Why short nails will always be on trend
As fun as long fingernails may be, shorter nails are very much in vogue. From hygiene to lower maintenance, here are the main reasons why.
While a quick scroll through social media often showcases the popularity of the long nail trend, let’s not forget about the classic appeal of manicured, short nails.
Clean, elegant and eternally chic, here’s why they’re still a fave – and always will be.
Short nails equal easy maintenance
London-based manicurist Julia Diogo, who counts model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley among her clientele, says almost 95 per cent of her clients love keeping their nails short.
“It looks super chic and is easier to manage, which makes it more appealing,” Julia says.
Beauty expert and The Parlour Room Sydney founder Natalie Ferrari says the majority of her clients request short, polished nails.
“While long nails are on trend, it’s less common to have that strength and length in a natural nail, so we find a lot of our clients prefer to have a clean and polished look that they can maintain,” Natalie says.
Some also like short nails for practical reasons, finding long nails a little trickier to navigate everyday tasks with, from typing to putting on jewellery and applying make-up.
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Shorter nails are generally healthier
If your nails are prone to breaking or you’re experiencing splitting or peeling, wearing your nails at a shorter length can often be a great way to improve them.
“(Short nails) can help you rejuvenate the nail to promote strength and length, especially if you’ve been having regular (manicure) appointments without giving your nails a break,” Natalie says.
Research has also found longer nails have been consistently shown to have greater numbers of micro-organisms present compared to shorter nails.
Long nails are also associated with having a higher probability of ineffective hand hygiene practices – in other words they make it harder to wash your hands as well as needed.
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Short nails still have wow factor
Julia and Natalie agree you can still achieve a striking manicure with short nails.
It’s just about choosing the right hues and designs to suit a shorter nail length.
Julia says an upcoming trend she’s seeing is neon shades.
“(They are used) to create micro/reverse French tips or even petit cuticle dots with a sheer base to suit individual skin tones,” she says.
Natalie says French tipped nails are still very much trending, but with a more modern twist. “Nail art isn’t going away anytime soon,” she says.
“The micro French tip is a popular finish for those who have short nails to give the appearance of longer nails and we’re also seeing bright pops of contrasting colour.”
Along with the micro French tip, Natalie says a contrasting half-moon or small lines and dots are a great way to further embrace nail art on short nails.
“Because you don’t have the length, I’d suggest staying away from anything too intricate and detailed, but rather taking a minimalist approach with less is more,” Natalie says.
For hues that work beautifully on short nails, Julia says soft sheer pinks are always in.
“They give the ‘my nails but better’ appearance, which is really popular,” she says.
“The milky manicure is also another popular choice, followed by a perfectly painted rouge noir manicure.”
Whichever option you choose, it’s all about keeping things short and sweet.
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Written by Tania Gomez.
