White nail polish is one of the most requested manicure and pedicure colors of summer. The reason? The crisp white hue offers a high contrast that makes any skin tone look tanner. Whether you wear the nail color on its own or layered with other colors, you can expect a bright seasonal nail look that easily ties your whole look together.
Meet the expert
Mazz Hanna is a manicurist and the CEO of Nailing Hollywood, a boutique agency representing some of the most notable nail stylists. She’s also the founder of her namesake brand.
Unconvinced of the magic of a white mani? Ahead, find over a dozen crisp short white nail looks you’ll want to recreate ASAP.
Butterfly Nails
Have you heard of the butterfly era? It’s a saying circulating on social media that represents a period of personal transformation. Whether you like that idea or simply love the look of butterflies, this crisp white nail look is for you.
Check Yin-Yang Nails
Negative space can go a long way to create an interesting nail look. Just look at this yin-yang andcheck mani. Manicurist Mazz Hanna says that any crisp white polish can be employed to create this fun nail art.
Citrus Nails
For an extra summery white nail look, pair your bright white polish with citrus nail art. You can DIY this nail look with a fine-lining nail art brush.
Double French Crisp Short White Nails
A French manicure is easily the most classic and common white-polish application. To recreate this chic short white nail look by Nailing Hollywood artist Hang Nguyen, consider using French tip stencils. These stickers will help perfect the arches, which are the key statement of the look.
Hungry Caterpillar Nails
How precious is this Hungry Caterpillar nail art? Nailing Hollywood artist Morgan A. Dixon created the creative, nostalgic manicure. The base is a soft, warm white, allowing the colorful fruits to pop without having to stark a contrast.
Keith Haring Mismatch Nails
For an especially artistic short white nail look, consider adding recreations of famous art to your tips. Here, Dixon used Keith Haring’s work as inspiration for a head-turning, high-contrast mani.
Minty Fresh Swirl Nails
White feels incredibly fresh on its own but when paired with shades of mint and green, it can look downright breathtaking.
Neutral Ombré Nails
Looking for a wedding-ready short white nail look? Consider this ombré white-to-nude fade. You can DIY the look by starting with a base coat. Then, paint nude and white polish horizontally across a sponge and dab it onto each nail for a seamless fade. Touch up the sides with an angled brush and finish with top coat.
Pastel Neon Floral Nails
Can’t imagine rocking a summer nail look sans color? Layer your short crisp white mani with pastel neon florals for some seasonal fun. You can recreate this nail look by Dixon with any colors of your choosing, just be sure to finish the look with a matte top coat.
Scalloped French Heart Nails
This short white nail look is so dainty and coquette with its scalloped tips and pale lavender heart accents. Nguyen created the look using a bobby pin and nail art brush. You can watch the whole process on her Instagram by clicking the photo credit above.
Scritch Scratch Mismatch Nails
For an edgy short white nail look, consider a mismatched scratch-inspired design. Dixon is behind this unique nail look. To recreate it, any black and white polish will do.
Seashell Nails
How stunning is this seashell-accented crisp white mani? Celebrity manicurist Betina Goldstein is responsible for this matte look. To complete the look, she glued a teeny conch to her thumbnail. You can DIY the look by gluing tiny seashells to your nails.
Sheer Twinkle Nails
Sheer milky white polish can make for a pretty short nail look. For more dimension, Nguyen topped this polish with a sparkly star design in an opaque white shade.
Solid White Nails
Even without a design, white nail polish can pop against your skin all on its own. Just look at this vibrant white nail look.
Glossy Square French Mani
You can never go wrong with a classic French. While many French manicures these days feature long and/or rounded almond-shaped tips, here’s proof that the nail art looks beautiful on short, square-shaped nails, too.
Trippy Plaid Multicolor Nails
Did these trippy plaid nails make you double take? Because they stopped us in our tracks. Given the intricacy of the design, this manicure is likely best recreated by a pro. At least you have an inspo photo to show them!
Watercolor Nails
We love a watercolor nail look for summer. This one features shades of blue, green, red, yellow, pink, and white for an abstract nail look that perfectly encompasses classic summer hues. It brings images of the ocean, beach balls, and umbrellas to mind.
White Negative Space Nails
Here’s further proof that white polish and negative space can be used to create fun (not boring) short nail looks. We’re particularly fond of the dreamy cloud nail.
White Swirl Nails
Last but not least, we have these glossy white swirl nails. To recreate the look, start with a sheer pale pink base and top it off with opaque glossy white polish and top coat.
