Short and natural nails have been popular lately, thanks to trends like the clean girl aesthetic. Many women prefer the look for its functionality, low maintenance, and better nail health.
But if you like to rock short nails, finding nail polish designs for them is challenging. All the pictures online are for long acrylics, which don’t always translate well to natural nails.
In this post, you’ll find the best short winter nail ideas that look amazing on your natural nails. Many of them you can do at home with the right tools, or you can use the ideas as inspiration for your next trip to the salon.
Winter Nail Colors
White
White is a classic color year-round, but it’s especially fitting for winter. It’s the same color as snow, making your nails pop while matching any outfit.
Silver
Another good winter color is silver. A solid shimmer is elegant, while something with chunks of glitter is more youthful and fun.
Ice blue
Channel your inner ice queen with a cool blue shade, one of last year’s surprising trends. The snowy color appeared everywhere, from fashion to home decor.
Pine Green
A glossy, pine green leans into that moody winter vibe. It’s also a good alternative to straight black if you prefer a darker nail.
Chocolate Brown
Capture the coziness of hot chocolate with warm brown nail polish. It’s another trendy color from last fall that could be fun to try.
Pearl
If you’re not interested in plain white nails, try a pearl polish instead. The shimmer will elevate your nails and make any outfit look elegant.
Black
You can never go wrong with black nails, no matter the season. Go with a high gloss polish to make the color more sophisticated.
Maroon
Bright red is fun, but it can feel too Christmasy once the holiday ends. Try a dark maroon for a more mature look during winter.
Glitter
Okay, this isn’t technically a color. But glitter nail polishes in any shade are a great way to mimic the sparkle of snow and ice.
Indigo
Indigo, a beautiful blue-purple shade, is a mostly forgotten color. But it’s a great choice for moody winter nails.
Shimmery Pink
Light pink has been popular for the last few years. To try something new, choose a pink with a shimmer rather than a regular gloss.
Short Winter Nail Design Ideas
Black French Tips
Make your French tips edgier by using black instead of the classic white. Choose the regular design, or push the look with negative space or micro French tips.
Plaid
Plaid flannel is a winter staple in clothes. But it looks just as cute on your nails as a button-up shirt.
Snowflakes
Lean into the winter vibe by painting sparkly snowflakes all over your nails. Or, add one accent snowflake over the base coat on the nail of your choice for a subtler look.
Snowmen
Another cute winter-themed nail idea is snowmen. They’re great if you love a fun, playful nail design.
Sweaters
3D cable knit sweater patterns on your nails are a simple way to make plain nails pop. Bonus points if you give them a fuzzy texture, too.
Stars
Stars are a magical, whimsical nail design for winter. You can put white stars on a dark background or vice versa for an edgier look.
Pearls
Shimmery nails topped with mini pearls are a great way to lean into coquette or mermaidcore aesthetics. It’s cute and eye-catching.
Marbled
A marbled design looks great in any color you want. Take it up a notch by adding a few gold or silver swirls.
Skittle Nails
A recent nail trend is skittle nails, where you paint every nail a different color. Try using darker colors or adding a chrome finish for a winter-themed take.
Velvet Nails
These shimmery nails look like they’re made of velvet, thus the name. This is another popular trend from last year that’s still going strong.
Leaves
Leaves don’t have to be just for summer or fall. Use dark colors or gold to make them winter-appropriate.
Two-Toned
Two-toned manicures, split vertically between two colors, are trendy right now. It’s easy to try at home if you have a steady hand.
Swirls
Swirls have been going strong for years, with no sign of losing popularity. For winter, try using brown, blue, or green with a touch of glitter.
Short nails don’t mean you can’t have fun nail designs. Give one or two of these nail polish ideas a try this winter.
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