22 Short Nail Ideas for Summer to Boost Your Mood

Long nails are pretty but not always practical—especially during summer. Think about it. The longer your nails are, the harder it is to partake in hands-on seasonal activities like building sand castles, paddling, playing Pickleball and volleyball, and so on. While it's definitely possible to do these things with long nails, there's no doubt that it's easier with shorter nails.

So, if active summer fun is on your agenda for the months ahead (or you just prefer to keep things brief), we highly suggest opting for a shorter nail look. To help you envision your perfect practical mani, we rounded up 22 fun, functional short summer manicures. Scroll on to see them.

Color-Block Micro Neon French

This hot pink mani stopped us in our tracks. The base color is stunning but so are the teeny-tiny neon coral French tips, and we love how they inverted the colors on the other hand.

Teeny Fruit Nails

For a sweet summery mani, opt for fresh fruit nail art. While these colorful accents were painted by hand, you can achieve a similar look using a milky nude base topped off with the Cirque Colors Gourmand Ready-To-Wear Nail Art Stickers ($10). Seal them in with a top coat for a long-lasting micro mani.

Square Neon Skittle French Tips

Square nails are trending, and this set proves that you don't need extra length to make them look as chic as can be. If you have super short nails and want teeny French Skittle tips like these, use the Aprés Gel-X Nail Extension Kit ($117) with square tips. Cut them to your desired length, then use a fine-lining nail art brush to create the neon tips.

Abstract Pink and Orange Nails

These neon mango-orange nails are perfect for tropical vacations or any time you want to feel like you're on a beachside getaway. Start with a bright orange base, then use a fine-lining nail art brush to create hot pink and burgundy spots.

Cobalt French Tips

Crisp cobalt French tips over top an ethereal opalescent base? We're here for it.

Buttery Yellow Nails

Pale, sunny yellow nails are trending, and this short version of the bright pastel mani shows just how fun it can be no matter your nail length. (Of course, if you want to rock long butter yellow nails, there's always the option to try the new Chillhouse Bougie Butter Chill Tips, $16.)

Hot Neutral Nails

Sure, French tips are fun, but so are unexpected asymmetric borders. to recreate this look, start with a milky pink-ish nude polish for your base. Then, use a nail art brush to swoop polish from the cuticle to the tip on one side of each nail. You can do so in a single color or opt for a few tones in the same family, like in the look above.

Magenta Airbrush Nails

Magenta is one of the hottest colors of the year and this short, artsy mani puts it on full display. Chrome web details add even more timely appeal.

Blue and White Mismatched Nails

Shades of blue are obvious for summer, but why choose a single hue when you can use a few? This mismatched blue and white mani showcases three shades of blue for a high-contrast summer set we can't stop staring at. Of course, with this much detail, a nail appointment is likely necessary for a picture-perfect recreation.

Black and Coral Swirl Negative Space Nails

No time to paint your nails? Enjoy a short summer mani with the Chillhouse x Vitaminwater Feeling Exxxtra Chill Tips ($16). They're a cinch to glue on and can last up to a week or more depending on how hard you are on your nails.

Gold Chrome Tort Nails

More of a neutral girlie? Pair gold chrome with tortoiseshell accents for a luxe summer nail look.

Short Rainbow Skittle Nails

If you're more of a maximalist, embrace every color of the rainbow with a solid Skittle mani. You can create a similar look using the OPI Nail Lacquer Summer Make The Rules Summer 2023 Collection ($98).

Lemonade Swirl Short Square Nails

We love this zesty lemonade-inspired retro swirl nail look. Create it at home using a fine-lining nail art brush (with plenty of acetone on the side for quick and easy touch-ups).

Neon Yellow Negative Space Swirls

Neon yellow is synonymous with summer, and this negative space nail look utilizes it creatively. Try the Aprés Gel Couleur in Luna Luna ($9) to get the look.

Jelly Rainbow Skittle Confetti Nails

Love the idea of a rainbow Skittle mani but seeking a hint of sparkle? Rock a jelly rainbow nail look with a multicolor confetti top coat. For this look, nail artist Sarah Thompson used the essie Glazed Days Nail Polish Collection ($9 each).

Mint and White Swirl Nails

Here's another short square nail look we love for summer. The white swirls nod to the enduring popularity of white nails for summer.

Minimalist Rainbow Watercolor Nails

For a more subdued take on watercolor nails, restrict the technique to the center of your nails. To DIY the look, place a dot of polish in every color of the rainbow down the center of your nail. Then use a dotting tool or brush to drag through them from cuticle to tip. Clean up the edges with acetone and finish with a top coat.

Solid Magenta Nails

Solid magenta nails? Show-stopping at any length. To get this nail look, buy the Paintbox Magenta Press Ons ($24) and trim them to your desired length. You'll have to file them post-trim, but they shape up quite nicely.

Chrome Micro French Tips

For a more modern and chic micro summer mani, opt for ultra-slim chrome French tips. You can create them using the Daily Charme Mirror Nail Chrome Magic Powder ($25).

Sunshine Ombré Nails

Soft butter yellow faded into bright marigold? The pretty summer mani we didn't know we needed. Whether you have super short or slightly longer nails, this fade will look perfect all season long.

Neon Skittle Aura Nails

To recreate the celestial aura Skittle nail look above, you'll need DND Gel Polish in Candy Kisses, Twister, Blue Hill, Melty Sunshine, Pumpkin Spice, and Pinkie Promise ($8 each), paired with the Clear Blooming Gel ($10) and Luna Lust Gold Charms ($5).

Aquamarine Shimmer Nails

For an extra summery nail look, alternate between cream and shimmer turquoise polishes. The exact shades used here are Mooncat Nail Lacquer in Catfished and Sinking Feeling ($13 each).

Read the original article on Byrdie.