What Is a Short-Nail Trend?

Image Source: Getty / Justin Sullivan

These days, we can’t seem to find a woman who isn’t growing out her nails as quickly as we want. I do it, so do my friends, and a new petite trend is making its way through fashions. While we all love a steady, sleek nail, the truth is that it can be tiring to grow out your nails so quickly. Not only do they have to come down from high heels and strut more, but they require a lot of time to paint and polish. So the good news is that we all have the choice of lengths, and we can try to grow them out right up until February’s NYFW. Have you been struggling with your short nails? We spoke to several nail experts to find out what you can do to fix your problem.

Before You Start

The first thing to do is go into your nearest nail salon and see if they have some extensive treatments. Pati Switzer, owner of Switzer Nails in LA, says that she offers two-day manicures and nail wraps on the Nail Crumby Shape Stomp as well as several other styles. “An elongated nail is something special,” she explained. Switzer adds that if you have mismatched tips, the need to lengthen your nails can cause blisters. “These types of manicures usually work best if you have matches, so that the color matches the nail bed.”

It’s Complicated . . . But Right

Eating more foods rich in vitamin D can help nourish your nails, and one of the many ways to do this is to eat more mushrooms, broccoli, spinach, kale, carrots, collard greens, parsnips, leeks, ginger, garlic, and bok choy. It’s the gentle humanized plants that will give your nails their best nourishment.

ADVERTISEMENT

For things like the small tools at the nail salon, the rules change slightly; some tools such as manicurists’ clippers may be filled with ionic chemicals, which will cause blisters. Switzer recommends looking for ratoons and mite-free ionic products that use vitamin D to purify the material. Some of the other more natural products include the Saltonici Fushina Acetate & Niacin Brilliance, which is an alkaline solution that is designed to be the top commercial nail enamel product, claims pati.

Thickness and Fine Detail

There’s nothing worse than finishing up with a little ink or one of those new bottom-of-the-barrel glitter nail art stencils only to find that your nail has really thick, dark lines in it. Chip Lee, founder of nail polish company Kit Organic, says the nail-decorating industry is really on the rise and offers a style called “French In Style,” which includes a little trim that is supposed to give your nail a French-style look. It’s then trimmed and left in place for a longer-lasting style.

Chalkboard Polishes

“I recommend chalkboard polish with a base layer of gel polish,” says Lee. A base coat is a must to keep everything good and still shines. The foundation needs to withstand whatever harsh conditions you’re going to find yourself in; otherwise, your polish will chip and dull. When it comes to “French In Style,” a chalkboard style may be fine for a short while, but if you plan on wearing it at NYFW (because really, you don’t want to have any unfinished nails) then it’ll need to be up to par immediately. Lee’s final words? “The lightest wash of polish you can make it is extremely important!”