35 Short Almond Nail Designs to Consider for Your Next Manicure (2024)

35 Short Almond Nail Designs to Consider for Your Next Manicure (1)

While nail polish colors certainly play a role, you first have to figure out what nail shape you want to work with. If you have a little length to work with, can't go wrong with a stylish almond-shaped nail look. All almond-shaped nails require a touch of length to score the slightly pointed shape. However, if you prefer to keep your nails on the shorter side, you'll be glad to know that there are a bunch of short almond nail designs to copy on Instagram.

We rounded up 35 of our favorite nail designs for short almond nails. While some of these are a little longer than what you might consider as short, just remember that many almond nails can be quite long, so consider this our modest in-between.

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Blurry Airbrush

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A blurry airbrush manicure with a touch of aura-inspired design, we love the peachy pink color of this gorgeous look. The white twinkle star designs are a nod to another famous trend: aura nails.

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Pink and Orange

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The best part about these abstract pink and orange nails is that they don't require loads of effort to bring to life. Simply swipe on a couple of coats of color and finish with a few small black dots clustered throughout.

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Rainbow Tips

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Two-toned rainbow tips? Talk about a bright way to embrace a modern French mani.

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Butterfly Beauties

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Forever a fan of Instagram's butterfly filter? Show it some love by replicating the look on your almond-shaped nails.

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Dainty Florals

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How pretty are these floral nails? We love how the base embraces the milky-white manicure trend.

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Opal Shell

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This opalescent nail look is so versatile—it will look nude in some lights and magically reflective in others.

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Tortoiseshell Nails

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Everyone's favorite hair accessory and glasses material is now fodder for your next nail look.

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Turquoise + Gold

Almond-shaped nails are the perfect shape for this gemstone-inspired manicure. The turquoise and gold detail is truly a work of art.

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Pale Pink Fade

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A pretty pink nail look never goes out of style. In fact, we rounded up 40 pink nail designs to prove just that.

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Bold Abstract

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Nails, like all beauty statements, are a way to express yourself. And, in case you forgot, you can do so with a handful of colors, shapes, and designs—all wrapped into one Insta-worthy abstract mani.

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Vampy

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This polished, dark monochrome mani is giving all sorts of fall vibes.

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Negative Space Details

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Peach, periwinkle, and pale pink come together for a pastel masterpiece we can't take our eyes off of. Of course, to recreate it you'll need French manicure stickers to section off your nails—or an expert's help to get the job done for you.

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Neon Jelly Hearts

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The jelly manicure is still holding strong as a popular choice for nail design. If you look closely, you can see tiny hidden hearts throughout each nail.

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Mermaid-Inspired Teal Nails

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These high-contrast teal nails make us think of mermaids and warm days spent by the sea.

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Metallic Mermaid

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The way the light hits this cool metallic polish is giving a major mermaid moment. Is it blue? Green? Purple? Whatever the color, we're here for it this summer.

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Geometric French Tips

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This minimalist manicure makes almond-shaped nails look like stilettos, all with a trick of sharp lines and dark black polish.

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Simple Dots

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If you don't have a lot of space to work with, opting for a clear coat layered in colorful dots can draw attention to how much length you do have.

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Pastel Neons

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These pastel neon nails are a cheery welcome to spring and summer. The colors are playful and bright, but the combinations are endless with a multi-colored mani like this.

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Rainbow Confetti

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These rainbow confetti nails are perfect if you love the glitter vibe, but want more color. The almond shape is the perfect canvas for this show-stopping look.

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Siren Chrome

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Holographic shimmer is a trendy look when you want a bit of shine. Chrome also gives a bit more edge than glitter. The chain detail gives this look even more of a rock-and-roll flavor.

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Tonal Wave

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With its different shades of red, this tonal wave pattern gives a modern twist to a retro palette. In fact, any color will look great with this eye-catching wave pattern.

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Crystal Craze

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From the blush pink base to the crisscrossing veins of white and the metallic gold details, these rose quartz nails are pure perfection. The gold and crystal details give this look just the right amount of sparkle.

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Thermal Nails

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Can't decide on a color? Let the weather decide for you. Cirque Colors has an entire collection of thermal polish that changes colors based on the temperature outside, allowing for an ombré affect. How cool is that?

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Rose Gold Glitter

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Almond-shaped nails work well with minimalist designs, such as this rosy gold-tipped Paintbox manicure. The New York City nail studio features manicurists who specialize in minimalist nail designs with bold colors and eye-catching shimmer. Weregularly peruse the studio's Instagram feed for inspiration.

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Baby Blues

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This baby blue color is perfect for warmer weather. We love the most subtle design detail in the tiny black dot at the base of the nail for an added touch.

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Heart Tips

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Nail stickers are a fun and easy way to spice up any almond-shaped DIY mani. These Olive & JuneHeart Stickers($15) come in four shades—white, blush, black, and lavender.Heads up, though, they often sell out.

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Peaches and Pearls

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A pretty nude-peach manicure is accentuated with the sweetest pearl decals at the base of two nails.

