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Spring is here!
With everyone ditching their low-maintenance winter looks, you might feel the urge to get flashy, lengthy nails to match your fab spring wardrobe.
But who says you need long nails to be spring-ready? You can certainly get short spring nails that are bright, bold, and bodacious enough to greet the season’s arrival with finesse!
Don’t believe us? We’ve rounded up 40 cute and easy short nail designs for spring to convince you and give you a little inspo before your next salon appointment.
Get Inspired by These Spring Designs for Short Nails!
Flower Garden
Celebrate the spirit of growth that springtime brings with this luscious garden design.
Flowers blossom alongside thick, deep green foliage on nude nails, with a subtle purple ombré to tie all the elements together.
Christmas in March
A design that transitions seamlessly from winter to spring!
Red nails may be reminiscent of the holidays, but enchanting white blooms and robust green leaves on milky white accent nails encapsulate the look and feel of the warm season.
Dreamy Romance
Fall in love with the warm tones and dreamy florals of the season with this simple spring nail design. Here, red and pink blooms and green leaves grace the tips of glossy nude nails.
Its coffin shape may add a little more length to short nails, but the dramatic effect is more than worth it.
Cartoon Classic
The iconic rainbow sunflower of Japanese artist Takashi Murakami is now on shirts, sneakers, bags, and even short spring nails in a milky nude color!
After all, what captures the joy of spring more than a wide smile and peppy hues?
Green and Pink Palette
Opposites do attract, at least according to these green and pink nails.
Half-nude and half-pink nails, along with half-nude and half-green nails, create visual interest, yet the soft palette and tiny blossoms maintain a light, dainty aura.
One nail also features a simple pink French tip to mix things up.
Surprise Splash
The secret to upgrading a boring ol’ manicure? A splash of color!
Not only does this add texture to fully painted pale blue nails, but it also creates swirls on nude nails, which are on trend for spring.
Dynamite Blues and Yellows
Why limit deep, rich blues to winter? This spring-themed nail art softens the imposing presence of glossy royal blue nails with milky white accent nails sporting yellow and white blooms.
Lovely and Laid-Back
Embodying the season’s cozy comfort, these short spring nails strike the perfect balance between cool and warm tones.
Most nails feature a simple old rose base, while two milky white accent nails are spruced up with blooms in muted purple and blue hues.
Delicate Warmth
Sun’s out, flowers are blooming — springtime has truly arrived with these radiant nails!
Pale orange French tips, white blooms, and white dots create a delicate allure, enhanced even more by the round shape.
Wondrous Whimsy
Florals in spring may not be groundbreaking, but these zesty, whimsical blooms in bright pink, blue, and yellow colors prove why they’ll never go out of style.
This look is also beginner-friendly, giving you the freedom to create irregularly shaped blossoms and leaves.
Delightful Florals
With blooms in powdery blue, purple, yellow, and green shades and varying sizes on a milky, translucent base, these cute and short spring nails are endearing in their simplicity.
Fun and Funky
With a pastel color palette, this mani creates unexpected visual harmony with the opposing styles of half-milky white and half-pastel nails and pretty floral designs.
The perfect combo of modern geometric art and upbeat, girly charm!
Enchanting Purple
No color captures the first sunrise of spring like light purple, used for the French tips in this intricate design.
Florals with white and light purple petals and black detailing on nude nails further bring this fleeting moment to life.
Foliage Art
Love foliage but hate green? Consider this spring nail art for short nails!
With pastel-colored foliage and accents of icy whites on white nails, it evokes the image of snow melting away as lush flora emerges from the ground.
Vintage Elegance
Retro is in!
Featuring antique floral patterns from decades long past, this effortlessly elegant nail design with a matte finish — some with a swirly glitter outline — adds texture and color to creamy nude nails.
Cherry Sweet
Cherry trees bloom in spring, and so should your nails! Red and green nails pay homage to the tree’s sweet fruits and abundant leaves. In turn, pink florals call the famed cherry blossom to mind.
Popsicle Party
What better way to enjoy the warm, sweet season than with warm, sweet colors?
Softer than summer but brighter than winter, these creamsicle-inspired nails with a blend of pastel orange, pink, and blue hues scream spring like no other.
Playful Celebration
Down with a bad case of spring fever? This showy yet tasteful design might just be the cure!
Roses, sunflowers, greenery, and glitter brim at the tips of nude nails, serving as a reminder that there’s no better season to let loose and have fun.
Fine Metallic Flecks
Short nail designs for spring need not be boring. Butterflies with flecks of silver along the tips of natural nails make this eye-catching design truly flex-worthy.
Sparkling Season
A little glitter never hurt anyone, least of all these short spring nails!
With only a few hand-painted pink blooms and leaves against a clear base, the touch of gold glitter adds a little magic to this casual look.
Floral French
The classic French mani gets a springtime makeover with this clean yet vivacious design.
Top sleek white French tips off with a yellow flower on each nail and a glossy finish, and your manicure will stay flower-fresh all season.
Mesmerizing Gradient
Don’t like the look of a full gradient? Go for this gradient-and-French combo with an understated rainbow palette for exquisitely classy spring nails.
