24 Short Winter Nail Ideas That Are Perfect for Icy Weather (2024)

24 Short Winter Nail Ideas That Are Perfect for Icy Weather (1)

For many of us, our manicure vibe is dependent on the season. During the winter, in particular, we tend to gravitate toward darker colors and designs. You may find yourself wearing moodier shades like burgundy, navy, or gray more often than not. Or, if you're really feeling festive, you may throw on a few coats of sparkly silver or black polish.

Regardless of which direction you go in, it's worth noting that winter manicures don't have to be done on long nails to look stunning. There are many ways to achieve a showstopping seasonal mani on short nails, too. To help spark ideas ahead of your next nail appointment, we've rounded up 24 short winter manicures. See them all below.

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Silver Lining

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You don’t need intricate nail art to make an impact. This mani proves a single color in the right hue—in this case, a super sparkly silver—can make a statement. Simple yet stunning, this is a winner for short winter nails.

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Back to Black

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When looking for short winter nail inspo, you can’t go wrong with a variation of a French manicure. Give it a moody edge by going for black tips. The square shape feels fresh, too.

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Crocodile Skin

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Animal print always looks luxe, even on a mani. And this croc-inspired nail look serves as proof. The winter white polish makes it feel on-trend for the season.

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Starry Night

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Bring the beauty of a starry night sky to your nails. Start by painting your nails with a rich, navy nail polish like Essie Nail Polish ($10) in Step Out of Line. Use a thin nail art brush to paint on your white stars and dots.

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Blue Tortoiseshell

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One thing we love about tortoiseshell manicures is that each nail looks slightly different—case in point: this nail look. Add a bright blue line on a few nails as an accent to make the mani even more unique. It’s definitely a design worth shelling out for—pun intended.

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Feeling Jaded

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Jade is a gorgeous green stone known to symbolize wealth and nobility. This manicure inspired by the gemstone is equally striking. The hints of gold give the nails such a luxe feel.

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Go for the Gold

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This manicure is golden—literally. The gold foil paired with the black tips gives this nail look an elegant yet edgy vibe. Best of all, this design is easy to achieve at home. All you need to buy is black nail polish and sheets of gold foil.

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Black Out

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Black is a go-to nail color for many of us (*raises hand*). The bold shade goes with everything, making it a perfect choice any time of year. To give the classic color added flair, create a few matte swirls on each nail.

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Orange Crush

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Orange is an underrated nail color, but this manicure makes a strong case for why we should all wear the shade more often. To further enhance this rust-colored matte mani, add a few flecks of gold foil on one nail as an accent.

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Blonde Tortoiseshell

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You don't have to use traditional colors to create a tortoiseshell manicure. To recreate this blonde version, use Cirque Colors Nail Polish ($13) in Organza and NSFW Jelly.

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Put it in Neutral

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Instead of one neutral shade, go for five. The gradient nail trend looks great with any mix of colors, but we think this mani features the perfect shades for winter.

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After Dark

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Nothing says moody, winter mani like sparkly black polish. To nail the look, layer a sparkly top coat like the Sally Hansen Crystal Top Coat ($9) over black lacquer.

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Glittery Teal

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Dark, glittery nails are synonymous with winter. Get this exact look by swiping on a few coats of Holo Taco's Nail Polish ($14) in Starry-Eyed. We know this deep teal manicure will elicit tons of compliments.

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Abstract Art

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This manicure is an absolute masterpiece. You can recreate a similar look using a range of neutral nail polishes—the Londontown Perfecting Nail Veil Collection ($52) includes comparable shades.

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Haute Chocolate

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A chocolate burgundy is a fitting nail color for the season. Top it with streaks of gold paired with dainty pearls, and you have the perfect short winter mani.

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Tweed Touches

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This manicure essentially brings a Chanel tweed jacket to your tips—and we're here for it. From the textural tweed print to the pearl accents, everything about this nail look is posh.

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Black and White

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It’s hard to think of a color combo more iconic than black and white. This manicure proves there are many ways to wear the classic color pairing—each nail features a unique design.

