raw basis. The effect of this will be different.

The toothpick leaves a significant mark on the nail. It is convenient for her to draw monograms, flowers, abstraction, etc., but it is almost impossible to achieve a thin line from her.

Using a toothpick, it is optimal to draw large elements, and then draw them with a thin brush. After finishing work, it is better to apply a protective transparent coating.

With special stickers

Special stickers - stencils can simplify the work of decorating nails. With their help, you can create a wide variety of patterns and effects on the nails.

To use them, color is applied to the nail, which will eventually become a pattern. After this layer has dried, stencils are glued. Lacquered in a different color. When this layer is completely dry, the stencil is carefully removed.

An interesting effect is obtained if you take a gradient manicure as an option for the base. Decorating nails in this way will help make the manicure unusual and unique.

You can make a gradient yourself, for this you need at least two colors of varnish in bright colors and a wide flat fan-shaped brush. Perform the steps as shown in the picture.

How to draw a simple pattern on the nails?

You can draw different patterns with different materials. The simplest and most affordable - colored varnishes. But for those who are seriously interested in decorating nails, it is worth trying other material options.

gel polish

Gel polish can make a variety of patterns and effects that last until you have to repeat the procedure for covering nails with this material. The technique of drawing with gel polish can be different: on a non-dried coating and already on a polymerized one.

Gel polish coating technology is as follows:

acrylic paint

Acrylic is a very convenient material for decorating nails. It dries quickly, has no smell, retains the pigment well. Acrylic paint is applied to a dried surface (varnish, nail polish, shellac, even on a natural nail). To carry out nail painting, you will need a brush, preferably with a pile of non-natural origin.

You can also make a french with acrylic and decorate it with an original floral pattern. The acrylic painting technique is convenient in that if the pattern does not work out, then you can simply wash it off with water until it is dry and start painting again.

In order for the nail painting to last on the nail for a long time, a transparent fixative must be applied over the drawing.

With the help of shellac

Just as in the case of gel polish, shellac can be used to decorate nails with the “wet” and dry layer technique. You can take a jacket as a basis, which is not a problem to make on short or long nails. If the nails are still short, then you should not make too wide a "smile" jacket. If it comes to the drawing, then it should not be too large so as not to visually enlarge the nail plate.

With pieces of tulle

An unusual manicure can be obtained if you use a simple tulle. Here you can use multi-colored varnishes for the base and pattern. A gentle effect will be obtained if you use a light varnish.

The technique here is simple:

1. Paint your nails with the base color (it will act as the color of the final drawing). Let dry well.

Using a piece of tulle with a different pattern, you can get ready-made drawings, which is not difficult to do.

Using decorative elements

Your perfect manicure can be done without drawing on the nails, but simply by correctly applying decorative nail material. A color base in such a design is necessary in any case, but there are no restrictions on the use of decor.

Rhinestones, stones, foil can give the nails a special shine that cannot be repeated by any varnishes.

To keep the rhinestones well on the nails, it is better to sit them on the gel polish, which has not yet been dried. After finishing the decoration, it can be safely dried. Top layer on top is required.

There is also a special foil that is applied with gel polish without a sticky layer or ordinary dried polish. To get a pattern on the nails, it is worth sticking the foil, ironing it on top and carefully removing it. The drawing that was formed on the foil will be on the nail.

There is another design option with foil. For this, special thin pieces of foil are purchased (they come in different colors). They are laid out on the nail with an application, and then fixed with a colorless varnish or top (for gel polishes). Only foil can create unique patterns on nails.

Applying droplets and dots

To create an unusual, but painfully simple manicure, the technique of drawing with dots will help. They make such a manicure with varnishes of different colors, as well as gel polishes, shellac, acrylic paints. From the tools you need dots. An alternative is toothpicks, a needle, a ballpoint pen tip, etc.

As in the previous methods of decorating, you need to apply the main color on the nails, and after it has completely dried, apply the pattern. Manicure will last longer if you cover the result with a fixer.




If the varnish is not yet dry, then you should use the drip technique of applying the pattern. On the undried varnish, they drip varnish of a different color and make a stretch with a needle (dots, toothpick). Then they are allowed to dry and covered with a colorless varnish.

Short nails are fashionable, comfortable and practical. In addition, even on a short nail length, you can create almost any design. Today we have prepared for you manicure options for short nails that can be easily done at home. See for yourself that short does not mean boring. But let's get our nails ready first.

