Short nails are back in 2026: elegant, colorful and more trendy than ever

Posted on 19 April 2026

The trend of ultra-long nails, which were extremely uncomfortable on a daily basis, has finally passed. Now the manicure is short, to be able to show off spring and chic designs, but with a length that does not make our day-to-day tasks difficult. We type the computer comfortably, we pretend skincare using the finger straps and we forget about that fear of them breaking at any moment. This 2026 we are committed to elegance and that means returning to short nails and what better than a visit to your trusted manicurist with a couple of super designs trendy in mind. Here we leave you some of our seasonal favorites.

French manicure in pastel tones

French nails are always going to be true, but we better give a different touch to this classic bet. To do this, we replace the white with a pastel tone such as matcha green or butter yellow. We confess: they are our new obsession.

@bara.holey

Polka dot fever

For a few months now, dot prints have flooded everything, from the windows of our favorite stores to our inspiration for nail designs. These with gold polka dots seem very elegant to us for mid-season days.

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@bio_sculpture_official

aura effect

Last summer it was my most recurring design. I tried it in pink tones and I even dared with greens and blues. They feel like a movie and are one of those manicures in which your hands look most in line with the season, because if there is one thing we are clear about, it is that sober tones on nails during this time of year are not for us.

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@nun

Yes to gems on your nails

Perhaps it is one of the designs that we have seen the most in recent weeks, from designs that rely on floral drawings like the one Kylie Jenner shared a couple of days ago as well as other more minimalist ones.

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@kyliejenner

Fairy nails

This spring the most original designs are gaining strength compared to the classic flat ones without drawings. We are looking for nails with the most striking results, that do not require putting rings on your hands because the manicure speaks for itself and is the absolute protagonist.

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@bio_sculpture_official

Psychedelic designs are exciting, but even more so if they come with a touch of glitter and mix effects such as cat's eye. These in pink tones are the next ones we are going to do this month, we have no doubts.

Olivia Thompson
Olivia Thompson
I’m Olivia Thompson, born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand. As a lifestyle and travel writer at Latitude Magazine, I’m passionate about uncovering stories that connect people with new experiences and perspectives. My goal is to inspire readers to see everyday life – and the world – with fresh eyes.

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