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Matte Black Magic

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There are many ways to spice up a simple black manicure. Take some cues from this look by adding a matte finish and textured accents to your nails.

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Golden Marble

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If you want a conversation-starting manicure, opt for this golden marble nail look. The marble design is stunning on its own, but the flecks of gold foil make the mani even more eye-catching.

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Golden and Black Swirls

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Recreate this mesmerizing manicure by first swiping on a nude iridescent nail polish. Then, pull out a nail art liner brush and black nail polish to create your abstract swirls. On your left and right ring finger, add a few pieces of gold foil.

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Gray Tortoiseshell

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You can really get creative with tortoiseshell nails, from the colors to the design. This gray take on the trending animal print design is incredibly eye-catching. Take the nail look up another notch by using tortoiseshell tips as accent nails.

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Neutral Simplicity

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This neutral manicure is the definition of chic simplicity. The beautiful thing about a classic nude mani is that there is no occasion or outfit it isn’t perfect for—it complements every look.

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Flaming Hot

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Flame nail art doesn't always have to be done in fiery colors. A silver chrome flame looks just as eye-catching. Use The Gel Bottle's Studio Gel ($17) in Mirror Chrome to recreate the design.

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Bejeweled Duo

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When you want to elevate a simple nude manicure, add a couple of gems to each nail. You can use the Deco Beauty Jewels Nail Stickers ($12) to achieve a similar bejeweled look.

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Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in this article.

Winter Manicures:

The article discusses different winter manicure ideas for short nails. It suggests various colors, designs, and techniques to achieve stunning winter-themed nails. Some of the ideas mentioned include:

Silver Lining: A super sparkly silver color that can make a statement on short winter nails.
Back to Black: A variation of a French manicure with black tips, giving it a moody edge.
Crocodile Skin: A croc-inspired nail look using winter white polish.
Starry Night: Nails painted with a rich navy polish and white stars and dots to resemble a starry night sky.
Blue Tortoiseshell: A tortoiseshell manicure with each nail featuring a slightly different design, adding a bright blue line on a few nails as an accent.
Feeling Jaded: A manicure inspired by the green jade stone, with hints of gold for a luxe feel.
Go for the Gold: A manicure with gold foil paired with black tips for an elegant yet edgy vibe.
Black Out: A classic black nail color with matte swirls on each nail for added flair.
Orange Crush: A rust-colored matte manicure with flecks of gold foil as an accent.
Blonde Tortoiseshell: A tortoiseshell manicure using blonde colors for a unique twist.
Put it in Neutral: A gradient nail trend with five different neutral shades, perfect for winter.
After Dark: Sparkly black polish layered with a sparkly top coat for a moody winter look.
Glittery Teal: Dark, glittery nails achieved with a deep teal nail polish.
Abstract Art: A manicure using a range of neutral nail polishes to create an abstract art design.
Haute Chocolate: A chocolate burgundy nail color with streaks of gold and dainty pearls for a luxurious winter look.
Tweed Touches: A manicure inspired by Chanel tweed jackets, featuring a textural tweed print and pearl accents.
Black and White: Each nail features a unique design, showcasing the versatility of the classic black and white color combination.
Matte Black Magic: A simple black manicure with a matte finish and textured accents for added interest.
Golden Marble: A golden marble nail look with flecks of gold foil for an eye-catching design.
Golden and Black Swirls: Nude iridescent nail polish with abstract swirls created using a nail art liner brush and black nail polish, with gold foil accents on the ring fingers.
Gray Tortoiseshell: A gray take on the tortoiseshell design, with tortoiseshell tips as accent nails.
Neutral Simplicity: A classic nude manicure that complements any look.
Flaming Hot: A silver chrome flame design for a unique twist on flame nail art.
Bejeweled Duo: A simple nude manicure elevated with a couple of gems on each nail.

These winter manicure ideas provide inspiration for short nails and showcase a variety of colors, designs, and techniques to create stunning looks.

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