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The 20 Best Short Almond Nail Designs, According to a Beauty Editor

From textured nails to tortoise shell patterns, these look amazing on even the shortest of nails.

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short almond nail designs
@nailchark

I love my almond nails, but as a short nail girl through and through, I sometimes feel limited by the smaller canvas—there’s not always a ton of room for intricate designs. So I set out to find the best manicures for short almond nails that subtly elongate the shape while still leaving space to play with fun nail trends and eye-catching accents.

From glossy, textured looks to holiday-ready designs, the almond silhouette proves to be one of the most versatile manicure canvases. After hours of scrolling through celebrity nail artists' feeds and top salon looks, I pulled together all the short almond nail ideas you’ll want to add to your inspo board ASAP.

Ahead, the 20 best short almond nail designs, according to a manicure-obsessed beauty editor.

1

Heart Almond Nails

heart nails
@nailchark

These contrasting colored hearts are super sweet and especially great for elongating the appearance of shorter nails.

2

Coastal Almond Nails

nail art featuring colorful floral and insect designs with a white rose in the background
@thehangedit

If a coastal barbecue were a manicure, it would be this—complete with plaid tablecloth designs, chic little bows, and fresh summer bites. This is the first inspo pic on my warm weather nail lineup.

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3

Tortoise Almond Nails

tortoise nails
@akikonails_nyc

Layering on an array of brown hues creates a stunning tortoise shell pattern, fit for any nail length.

4

3D Jelly Nails

jelly nails
@akikonails_nyc

I love a sculptural nail moment, and this mix of textured accents is just so adorable. The soft pastels keep it subtle, while the added 3d element gives it a fun and unique finish.

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5

Multicolor French Almond Nails

colorful manicured nails showcasing various designs and a ring
@akikonails_nyc

If I could get one fun manicure for the rest of my life, it would be this. Just choose a bunch of different colors and shades to accomplish a bright French mani.

6

Cherry Almond Nails

nail art featuring cherries on a pink background
@akikonails_nyc

Cherry nails never go out of style, and I love this pink and red colorway with some added fruity texture and accents.

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7

Classic French Almond Nails

nailchark
@nailchark

A simple French tip along a rounded almond nail is effortlessly chic and flatters quite literally any nail length.

8

Coquette Almond Nails

nail art featuring various designs
@nails.byliz

You can make coquette designs work for any season, and I love this plaid and bow theme that gives off both spring and holiday vibes.

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9

Polka Dot Almond Nails

decoratively manicured nails with a variety of colors and patterns
@samrosenails

Polka dot nails have been all the rage as of late, with celebs like Hailey Bieber and Sydney Sweeney wearing the fun design. Choosing different colors and throwing in some French accent nails is also a great way to spice it up.

10

Tropical Fruit Almond Nails

colorful fruitthemed nail art design
@tendrehands

These detailed fruit nails are so vibrant and juicy, no matter the time of year. Choose a milky base coat to let the designs really pop.

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11

Sardine Almond Nails

colorful nails featuring fish designs hands displayed together
@akikonails_nyc

I am so obsessed with all things sardines recently, and these multicolor fishy nails are fab for a vacation manicure or just for bringing all the summer vibes.

12

Naked Almond Nails

french manicure nails displayed against a dark knit sweater
@raelondonnails

Naked nails are super wearable, and there's something extra chic about a fresh set of clean, manicured nails with a shiny clear top coat.

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13

Mocha French Almond Nails

manicure with browntipped nails and gold rings on a hand
@samrosenails

Chocolate French nails are a simple way to elevate any basic mani, especially for fall and winter.

14

Rose Almond Nails

nail design featuring red rose patterns on a hand
@samrosenails

These glassy cat eye nails create a gorgeous stain glass effect, and even the shortest of nails could fit a bunch of floral petals on them.

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15

Gold Accent Almond Nails

nail art featuring a glossy pink finish with gold accents
@rachel.messick

Decorate the edge of your almond shaped nails with some gold texture for a regal-esque set.

16

Milky Jelly Almond Nails

stylish nails featuring a mix of matte and glossy finishes
@tendrehands

These milky and textured nails are great for any season, and this soft design looks especially angelic ahead of the holidays.

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17

Creamy Pink Almond Nails

hand with manicured nails and rings resting on a lap
@lolo.nailedit

You obviously can't go wrong with a solid color nail, but there's something about a light pink that just makes an almond nail look like pure perfection (and the shade is more forgiving when your nails start to grow out).

18

Cow Print Almond Nails

cow print nails
@nailchark

Another adorable animal print nail design, this black and brown cow pattern is so cute and cozy for winter.

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19

Cherry Almond Nails

detailed nail art with a mix of colors and designs on the fingers
@samrosenails

A burgundy polish works for any season, and the mix of airbrushed designs, solid colors, and a little French creates a simple yet elevated mani.

20

Plaid Almond Nails

nail art featuring a combination of color and patterns
@tendrehands

Plaid nails and cold weather are pretty synonymous, and we love matching our fingers to our winter wardrobes. This plaid and cat eye finish is a go-to for fall and winter.

Headshot of Jasmine Hyman

Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals. 

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