Maybe you’re in the middle of growing your nails out after a (tragic) break, or maybe you just can’t seem to get them to grow long. Or maybe you don’t like having to deal with the hassle of long nails every day, but you want them to look longer than they really are. Don’t worry; we have a very smart solution: nail designs that make your nails look longer. These 10 smart (and still cute) designs will do the job.
01 out of 10 The Italian Manicure
The Italian manicure is brilliant, even though it’s very subtle. This method calls for putting one colour of nail polish on each nail, as close to the cuticle as possible. Next, use a fine nail brush dipped in nail polish remover to draw a small line around the edges of each nail. This makes your nails look long and thin.
02 of 10 Sharp French Mani
You can make your nails look longer right away with a stiletto nail shape, but you can make them look even longer by adding a sharp French tip to each one. This design looks great with gold chrome on white, but it works with any colour combination.
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03 of 10 Gradient Nails
A gradient or ombre nail that goes from dark to light (either way is fine) is like a sharp French nail. This is a fun way to play with a few colours and draw attention to how long your nails are.
04 of 10 Long Vertical Lines
It works for nails, and you can be sure it works for fashion. The idea is that thin vertical stripes from the bed to the tip of your nails will make them look longer, even if they aren’t very long.
05 of 10: Swirly Vertical Lines
This is a more fun take on vertical lines. This nail idea makes nails look longer by using swirling lines that still go from top to bottom instead of straight and narrow. The French tips and almond shape also help make the shape look longer.
06 of 10 Polka Dots
Rows of small polka dots are a fun way to do your nails (and this summer, it’s definitely a popular look). Plus, they make short nails look longer than they really are. Try a tapered gradient colour shift from top to bottom for more impact.
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07 out of 10 Chrome Finish
Shiny finish wins for the mani! Chrome nails can make your nails look longer, even if they are short. The shine catches the light in all the right ways. You can also try out a lot of different colours and finishes.
08 of 10: Playing with Negative Space
Adding negative space to your nails is always a fun way to make them look better. Use negative space vertically with central cutouts, vertical lines, or bars to make your nails look longer. This manicure looks abstract, but look at how the gold foil and pink are put on in a vertical pattern.
09 out of 10 Teeny Minimalist Accents
Adding tiny, simple accents like a single crystal, dot, or star to the middle or top of the nail can make it look like your nails are longer. The extra small accent goes well with any nail and makes it look bigger than it really is.
10 out of 10 for Half-Moon Art
Another way to make short nails look longer is to highlight the half moon (the white part at the base of your nail). There is a cute abstract flower at the base of each nail in this design, but you could also use polka dots, a single dot, or a solid colour.
