Fall is full of hands-on fun like pumpkin picking, front porch decorating, and scavenger hunts in nature. While you can certainly do all of these things with long nails, there’s no doubt that shorter lengths are easier. That’s why we set out to find the most beautiful short autumn nails. We started by chatting with a few professional nail artists about the season’s top trends. Then we scoured Instagram for smart, short designs. Ahead, browse all the short fall nails we can’t wait to wear this fall.
Olive reversed French
@thehangedit
We love a classic French manicure, but have you ever thought of reversing the design? “This reverse French mani by Hang Nguyen has the perfect color palette for fall,” manicurist and Nailing Hollywood CEO Mazz Hanna. “The darker olive and the lighter olive go together beautifully. Reverse French is great for short nails because it gives the look of longer nail beds that look like negative space.”
Negative Space Star Nails
@thehangedit
According to Hanna, the negative space manicure etched with dark polish is particularly popular for fall 2024. “The dark tone negative space manicure is perfect for short nails,” she explains. “The deep colors match the fall season and the negative space makes the nails look longer.”
Autumn flower nails
@tipxtara
Celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec, who is an ambassador for the KISS Nails brand, says glitter gradients, tortoiseshell accents, magnetic green finishes, fall mix-n-match designs, terrazzo prints and crisp French manicures all look beautiful in short nails. If you prefer a more neutral manicure, however, she recommends going with a creamy beige base. So, if you want to add a little extra fall flair, add a gem to every other nail or opt for fall floral details.
Autumn cone nails
@lolo.nailedit
For a quick fall nail design, consider a Skittle mani this fall. When choosing colors, Hanna says you can’t go wrong with denim blue, chocolate brown, deep red and forest green.
Autumn Snake Print nails
@nails_and_beauty_by_daisy
Black and burgundy are two of fall’s most popular polish colors, so it makes sense to incorporate them into a trendy animal print design. We love this snake print craze as a moodier update to the classic turtleneck.
Tortoise shell nails
@rachelsuenails
Still craving cake? Aren’t we all? “Tortoiseshell nails are always popular in the fall and look great on short nails,” says Hanna. “The pattern adds an eye-catching touch that’s perfect for the season.”
Autumn water marble nails
@lolo.nailedit
Love the idea of mostly beige nails, but want a little more artistic flair than a rhinestone or dainty daisy design? Consider a multicolored fall water marble accent. You can create this manicure by simply swirling wet polish on top of a milky nude base. Finish with top coat.
Black and white floral nails with border
@tipxtara
We love a high-contrast nail design all year round. For fall, check out this black, white and red floral craze. You can do DIY nail art with a dotting tool.
Bold color block French tips
@lolo.nailedit
Speaking of high contrast, bold colors work well to elevate a classic French mani. We love the look of this burgundy and cerulean color block design.
Brown Gradient Color Block nails
@thehangedit
You can also create a high-contrast nail design with neutral colors. Just look at this geometric brown gradient nail art. “This look by Hang Nguyen perfectly captures the fall vibes,” says Hanna. “It combines the negative space trend, autumn tones and color block all in one manicure.”
Brown Swirl Flowered Nails
@thehangedit
While brown tones are top of mind, let’s turn your attention to this sweet floral swirl design. “Brown nails match the cozy vibes of fall so perfectly,” says Hanna. “Pair brown tones with floral nail art to create the perfect mani that connects summer vibes with fall vibes.”
Denim color block nails
@thehangedit
According to Hanna, denim tones are particularly popular for fall 2024. “Hang paired color blocks, negative space and denim tones to create the perfect fall manicure,” reveals Hanna, showing the trend in action on short nails. “The denim tones are especially great for early fall when we start to transition away from warmer weather.”
Burgundy and Blush Swirl Nails
@nails_and_beauty_by_daisy
Burgundy and blush is a beautiful color combination that works just as well for Valentine’s Day as it does for fall as a whole. You can DIY this mani with a fine-lined nail art brush.
Chrome Nude Skittle Mani
@gossipandgloss
Chrome manicures remain a mainstay in nail salons near and far. For fall, consider a short nude Skittle craze complete with the high-gloss topper.
Dual-Finish Mix-n-Match Mania
@jess_nails_it
Can’t decide on one fall nail design? With a mix-n-match craze, you can choose a few. The same goes for finishes. As much as we love a glossy look, nail artist Tara Haye says fall is the perfect time to opt for a flat finish. “Matte nails create a sophisticated manicure look,” she explains, pointing out that the shine-free finish elevates classic fall shades.
Gold French tips
@tipxtara
Gilded gold French tips add a glam touch to any neutral fall mani. To perfect your tips, try using French manicure nail stickers. For best results, wait until your polish is completely dry to peel them off.
Halloween motif nails
@madnails
We won’t mention a Halloween nail idea that works well on short nails. Here’s proof that almost any Halloween motif can be scaled to size.
Mixed animal print nails
@nails_and_beauty_by_daisy
We love the idea of pairing a few fall nail art trends into a beautiful mani. This one showcases evergreen and milky beige lacquers, tortoiseshell accents and popular cow print designs.
Navy blue floral nails
@nails_and_beauty_by_daisy
This cute fall flower mani is easy to DIY. Simply polish a few nails in full coats of denim color, then use a dotting tool and nail art brush to create the rounded floral designs.
Oxblood Glitter nails
@danaturenails
Glittery nail looks may seem reserved for summer or the holidays, but this short shiny oxblood number is perfect for fall. FYI: You can transform any fall polish with an ultrafine shimmer topper.