Acrylic nails used to have a reputation for being ultra long, but today manicurists are making them in shorter lengths that are just as flattering for fingers and hands. Natural, classy short acrylic nails are the perfect option for women who want to strengthen and add thickness to their nails without the long (and sometimes bothersome) length.

“You don’t have to go for lengthy acrylic nails to achieve an elegant look,” explains Anna Parvatova, former manicurist and Creative Director of SNS Nails. “In fact, a growing number of individuals are favoring shorter nail lengths for their practicality and aesthetic appeal.” (Click through for a primer on acrylic nails.)

And even though these acrylic nails might be smaller in size, the nail art possibilities don’t fall short. If you prefer to create nail art yourself, just head to your go-to nail salon and ask for a short acrylic nail base (the shape can be created square or rounded, whichever is your preference), then grab some polishes and follow the simple steps of your favorite look below. Or use these options as inspiration for your next in-salon manicure.

Keep scrolling to see for yourself the natural, classy short acrylic nails that are sure to wow!

Dazzling designs for natural, classy short acrylic nails

From simple to more intricate looks, these nail art designs on short acrylic nails help you make a stunning statement with your fingers.

1. Eye-catching olive green color block

Olive green and black short acrylic nails.

This artistic yet elegant design is one that we can’t wait to wear this fall. And the color block-like design keeps the eye on nails and off of any beauty bothers on hands.

Get the look:

  1. Once acrylic base is on, apply two coats of an olive green nail polish, like essie Nail Polish in Muted Khaki Green (Buy from Walmart, $9.99), all over three nails of your choice. Let dry.
  2. Use the olive green polish to paint half of the two bare nails, going in an upward diagonal direction. Let dry.
  3. Using a black striper polish, like LeChat Cm Striping Nail Art in shade Black (Buy from Walmart, $7.50), create a thin horizontal line down the middle of the ring fingernail. On the pinky nail, create a vertical thin line across the middle of the nail. Let dry.
  4. Finish with top coat.

2. Bold red with gold flakes

This manicure from Instagram user @gleefultipss shows how a mix of red and gold are sure to make nails shine.

Get the look:

  1. Paint each thumb, ring and pinky acrylic nails with a bright red polish, like Orly Nail Lacquer in Terracotta (Buy from Walmart, $8.95). Let dry.
  2. On the pointer and middle fingernails, use the bright red polish on the upper third of the nail, creating a diagonal block of color.
  3. While the red polish is still tacky, apply gold flakes, like WFAUIBR Gold Leaf Flakes (Buy from Amazon, $5.66), following the bottom of the diagonal red block in a wavy pattern.
  4. Finish with top coat.

3. Wow-worthy white ‘waves’

We are mesmerized by this white wavy design by @nailedbylorsace on Instagram. And pairing it with a simple heart accent adds a touch of whimsy!

Get the look:

  1. Prep each acrylic nail with a nude polish, like Sally Hansen Good.Kind.Pure Demi Matte Vegan Nail Color in Cashew Butter (Buy from Amazon, $7.49). Let dry.
  2. Using a white striper polish, like FingerPaints Striping Nail Polish in Hip Hip Hue-Ray (Buy from Sally Beauty, $3.49), create one or two thin, wavy lines on each nail, except the ring fingernail.
  3. On the ring fingernail, create a small white heart using the white striper polish. Let dry.
  4. Finish with a matte top coat, like wet n wild WildShine Nail Polish in Matte Top Coat (Buy from Amazon, $1.29).

4. Playful black polka dots + French tips

Black French tip and polka dot nails.
OleJohny/Getty

Creating black French tips and polka dots, then sealing nails with a matte top coat gives the classic manicure designs a modern spin.

Get the look:

  1. Paint each acrylic nail with a milky white polish, like OPI Nail Lacquer in Funny Bunny (Buy from Amazon, $11.49). Let dry.
  2. On each nail besides the ring fingernail, use a black striper polish, like LeChat Cm Striping Nail Art in Black (Buy from Walmart, $7.50), to create a thin French tip. Let dry.
  3. Using a dotting tool, like HiMo 5 pc 2 Way Dotting Pen Tool (Buy from Amazon, $3.99), and black polish, create small polka dots all over the ring fingernail. Let dry.
  4. Finish with a matte top coat, like wet n wild WildShine Nail Polish in Matte Top Coat (Buy from Amazon, $1.29).

For more French tip nail designs, click through this story.

5. Cute half heart accents

nails with red hearts in corner.
Instagram/@colorisadream

Less can really be more with this short acrylic nail design posted by Instagram user @colorisadream. And miniature half hearts at the corner of nails add a pop of color to a nude base.

Get the look:

  1. Start with acrylic base. Once on, paint two coats of a sheer nude polish on each nail, like ella + mila Nail Polish in Bare (Buy from ella + mila, $10.50). Let dry.
  2. Using a red-orange nail polish, like Orly Nail Lacquer in Terracotta (Buy from Walmart, $8.95), paint a half heart in the top corner of each nail. Let dry.
  3. Finish with top coat.

6. Wonderful white with black leaves

Short acrylic nails with milky white base and black leaves.
OleJohny/Getty

The high contrast between a white base and black leaves makes nails a gorgeous focal point.

Get the look:

  1. Paint each acrylic nail with a milky white polish, like OPI Nail Lacquer in Funny Bunny (Buy from Amazon, $11.49). Let dry.
  2. Using a black striper polish, like LeChat Cm Striping Nail Art in Black (Buy from Walmart, $7.50), create a thin line in a corner of each nail. Then, create small leaves coming off the line. Let dry.
  3. Finish with top coat.