Short Square Pastel Frenchies
Pops of pastel colors inject more life into French tips on short square nails in a milky white color. Subtle enough to be missed at first glance, but eye-catching enough to merit a second look.
Dainty Daisies
For cute and simple spring nails, you can’t go wrong with a few delicately placed daisies on nude pink nails. A DIY-friendly alternative to complex floral designs!
Blushing Beauty
Two spring staples in one! Pale pink nails embrace the rosy hues of the season, while floral accent nails kick the full-set mani’s style and color up a notch.
Poppin’ Pretties
Go mad for spring with this impossibly adorable look! In this design, micro French tips let colorful blossoms at the base take the spotlight.
Crafty Fun
Translate your love of craft into nail art! Simply decorate short nails with metallic and holographic glitter flakes in flower, butterfly, and heart shapes.
Top tip: Using sparkly nude builder gel for the base amps up the charm of these oh-so-cute nails.
Hint of Print
Animal prints don’t have to be confined to fall. With ombré pastels, solid white outlines, and thin French tips, this soft croc print is right at home in spring.
Bright Blooms
Another floral twist on the ever-popular French tips!
This stunning design highlights profuse greenery, sweet blossoms, and pastel blue and yellow tips against a creamy pinkish-nude base to welcome warmer, brighter days.
Micro French Tips
Elevate your French manicure with these ombré micro tips! Candy pink, blue, and yellow hues create a carefree and lighthearted vibe, while the subtle gradient adds a touch of sophistication.
Baby Blues and Lilacs
Let breathtaking wildflowers inspire the spring colors in your nail design!
Baby blue and lilac nails dominate this mani, but a few small gems and a slight watercolor texture on white accent nails complete the look.
Fresh Radiance
Short spring nails invite you to get creative as you maximize the small amount of space you’ve got.
Here, bold, radiant flowers line the tips and cuticles to make trim nude nails appear lush and full.
Patterns Galore
Gradient tips, rainbow hues, and pinwheel florals — why choose one when you can have them all?
Top tip: This nail design achieves cohesion by reining in different nail designs on a matte light nude base.
Soft Glamor
If you’re not crazy about cutesy looks, choose a refined palette with powder blues, creamy whites, luxurious rhinestones, and white-and-gold blooms for a glam nail design.
Plus, using gold glitter for the florals’ pistils? Brilliant!
Cool and Crisp
Cool tones can carry over from winter to spring, as seen in this design.
Marrying pale greens and petite white blossoms with frosty blues and a white-and-gold bokeh texture recall how chilly winds change into the fresh, crisp breeze of spring.
Sunny Field
A slight ombré effect offsets the saturated yellows and cheery blue and pink blooms in this vibrant mani.
What’s more, it mimics the sight of the sun’s rays beaming down on a field of flowers.
Over the Rainbow
Worried your rainbow nails will look tacky? Bored of colored yet classic French manis? Get the best of both worlds with these translucent white nails flaunting rainbow gradient tips!
Angled French
Slanted and curved tips in red, orange, and yellow create the illusion of extra length in this short spring nail design, especially with light-colored outlines
To recreate this at home, make sure to start at the midpoint of your nails and work your way up to create clean, sharp strokes.
Pastel Tips
French tips keep you looking sharp and sophisticated all through the day. Get them in soft pastel colors, and you’ll have fun spring nails that are both work-appropriate and party-prepped.
Color Block
Thinking of minimalism on short spring nails? Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it! This trendy nail art features solid color blocks in pink and yellow on nude nails, leaning into the season’s relaxed hues.
Quick FAQs
Are Cool Colors Okay for Spring Nail Designs?
Yes, absolutely!
While you can’t go wrong with warm pastel colors like soft red, peach, and pale yellow, cool tones like baby blue, mint green, and lavender can also match the mood of spring.
How Can I Do Short Spring Nails Easily?
The easiest way to DIY short spring nails is by getting press-on nails with pastel colors, such as the Confetti Press-On Nails from Glamnetic.
You can also use nail wraps or strips with spring-themed designs like the Dashing Diva Gloss Nail Strips in Wild Flower.
These can be applied directly to clean, properly filed natural nails!
Embrace the Season of Renewal With Short Nail Ideas for Spring!
Even a simple manicure can remind you of the hope and wonder springtime brings.
Whether you choose traditional nail polish, gel, or acrylic, short spring nails can help you welcome the new season with open arms!
Feel free to use our list of ideas for the most awe-inspiring spring nail colors and designs to help you choose a new nail look that matches your unique style.
Obsessed With Nail Trends for Short Nails?
Take a look at these related articles:
- 39 Short Summer Nails To Enjoy Sunny Trips
- 53 Gorgeous Short Fall Nail Designs To Try This Year
- 30 Short White Nail Designs We’re Loving Right Now!
Nicole Serrano
Nicole has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Literature and four years of experience as a freelance writer and editor. Since her college days, she’s been obsessed with all things makeup, fashion, and hair care with a particular fondness for ’70s and ’90s trends.
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