15 Pretty and Practical Short Nail Ideas for July

Mismatched manicure with 3D design — @myprettyset/ Instagram

As stunning as they may be for girls' night out, date night, or special celebrations, there's no denying that long nails aren't the most practical—especially in summer. If you plan to be very hands-on in the month ahead, we suggest opting for a trim. Don't worry, less length won't wreck your mani's potential. To prove it, we rounded up 15 short nail ideas for July that are vibrant, fun, and anything but boring.

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Bright White Nails

A bright white mani never goes out of style for summer—and it's one nail look that looks gorgeous on all nail lengths. Just be sure to touch up the edges with an angled brush dipped in acetone to ensure it looks as crisp as can be.

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Chain Nails

For an edgy minimalist mani, opt for sheer milky nails with chain accents. Just keep in mind that if you fully recreate this dangly design, it won't be the most practical, so you may want to snip the chains at the tip and secure them in place with nail glue.

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Pop of Blue

Teal blue accents on the bottom of nude nails — @olo.nailedit/ Instagram

Italian summer nails are another popular mani choice for the warmest month of the year. For a more minimalist take on the trend, start with a sheer pink base. Then, use a dotting tool to add a half-moon blue accent at the base.

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Iridescent Lip Gloss Nails

Iridescent glazed manicure — @imarninails/ Instagram

Lip gloss nails are trending this summer. While many lipstick manis take on a sheer pink hue, we've seen fewer with shimmery finishes.

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Butterfly Accent

Butterfly motifs are a fan favorite for 2024. To get this look, start with a sheer shimmery purple base. Then, use a nail art brush to create the butterfly and extra white star designs. Finish with a top coat to seal them in!

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Retro Swirl Nails

pink and red swirly manicure — @betina_goldstein/Instagram

Feeling groovy? Consider this '70s-inspired retro swirl short nail idea for July. Switch up the colors to go as vibrant or as subtle as you'd like.

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Neon Yin-Yang Nails

Neons are a quintessential summer color category. Instead of wearing a single shade, consider a vibrant accent nail approach, like this yin-yang design. We love the high contrast of the neon yellow and lime green against the bright orange and spritz red.

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Animal Print French Tips

cow print french manicure on short nails — @betina_goldstein/ Instagram

A super simple short nail idea for July is a classic French mani updated with an animal print twist. This example is a cow print but you can choose zebra, cheetah, or snakeskin, you name it.

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Mismatch French Tips

Smiley face, checkered, fire, cherry french manicure — @imarninails/ Instagram

French manicures are being reimagined in about a million ways these days. One of our favorite takes on the classic nail look is the mismatched approach. Even if you have shorter tips, you can add cherries, a smiley face, and checkered art to the mix.

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Cherry Eight Ball Nails

Playful nail art is an easy way to spruce up short nails. Here, a white shimmer base is overlaid with eight ball and cherry accents that work as a playful pair.

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Metallic Disco Nails

Metallic silver marble manicure — @lolo.nailedit/ Instagram

Disco nails are another big trend for summer 2024. If you want to make the glittering mani look especially seasonal, try a marble metallic design. The ultra-reflective result is sure to catch the sun.

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Orange Flower Nails

Juicy 3D manicures are making waves for summer 2024. This July, consider a short dewdrop daisy nail design. If you add a yellow or orange border to the mix, it will transition the floral into a fruitier look.

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3D Neutral Mismatch Nails

While 3D nails are known for their bold appearance, depending on the palette you choose, your overall mani can take a more neutral approach. Case in point: this chestnut, slate, gold, cream, and pink nail look. Admittedly, this gel mani is quite involved, so a pro's skills are recommended to recreate it.

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Pastel Summer Mismatch Nails

Pastels and neons collide for a mismatched summer mani that's soft, warm, and cute as can be. Admittedly, DIYing stars on nails can be quite challenging, so you might want to head to the salon for this one.

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Reflective Dewdrop Nails

Dew drop nails continue to pop up all over our social feeds. We're especially fond of this short nail idea for July, which features reflective dew drops that look like splashes of shimmering water.