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Glitter French Tips

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This glittery French mani is another example proving that almond-shaped nails don't have to be long. This minimalist design is work-appropriate, yet also a fun look for vacation.

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Leopard Print

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One bonus of short almond-shaped nails is that you can get away with a funky pattern, such as this leopard print design, without it looking overbearing. The neutral brown twist on this leopard print pattern is ultra-chic.

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Etched Lines

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This ultra-cool almond mani is worthy of a modern art museum. The peach and blue colors with the black etched lines deserves a spot on your own Instagram feed.

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Red Drip

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If you want an edgy look, but the True Crime talons were a bit too much...then consider this cool red drip mani. We plan to wear this design on our nails well in advance of Halloween. What can we say? We're always anticipating October 31.

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Purple Halo

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You don't always need a complicated design or nail art for an amazing mani. In this case, perfectly shaped almond nails painted with a holographic deep purple shade are all you need to make a statement.

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Pressed Florals

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The delicate hand-painted design on each nail gives us major springtime vibes. The shape of these nails sits somewhere between oval and almond, but that doesn't matter because we can't take our eyes off those pretty floral details.

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Pattern Mixing

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Can't decide one pattern? You should consider combining them all! We love this almond-shaped nail design that comprises a collection of eclectic colors and funky patterns. It's maximalism at its finest.

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Retro Abstract

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We are getting major Pucci vibes in this blue, green, and white mani with the chic abstract shapes. These abstract shapes can look too busy on longer nails, but look perfect on shorter, almond-shaped nails.

All of the Different Nail Shapes, Explained—From Ballerina to Squoval

35 Short Almond Nail Designs to Consider for Your Next Manicure (2024)

FAQs

What is almond nail design? ›

There's a reason almond-shaped nails have been everywhere lately: the design is universally flattering for all fingers and nail beds. The shape includes filed sides, similar to oval nails, but with a more narrow tip (like the shape of an actual almond). Short or long, almond nails look timeless.

Who looks good with almond nails? ›

Almond nails are similar to oval nails, but they have a more tapered, pointy tip. They are a good choice for people with long, slender fingers, as they can help to elongate the fingers and make them look more elegant and slender.

What is the minimum length for almond nails? ›

The good news is anyone can sport an almond-shaped nail: The only requirement is a nail bed that is longer than the base of your finger. Lippmann also says almond nails can be hard to accomplish if the nail is too short since you want the tapered edge to reach beyond the fingertip.

What does almond nails look like? ›

"It's a nail shape that is tapered on the sides up to the free edge of the nail with a slightly rounded tip," says Alva. They're more tapered than a round nail, but not as sharp as a stiletto nail.

Why are almond nails popular? ›

Flattering shape: Almond-shaped nails are considered to be one of the most flattering nail shapes, as they help to elongate the fingers and create an elegant, feminine look. Versatility: Almond-shaped nails are versatile and can be worn long or short, with or without nail art or embellishments.

What nail shape is best for short nails? ›

If you have short nails, you may want to choose a round or oval shape to help elongate your fingers. If you have wide nail beds, you may want to choose a round or squoval shape to help make them look narrower.

Will almond nails suit me? ›

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.

What is the best shape for short nails? ›

If your fingers are short, round nails should be your go-to shape. "It softens and slims the look of wide nail beds and helps shorter fingers look elongated," says Amy Lin. To achieve this shape, take your file and follow the natural shape of your nail.

Are almond nails classy? ›

For an elegantly trendy look, nude almond nails are an excellent choice. Nude shades offer a subtle elegance and complements any outfit or occasion.

Are almond shape nails classy? ›

"I've always loved almond-shaped nails, as they suit most nail beds," says manicurist, Chloe Corbishley-Bull. "It's one of the most natural-looking shapes, and always adds a touch of elegance." The shape also lends to more room for fun designs and art.

Do almond nails look good on everyone? ›

Almond nails are a classic, elegant look on everyone. A-listers, your neighbour, your Pilates teacher, your nana; absolutely everyone can rock this look. Almond nails are long, before tapering in at the nail bed to a softly pointed tip.

Are almond nails popular? ›

1. Nail shapes 2023: Almond nails. Almond nails are elongated oval-shaped nails with a slightly narrower tip. This shape is a favorite of the year for a feminine look, says Nguyen.

How do you shape perfect almond nails? ›

to shape an almond nail you want to just kind of kiss the file against your skin. and start shaping towards the center of the nail to create a peak. you can see the nail get more narrow. repeat on the other side making sure again not to press deep into the side wall.

What's the difference between almond and coffin nails? ›

Coffin nails — sometimes referred to as ballerina nails — are somewhat similar to almond nails as they curve inward toward the tips. However, this shape is filed straight across instead of featuring a rounded tip.

Are almond shaped nails more expensive? ›

Basic shapes like square, round, and oval can cost $35-$55. Meanwhile, you'll spend around $10 extra for shapes like stiletto, almond, and coffin for a more stylized and complex look. However, there are many shapes to choose from at different price points.

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