Short Nails Are Trending, But They Don't Have to Be Boring

By Anjana Pawa

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In this era dominated by mirror selfies, you've surely caught your favorite celebrities' meticulously manicured hands. However, short nails are the newest theme – a trend toward subtlety that's taken the scene by storm. These days, a surprising number of stars are opting for the understated charm of short nails.

We’re totally here for the short nail trend; it’s easy to manage while still being effortlessly elegant and allows for fun changes or quick touch-ups with ease.This shift toward simplicity doesn't compromise on personality, though. There are plenty of new short nail manicure trends that allow for a canvas where individuality can truly shine.

Just because your nails are short doesn’t mean you’re compromising on creativity or luxury. It-girls like Selena Gomez and Olivia Rodrigo have layered their short manicured nails with colorful, shiny lacquers to create a bold look that still stands out, like Olivia’s “Vampire” red nails during her promotion cycle for the hit single.

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You can still go as bold as you’d like with your colors, designs, and bling. You can even use the surface area of your nail as inspo for cute sticker-style nails or as a canvas for art like Jisoo's colorful heart nails. And of course, jewels are a must as exemplified by Lil Nas X.

Some celebrities may be opting for shorter nails for convenience sake – we’ve all had a time where a nail breaks at the worst possible time. Meg The Stallion, for example, took to Instagram to show off her short manicure and shared that she would be ditching short nails for some time because she’s a boxer. Celebrity moms like Kourtney Kardashian might also benefit when it comes to practicality with a short manicure. Touring musicians also have to opt for practicality with their manicures, especially if they play instruments night after night. A nail emergency on stage could be a painful disaster.

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Taylor Swift stands as a testament to this delicate equilibrium of practicality and creative expression. Navigating a musical odyssey night after night requires strumming her guitar, an act that long manicures might hinder. But this doesn't keep her from making sure her short manicure is always on point, as evidenced by her Eras Tour manicure that also served as an easter egg.

Straight from the red carpet to your Instagram feed, short nails are here to stay. Whether you’re sick of a broken nail ruining your day or just prefer a short look, it’s time to embrace the short nail revolution and show the world that big things can come in small packages – even nails!

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