First of all, you need to give the nail plate a beautiful shape. It is better to put a metal nail file aside. For short nails, sand nail files on a cardboard or plastic base, ceramic and glass are more suitable. Also, get a polishing nail file, which will help prepare your nails for applying varnish and thereby prolong the life of your manicure. The choice of form is an individual matter. The most popular for short nails is square, but for short fingers it is advised to choose a visually lengthening oval. Remove cuticles with a classic cut or uncut European manicure, and degrease the nail plate with acetone-free nail polish remover. Now you can start working on a unique design on short nails.

To do it on your own, you will need basic tools: dots, a thin brush for drawing, adhesive tape or stencils. See photo tutorials step by step, choose your favorite manicure option and try to repeat it at home. In the gallery you will find ideas for both gentle and bright manicure, classic jacket, drawings, trendy geometric patterns and even metallic rhinestones. Do not forget to apply a layer of top coat at the end and your beautiful manicure will delight you for more than one day. And for a significant extension of the life of a manicure, use a gel coating. Shellac lasts up to two weeks and opens up the same opportunities for nail experiments as regular varnish. You will find a video of creating a fashionable moon manicure with a transparent strip of shellac, but for now we invite you to view photo tutorials of a beautiful manicure for short nails.

gradient manicure



Blue ombre manicure with horizontal stripes



Blue manicure design on the ring finger



Summer short nail design





Floral short nail design



Red and gold manicure for short nails



Negative space manicure



reverse french



French manicure for short nails









Delicate short nail design



Negative Space Manicure



Evening manicure with sparkles for short nails



Beautiful patterns on short nails



simple short nail design







Striped monochrome manicure





Graphic design of short nails



Manicure with geometric shapes



Prom manicure for short nails



Lunar manicure on short nails



Fashion for the length of natural nails is changing as rapidly as for hairstyles. A lot of fashionistas first cut the nail plate almost “to zero”, and then puts a lot of effort into growing it. Some professions, due to their characteristics, require only short cut nails: musicians, cooks, surgeons and nurses, people who constantly work with a keyboard. You can make a manicure on a short nail plate both in the salon and at home.

Features of performing manicure for short nails at home

Short does not mean unattractive. Small nails have several advantages:

• break and “cling” much less often than long nails;
• recover much faster than long ones, especially in the winter season;
• always have a neat appearance, appropriate for any solemn and business event (wedding, business negotiations);
• favorably emphasize the advantages of dark varnishes;
• do not require painstaking care;
• practical at work and at home.

From a financial point of view, short natural nails also benefit from long or artificial nails. They do not require regular correction or application of a strengthening coating.

You should not engage in growing nails if their condition leaves much to be desired (stratified ends, bumps, grooves, increased fragility, etc.). Let the nail plate be minimal in length, but healthy, neatly sawn and polished.

How to make a manicure for short nails yourself

For independent manicure for small nails, you will need:

• manicure set;
• remover (cuticle remover);
• bath with warm water;
• soft towel or disposable paper towels;
• essential oils (lavender, lemon, bergamot, ylang-ylang);
• disinfectant (rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide);
• cotton pads or swabs;
• moisturizing hand cream.

Lavender essential oil softens cuticles, promotes healing of minor injuries, strengthens nails

The composition of the manicure set should include:

• two pairs of scissors (with straight and rounded tips);
• spatula made of wood;
• tweezers or nippers - for trimming manicure;
• several nail files with different grain sizes;
• polishing bar.

The layer of varnish should be thin, but uniform over the entire surface of the nail.

Features of applying gel polish

Previously, a manicure with gel polish could only be done in the salon. Now this procedure can be successfully carried out at home. For this you need to prepare:

• base coat, similar in principle to the base;
• top coat (analogue of a fixer);
• a primer that ensures the durability of the coating;
• colored gel polish;
• UV or LED lamp for polymerization (drying) of the gel;
• a special liquid that removes the sticky layer.

The thinner each layer, the neater the manicure will look.

Hand preparation is the same as before a regular manicure. Remove the cuticle, correct the shape and length of the nails. When the nail plate is dry, a thin top layer is carefully sanded with a buff. After that, the nails are thoroughly wiped with a lint-free cloth, removing the remnants of dust and sebum.

The sequence of applying funds will be as follows:

1. Primer in an even thin layer.
2. Base, which is then dried under a lamp.
3. The first layer of colored gel polish, which is applied to the nail plate, and also “seal” the cut of the nail with it, then dried under a lamp.
4. The second layer of gel polish, followed by drying.
5. Top coat with drying under the lamp.

