These 16 Gel Short Nail Designs Pack A Small, But Mighty, Punch (2024)

Nail designs that take half the time and last twice as long? Sign us up! We love cutting corners, even if that means cutting our nails. There are tons of gel short nail designs that’ll give you a great manicure. And an easier time putting in contacts.

These short gel nails don’t skimp on design or looks, and you’ll still be able to do things like open your car door and wear clothes with buttons. Sure, you may not win a Kylie Jenner look alike contest, but did you really want to put on all that lip liner anyway?

16 Gel Short Nail Designs

1. Rainbow Waves

These groovy rainbow nails will match your case of White Claw, and you won’t even have to get someone to open the can for you. Independent Woman, your table is ready!

2. Short Marble Nails

This nail design is subtle and classy, but be careful chopping things in the kitchen. You may mistake your nails for the counter. Actually, probably better to just order take out again.

3. Primary Colors

These three colors make for a gorgeous color palette in this artsy short gel nail design. Although we usually prefer to include some complimentary colors. They just make us feel good about ourselves.

4. Holographic Short Nails

Slap on this gel polish when you’re still chasing that holographic Pokémon card high. They just don’t make them the same these days.

5. Speckled Short Nails

These short speckled nails are the optimal choice for those of us who weren’t blessed with the steady hands of a surgeon. Or the accompanying paycheck.

6. Yeehaw Nails

When your nails are short, you’ve got more time for cowgirl shenanigans. Sure, we were mostly in it for the cute hats, but we also learned how to two-step with the time we’ve saved!

7. Electric Blue Nails With an Accent

Why have one accent nail when you can have two? But watch your roll. The next thing you know, it’s three accent nails, and then four. And then…you’re back to one! Math is so weird sometimes.

8. Two-Toned Short Nails

These nails seemed like half the work until we realized we had to pull out the ruler to make sure our halves were even. At least it wasn’t the protractor this time.

9. Gold Accents

We really like keeping things simple. Just a little gold here and a little gold there. Some diamonds and emeralds don’t hurt either. But like we said, we’re simple.

10. Short Galaxy Nails

Galaxy nails are trending right now. We’ll try out these purple short gel nails with a celestial scene to start, but next time we want something that matches our lightsaber a bit better.

11. Geometric Nail Art

Don’t be so obtuse – short nails can be totally on point with this geometric design. And yes, this is when we had to break out the protractor.

12. Dark Sky Nail Design

We see nothing but dope nails and clear skies in your forecast. And bonus: it doesn’t matter if these start peeling off! Did we say “if?” We meant “when.”

13. Neon vs. Pastel Tips

When you want to get sorbet on the way to the rave. Who says you can’t have it all?

14. Watermelon Slices

This nail design may just be easier to create than cutting up a watermelon without making a huge mess. Throw in a pineapple and it’s definitely easier.

15. Blue and Gold Mixed Nails

Look, it’s hard enough to only pick two colors. Relinquish the rest of your decision making requirements by painting a different design on each nail. Then you might have some brain space left to choose a birthday card for your Dad. And remember to send it.

16. Mix and Match Short Nails

If your socks have never matched a day in your life, these nails are perfect for you.