Pastel Manicure Ideas For Short Nails This Spring

Not that anyone needs a new season to switch up their manicure, but after a long winter, there’s nothing quite like removing the dark, short-day-inspired colors of the winter months and moving into brighter and happier territories. You’re essentially shaking December and January from your bones and embracing spring with open arms — and doing so in the name of self-care, which manicures absolutely are.

“Taking the time to do our nails is a way to signal that we care for ourselves and our bodies,” licensed clinical psychologist Charlynn Ruan, PhD tell SELF. “Also, manicures are not a ‘need’ like many other grooming activities, so they feel like a fun indulgence or treat… they show that we’re choosing to add something to our lives purely because it brings us joy, which is very self-affirming.”

While we’ve already seen that bright nail looks will be big in spring 2025, they’re certainly not the only trend to choose from in terms of manicures. It turns out that pastels, like every spring and early summer, are also going to be huge. If you don’t really think of yourself as a someone who can rock a pastel mani, think again. The bright colors are one of the easiest way to make short nails stand out. You just need a bit of inspo to get on board with these lighter shades for longer days, warmer temperatures, and floral dress (or shorts!) weather. 

If you thought the 2024 hot butter nails trend was over just because we’re in a new year, you are mistaken. If you’re going for a soft, yet eye-catching manicure, the simple yellow shade is ideal. No word from Selena Gomez, who originally put butter nails on the map in 2024, if she’ll be indulging in the look this year, but when a color is this lovable and happy-looking, it doesn’t matter what celeb is rocking it or not.

For people who like the idea of a tangerine manicure for the spring, but can’t quite commit to it because it can be quite harsh on the eyes, there’s salmon. The pinkish orange hue is a far easier tcolor to digest, falling perfectly in line with pastels. However, if your skin is on the lighter side, you might find the shade can look a bit lackluster. If that’s the case, adding an accent nail to the equation with some press-on White Floral Nail Stickers can take your manicure to the next level.

As much as shimmer and white can serve up major snowy, wintertime energy, it’s also a great fit for spring, too. Early on in the season, before temperatures get intense and practically demand neon colors like lime green nails, simple, shimmery white manicure offers a look that is clean and fresh. It also keeps things fairly neutral and low-key until the light hits your nails just right, giving off a dash of pizzazz. 

If you love the idea of yellow nails, but don’t want too much of it in your life — it can be a tricky color to pull off — then there’s the yellow French manicure look. It’s just enough butter yellow to keep you feeling trendy and in style. Adding a few Floral Nail Adhesives can mimic Zendaya’s garden-inspired manicure, making your manicure even more spring-ready.

While matcha latte may not be the first color to come to mind when you think of spring pastels, when you tuck it in with baby pink and butter yellow, it just makes sense. The drink-inspired manicure takes inspiration from the popular tea shop beverage, offering a hue that’s a bit more bright than a typical olive, but not as bold as mint. In fact, matcha latte makeup has been trending since 2023 because it works on all skin tones and fits in with muted colors just as well as it fits in with brighter shades. Keep things simple by going with all one solid color, or add an accent line to create a deconstructed French manicure version of the trend.

When it comes to pastels, baby pink is the epitome of them. Baby pink is equal parts happy, calming, romantic, coquettish, and simply lovely. It’s also a color that looks great on any nail length — no wonder it’s such a popular polish color in the royal family. But its near-perfection can also lead some people to lose interest. Should that happen to you, but you really want to keep that baby pink base, get creative with black-and-white nail designs, like simple dots or even eyelashes. This will create just enough contrast for the ultimate cutesy and demure nail look that’s not going anywhere anytime soon. 

If you’ve wanted to try the reverse French manicure, but aren’t really sure how to go about it, then let spring 2025 inspire you to finally give it a whirl while working some pastels into your look. Paint an ultra thin robin’s egg blue or butter yellow line along the cuticle bed, leaving the rest of your nail a simple nude. When spring comes to an end, you can intensify those colors to complement the sultry dog days of summer. Bright red, for example, would absolutely nail the mood of mid-July.