When the top is completely dry, gently remove sticky residue with a cloth dipped in liquid.

The accuracy of manicure depends on the thickness and uniformity of applying layers of primer, base, gel polish and top. The thinner the layers, the more natural the nails look.

Video: step-by-step instructions for applying gel polish

Manicure design options for short nails

On short nails, all monochrome shades look good: pastel, neutral, etc. This style of manicure is called nude, because it is as close as possible to the natural skin tone.

In contrast to the nude, dark, saturated tones look especially good: burgundy, purple, brown, etc.

As for the original design, there are many options for decorating short nails. The simplest of them is dots of various sizes, they are drawn using an ordinary needle or dots (a special stick for nail art with a ball at the end).

It is better to refuse large sequins, as they visually reduce the size of the nails.

2. Ethno-style, the ornaments of which resemble the mysterious writings of our ancestors. This pattern looks good on both dark and light backgrounds.
3. Ageless red. Red tones have a unique feature - they are suitable for all women, regardless of the shape of the nail plate and age. For those who consider bright red to be too defiant, professionals recommend paying attention to cognac and burgundy. Such tones also look stylish, they will help hide small irregularities of the nail plate.
4. Color drawings on a transparent basis. Transparent design with bright patterns looks great on short nails without visually shortening them. The nails are covered with a base, then with a colorless or translucent neutral varnish in 2 layers. After that, you can draw flowers. 4 points are placed with a brush, then they are carefully shaped into petals with a needle and closed in the center. At the point of information - the "middle" of the flower - they carefully put a point of black varnish, give it a rounded shape. After drying, cover with a fixative.
5. Sophistication and romance in pink shades. This color is quite whimsical, like the female character. Cold shades, with a lilac-blue tint, will create a feeling of freshness. Warm tones are more relaxed, playful.
6. Ombre (gradient) - a smooth transition from one color to another. The application technique is complex and time-consuming, but the result is worth it. Manicure is very original. The skin around the nails is smeared with a greasy cream or oil to soften the cuticle. This will help at the end of the manicure to easily remove flaws. Then, on a piece of foil or another smooth surface, several shades of varnish are applied in stripes - from dark to light or vice versa. The border between the shades is mixed using a toothpick or a needle. Immediately dip a foam rubber or nylon sponge into the resulting mixture, “reprint” it onto the nail plate. Thus decorate all nails. After 5 minutes, until the varnish is completely dry, cover the nails with a fixative, trying to slightly “stretch” the gradient to the cut of each nail, making the transition smooth. The remains of the varnish are removed from the nail rollers with a solvent.
7. Lace stamping - fancy subtle patterns. They are applied using special stamps and rubber seals (or a silicone mat).

If it is difficult for you to apply the pattern on your nails yourself, then you can purchase special stickers. Their application will take quite a bit of time, but in the end you will get a beautiful, bright and neat manicure.

Manicurists warn: short nails are very demanding in terms of length and shape of the cut. All fingers should look the same, the slightest deviation of 1 mm becomes noticeable to the naked eye.

Small nails need regular cuticle removal. The nail plate grows quickly, and with it a strip of thin skin, giving the hands an untidy look. Without the cuticle, the nail looks larger and longer.

Particular attention is paid to the selection of the pattern. When choosing an ornament for short nails, several rules apply:

• there should be free space on both sides of the pattern;
• vertical drawing is better than horizontal;
• decorative elements are trying to choose small or medium in size: one large flower covering almost the entire nail will visually reduce it;
• on naturally wide nails, a special method of applying varnish is used: an unpainted space is left at the edges, drawing a wide strip from the hole to the cut of the nail plate with a brush.

Sometimes the choice of pattern and color scheme of a manicure is dictated by the shape of the nails. The classic oval goes well with plant and floral motifs, as well as with all light shades of varnish. The laconic rectangular shape requires the use of rich, deep shades of varnish. But complex geometric patterns look great on such nails.

The choice of colors of varnishes is now huge. However, stylish nail art on nails of modest length is limited to only 2-4 shades. If you use more, you get bust.

Video: nail design at home

You can easily make a manicure for short nails at home. This will require very little time and a minimum of tools. Particular attention is paid to the removal of the cuticle, as well as the length of the nail plate and the shape of the sections. Short nails are not at all a reason to abandon bold experiments (bright varnish, intricate patterns). With a quality manicure, nails of small length can become a real work of art that fully meets fashion trends. In addition, they are more convenient in work and everyday life than long overhead or extended ones. Well-groomed hands with short nails always attract the attention of others.