36 Short Acrylic Nail Ideas We're Obsessing Over (2024)

FAQs

What nail shape is best for older hands? ›

While many of us don't give the shape of our nails a second thought, Lippmann says you should start. "An oval-shaped nail helps fingers look longer and, in turn, makes hands look younger," she explains. Another grooming tip from the pro: pay attention to your cuticles and use regular cuticle oil to prevent dry skin.

Stay with nude or pastel nail colours to make your nails look longer than they are. A nude manicure is perfect for everyday wear since it matches with every kind of outfit.

Almond. "An almond-shaped nail is slim on the sides and wide on the base, coming to a rounded peak," says Deborah Lippmann. "This shape will lengthen and make short fingers look slim." To get the look, file the sides and make sure the tip is narrow, so the free edge mimics a peak shape.

2024 Nail Trend: Short, Square Nails

Kandalec says many of her celeb clients are starting to ask for short, squared-off nails, which fits the natural, "clean" aesthetic everyone has been leaning into lately.

Dark polishes, particularly stark black, run the risk of making mature hands appear less youthful, especially when it comes to cool-toned shades like deep navy, bluish reds, and wine purples. These exacerbate any skin dullness or dark spots caused by sun damage that you might be worried about.

I recommend keeping your nails short and in a squarish oval shape – “squoval” – in order to keep your hands looking youthful.

Vibrant Neons: Neon nail polish shades are all the rage in 2024. These bold and eye-catching colors add a pop of excitement to any manicure, making them a favorite choice for those who want to make a statement with their nails. Pastel Hues: Soft and delicate pastel nail polish colors are also trending this year.

"Surprisingly, lilac is universally flattering on all skin tones," says Streets, who thinks the shade has a playful energy to it. Variations on the pastel hue have gone viral this year, including "digital lavender" (lilac with a chrome overlay) and "milky lavender" (a sheer take on the color).

Lighter Tones: Choose lighter shades of any color, such as pastels or light grays. Lighter tones help to brighten the hands and create a more youthful appearance. Sheer and Natural Finishes: Consider using sheer or natural finishes, like a sheer pink or a clear coat.

Oval-shaped nails are considered classic and feminine, being similar to an almond but a bit more blunt. They have softly rounded edges that follow the natural shape of the fingertip, helping elongate nails in both width and length. Square-shaped nails have straight, flat edges and sharp corners.

Which nail shape is more attractive? ›

If you have short palms and short fingers, it's best to opt for rounded oval and almond shapes. For longer palms and fingers, consider dramatic stiletto or coffin (or ballerina) shaped styles. Almond shaped nails tend to suit everyone.

Summer 2024 Nail Trend: Pastel Nail Colors

“This summer, soft and delicate pastels will gain popularity with baby pink, mint green, and soft lemon leading the palette,” says Walton. It's fresh and fun for summertime without the intensity of the brights and neons we're used to seeing in the warm months.

Jelly nails are the lip gloss of manicures. The look features nails coated with a sheer, ultra-glossy wash of color that leaves them looking like, you guessed it, jelly.

First, there was the mermaidcore nail trend of the summer, inspired by the live action film remake of The Little Mermaid, and now the trend has been reimagined with oyster nails. The style brings a pearlescent, colour-changing finish to nails, and further opulence can be added with embellishments and 3D elements.

For length, these beauties tend to look their best with a shorter, squoval (square-oval) shape that will flatter while leaving space for any hands-on tasks throughout their day-to-day lives. Next, it is worth acknowledging that warmer tones tend to appear more advantageously than cooler tones upon aging skin.

The manicurists we spoke with said that a shorter round or oval nail shape can help de-emphasize the volume loss in the fingers and hands that can happen after 50. Nguyen also likes round because it helps prevent hangnails and nail cracks.

She told 21Ninety coffin, stiletto, or round nails are the best nail shapes for fat fingers. “[Stiletto nails] are extremely tapered, giving your thick fingers a slim and lengthened appearance,” Littlewood said. Coffin nails also offer this lengthening effect, but with a more squared tip at the end.

If you keep your nails short, choose between square and round shapes. If you have medium or long nails, oval, almond, and coffin shapes will suit you best. The longer the finger, the shorter the nail or they will simply look overgrown.