7. Flirty floral natural, classy short acrylic nails

Whenever you need to put a little “spring” in your step — regardless of what season it is — this floral motif from @glamedbyjen_ on Instagram does just that!

Get the look:

  1. After acrylic nails are on, paint each nail with a sheer, shimmery polish, like ILNP Nail Polish in Snow Angel (Buy from ILNP, $10). Let dry.
  2. On each middle and ring fingernails, create three small, gold dots, starting at the base of the nail and going upwards along the side of the nail, using a gold nail polish, like Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Go For Gold (Buy from Amazon, $7.95), and a dotting tool, like HiMo 5 pc 2 Way Dotting Pen Tool (Buy from Amazon, $3.99).
  3. Use the dotting tool and a white nail polish, like Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish in White on Time (Buy from Walmart, $9.95), to create small dots around two of the gold centers, creating a flower. Around the last gold center, use a peach nail polish, like Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish in Peach Please (Buy from Amazon, $9.24). Let dry.
  4. Finish with top coat.

8. Fun pastel French tips on natural, classy short acrylic nails

Colorful French tip short nails.
Dariia Chernenko/Getty

On-trend French tips in various pastel shades add pretty pizzazz to fingers!

Get the look:

  1. Start with acrylic base. Once on, paint two coats of a sheer nude polish on each nail, like ella + mila Nail Polish in Bare (Buy from ella + mila, $10.50). Let dry.
  2. Using a pastel blue polish, like Zoya Nail Polish in Blue (Buy from Amazon, $10), yellow polish, like OPI Nature Strong Vegan Nail Polish in Make My Daisy (Buy from Amazon, $11.59) and lavender polish, like essie expressie Quick Dry Nail Polish in Virtual Velocity (Buy from Amazon, $9), paint think French tips on each nail using a nail art brush, like SQULIGT 3PCS Nail Art Liner Brushes (Buy from Amazon, $3.99). Let dry.
  3. Finish with top coat.

9. Striking pink swirls

How fun are these pink and white swirl acrylic nails posted by Instagram user @tammysbeautypage? And the vertically-oriented design optically stretches nails for the illusion of length to shorter nails.

Get the look:

  1. Paint acrylic nails with a pink-nude polish, like Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish in In a Blush (Buy from Amazon, $5.24). Let dry.
  2. Using hot pink polish, like essie Nail Polish in Pencil Me In (Buy from Target, $9.99), and light pink polish, like Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish in In a Blush (Buy from Amazon, $5.24) paint abstract swirls on each nail. Let dry.
  3. Use a white striper polish, like FingerPaints Striping Nail Polish in Hip Hip Hue-Ray (Buy from Sally Beauty, $3.49), to outline the edge of each pink swirl, or use the opposite pink polish and a nail art brush, like SQULIGT 3PCS Nail Art Liner Brushes (Buy from Amazon, $3.99). Let dry.
  4. Finish with top coat.

10. Lovely light pink with a pop of silver

Painting on a sliver of a metallic silver polish like this look from @applesnailsandbeauty on Instagram adds a little touch of sophisticated sparkle to a simpler manicure.

Get the look:

  1. Paint the ring fingernail with a milky white polish, like OPI Nail Lacquer in Funny Bunny (Buy from Amazon, $11.49). On the remaining nails, paint with a light pink polish, like Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish in In a Blush (Buy from Amazon, $5.24). Let dry.
  2. On the ring fingernails, paint a pink stripe slightly off-center; let dry. Then, use a silver striper polish, like Sally Hansen Nail Art Striper in Silver (Buy from Walmart, $7.99), to create a thinner stripe in the middle of the pink stripe. Let dry.
  3. Finish with top coat.

Stunning solid colored natural, classy short acrylic nails

Nail art not your thing? These solid hues ranging from neutral to bold shades are equally as pretty as their design counterparts.

1. Pretty pink jelly acrylic nails

For a natural, classy short acrylic nail option, opt for a sheer, jelly-like look. The above nails by @alyxlippiatt on Instagram make nails look healthy and shiny. Get the look with a pink jelly polish, like Cirque Colors Jelly Polish in Rose Jelly (Buy from Cirque Colors, $12.50).

2. Beautiful blue-grey acrylic nails

Pastel blue nails.
Dariia Chernenko/Getty

These blueish-grey nails are neutral and pair well with any look — plus, the shade works well year-round. Get the look with Olive & June Long Lasting Polish in shade BP (Buy from Olive & June, $9).

3. Simple nude acrylic gel nails

Many people think acrylic nails and gel nails are mutually exclusive, but you can actually have them done at the same time! Short acrylic nails with a gel manicure like this one, shared by Instagram user @ellenrogers, shows how gorgeous combining the two looks can be.

Want a similar nude color with regular polish instead of gel? Try Sally Hansen Good.Kind.Pure Demi Matte Vegan Nail Color in Cashew Butter (Buy from Amazon, $7.49).

4. Marvelous deep plum natural, classy short acrylic nails

These dark plum nails by @saruhnails on Instragram are absolutely perfect for fall and winter. Plus, darker hues help to hide imperfections on nail beds, such as dents and ridges. A polish in a similar shade: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish in shade Go Garnet (Buy from Walmart, $5.24).

For more deeper hued acrylic nails, click through this story.

To discover more stunning manicures and nail inspiration:

Celebrity Manicurist: Why Jelly Nails Are Perfect For Women Over 50

Fruit Nail Designs That Are Sure to Add Fun to Your Fingers and Put a Smile on Your Face!

Top Manicurists: The Best Nail Designs of 2023 That Put Happiness At Your Fingertips