In the last few years, we have been living in the midst of a global pandemic that has encouraged everyone to keep their nails at a shorter length and trimmed. It’s undisputed that longer, natural nails can indeed harbor more dirt and germs than shorter nails, and during that ill-fated time, cutting our nails short seemed like the right thing to do. At-home manicures became the norm.

As we all begin to emerge from what feels like a two-year hazy hibernation, cute short nail designs seem like they are here to stay, and with the re-opening of nail salons and spas, we can start to be a little more creative with our short nail designs – not quite to the same level as longer nails, sure, but definitely not far off! And coming from a writer who spends long hours at the keyboard, we can totally appreciate the practicality that shorter nails offer.

One only has to turn to Pinterest to discover plenty of classy short nail designs that can make anyone’s nails look beautifully polished and chic. The sheer beauty of classic short nail designs lies in their timeless appeal, and their ability to elevate anyone’s look to appear more put together is undeniable.

To help inspire your next classy manicure, we’re featuring some of the best nail designs that perfectly suit short nails and are guaranteed to be the best part of any outfit of the day. If you’re still on the fence about whether to keep your nails short, keep reading for our top classy short nail designs, with over 10 pictures of stunning short nail ideas that are sure to fill you with inspiration for your next trip to the salon.