17 Cute Short Acrylic Nails - Fashion Fusion Fun (2024)

FAQs

What shape of nails are in for 2024? ›

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.

If you have short nails, you may want to choose a round or oval shape to help elongate your fingers. If you have wide nail beds, you may want to choose a round or squoval shape to help make them look narrower.

“[Round nails] are ideal for those who have short, fat, or wide nail beds since it matches the natural contour of your natural nails,” Littlewood explained. Lidia Badiu is a nail artist and the content editor of Beauty Portrait. She told 21Ninety that people with wide nail beds should also lean towards almond nails.

Think slim neon French tips on neutral nails and the crisp freshness of the Baby Boomer manicure, which makes its triumphant return in 2024. Press-on nails are also becoming more prevalent—great news for lazy nail-art lovers or last-minute manicures that can be done en route to your destination.

The Fan Favorites

Coming in as one of the most popular nail shapes out there is the squoval nail shape. A blend of the square and oval nail shapes, squoval nails make for an elegant look. Keeping the straight square edge with soft rounded edges, this balanced shape might be your new favorite staple.

Ballet nails are a shape that sits halfway between an almond nail (tapered with a round tip) and a coffin nail (tapered with a sharp tip). "Ballerina nails have a soft, tapered square shape that resembles the pointe shoes in ballet," says expert Amy Oung.

According to Huber-Millet the classiest nail shape of all is round or square. 'A square nail shape is a timeless classic that never goes out of style,' it's a great pick for those who love a chic and simple style.

Whether you're wearing it as a nude or a neutral, brown nail polish is an elegant and classic shade that goes with anything, regardless of the time of year.

“The shape is pointed [like a stiletto shaped nail] but with a squared-off blunt end,” she says. This makes it look like the shape of a coffin, or the pointe slippers that ballet dancers wear, which is where this nail shape got its name from.

Nude and pastel colors are a great choice for short nails, as they actively make them look longer. Because they visually appear like they're continuing your finger line, they make your fingers look thinner and slimmer. For best results, use a color that's a shade lighter than your skin tone.

What color nail polish makes hands look younger? ›

Lighter Tones: Choose lighter shades of any color, such as pastels or light grays. Lighter tones help to brighten the hands and create a more youthful appearance. Sheer and Natural Finishes: Consider using sheer or natural finishes, like a sheer pink or a clear coat.

“If you have a lighter skin tone, the color would differ depending on how fair your skin is, but corals, greens, and red would be good for older hands because it draws attention to the nails,” according to Orly. According to Orly, older adults with darker skin may look best in orange, gold, and gray shades.

Transparent French

A classic French manicure is a staple no matter the season, but this summer will introduce a semi-sheer spin on this timeless design.

We've been seeing tons of rainbow chromes and pastel chromes, too. In its 2024 beauty report, Beauty Pie spotlit lavender chrome nails as the one to watch, which works perfectly for spring. Elsewhere, sheer textures in cute colours will become a whole movement.

Instead of bright neon colours, this summer we're keeping our toenails more subtle and understated – think light green, blues and yellows, bringing the sea or sun's rays to our feet. The colourful nails radiate joie de vivre and summer vibes, making them an eye-catcher in open shoes.

The classic French manicure is making a major comeback in 2024 — but with a twist.