Fall is filled with hands-on fun like pumpkin picking, porch decorating, and scavenger hunts out in nature. While you can surely do all of these things with long nails, there’s no denying that it’s easier with less length. That’s why we set out to find the prettiest short fall nails. We started by chatting with a couple of professional nail artists for the season’s top trends. Then, we scoured Instagram for chic, short designs. Ahead, peruse all the short fall nails we can’t wait to wear this autumn.
Olive Reverse French
We love a classic French manicure, but have you ever thought about flipping the design? “This reverse French mani by Hang Nguyen has the perfect color palette for fall,” manicurist and Nailing Hollywood CEO Mazz Hanna. “The darker olive and lighter olive pair together beautifully. Reverse French is great for short nails because it gives the appearance of longer nail beds, similar to negative space.”
Negative Space Star Nails
According to Hanna, negative space manicures etched with dark polish are especially popular for fall 2024. “Dark-toned negative space manicures are perfect for short nails,” she explains. “The deep colors match the fall season, and the negative space makes nails look longer.”
Autumn Floral Nails
Celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec, who is a KISS Nails brand ambassador, says that glitter gradients, tortoiseshell accents, magnetic green finishes, autumnal mix-n-match designs, terrazzo prints, and crisp French manicures all look lovely on short nails. If you prefer more neutral manicures, though, she recommends going with a creamy beige base. Then, if you want to add a little extra fall flair, add a gemstone to every other nail or opt for autumnal floral details.
Autumn Skittle Nails
For a quick short fall nail design, consider an autumn Skittle mani. When selecting colors, Hanna says you can’t go wrong with denim blue, chocolate brown, deep red, and forest green.
Autumn Snake Print Nails
Black and burgundy are two of fall’s most popular polish colors, so it makes sense to incorporate them into a trendy animal print design. We love this snake print mani as a moodier update to classic tortoiseshell.
Tortoiseshell Nails
Still a sucker for tort? Aren’t we all. “Tortoiseshell print nails are always popular in the fall and look great on short nails,” Hanna says. “The pattern adds an eye-catching touch that fits perfectly with the season.”
Autumn Water Marble Nails
Love the idea of mostly beige nails but want a bit more artistic flair than a rhinestone or dainty daisy design? Consider a multicolor autumn water marble accent. You can create this manicure by simply swirling wet polish on top of a milky nude base. Finish with top coat.
Black and White Bordered Floral Nails
We love a high-contrast nail design all year round. For fall, check out this black, white, and red bordered floral mani. You can DIY the nail art with a dotting tool.
Bold Color Block French Tips
Speaking of high contrast, bold colors work well to elevate a classic French mani. We love the look of this burgundy and cerulean color block design.
Brown Gradient Color Block Nails
You can create a high-contrast nail design with neutrals, too. Just look at this geometric brown gradient nail art. “This look by Hang Nguyen perfectly captures the vibes of fall,” Hanna says. “It combines the negative space trend, fall tones, and color block all into one manicure.”
Brown Swirl Floral Nails
While brown tones are top of mind, let us turn your attention to this cute floral swirl design. “Brown nails match the cozy vibes of fall so perfectly,” Hanna says. “Hang paired brown tones with floral nail art to create the perfect mani that connects summer vibes with fall vibes.”
Denim Color Block Nails
According to Hanna, denim tones are particularly popular for fall 2024. “Hang paired color blocks, negative space, and denim tones to create the perfect fall manicure,” Hanna reveals, showcasing the trend in action on short nails. “The denim tones are especially nice for early fall as we begin to transition away from warmer weather.”
Burgundy and Blush Swirl Nails
Burgundy and blush is a pretty color combo that works as well for Valentine’s Day as it does for the fall season as a whole. You can DIY this mani with a fine-lining nail art brush.
Chrome Nude Skittle Mani
Chrome manicures remain a mainstay in nail salons near and far. For fall, consider a short nude Skittle mani finished with the high-shine topper.
Dual-Finish Mix-n-Match Mani
Can’t decide on one fall nail design? With a mix-n-match mani, you can opt for a few. The same goes for finishes. As much as we love a glossy end look, nail artist Tara Haye says that fall is the perfect time to opt for a flat finish. “Matte nails create a sophisticated manicure look,” she explains, pointing out that the shine-free finish elevates classic autumn shades.
Gold French Tips
Gilded gold French tips add a glam touch to any neutral fall mani. To perfect your tips, try using French manicure nail stickers. For best results, wait until your polish is completely dry to peel them off.
Halloween Motif Nails
We’d be remiss not to mention a Halloween nail idea that works well on short nails. Here’s proof that just about every Halloween motif can be scaled to size.
Mixed Animal Print Nails
We love the idea of pairing a few fall nail art trends into one pretty mani. This one showcases evergreen and milky beige polishes, tortoiseshell accents, and popular cow print designs.
Navy Floral Nails
This cute fall floral mani is an easy one to DIY. Simply polish a few nails in full coats of denim color, then use a dotting tool and a nail art brush to create the bordered floral designs.
Oxblood Glitter Nails
Sparkly nail looks might seem reserved for summer or the holidays but this short shimmery oxblood number is perfect for fall. FYI: You can transform any fall polish with an ultra-fine shimmer topper.
