Creating a beautiful pedicure is achieved not only by original nail design and selection of interesting techniques. It is important to carefully consider the individual characteristics of the nail plates. A pedicure on short nails can cause some difficulties, because in this case not every decor is suitable.
Many girls simply do not like long nail plates, while others have a special structure that does not allow them to grow. Therefore, it is obvious that such a pedicure is becoming very common due to its naturalness and simplicity.
Peculiarities
Small nails can be easily compensated for or emphasized using special methods that will visually make the pedicure harmonious and uncluttered.
In order for short nail plates to look neat, you need to consider the following care and design features:
- Give preference to plain varnishes, preferably light, delicate shades;
- Avoid voluminous jewelry; you can add small textured details to the thumb;
- If you choose a bright shade of varnish, then it is better to use it with mother-of-pearl;
- Be careful with a matte finish; it is permissible to paint only the thumbs or use light colors with glitter;
- If you want to make a classic French manicure, then combine it with a moon pedicure or another simple pattern;
- Give preference to designs with vertical stripes;
- Try to move or trim the cuticle as much as possible, so the nail plates will become longer.
As you can see, to create a pedicure for small nails you need to choose simple design solutions, sometimes you can play with patterns and palette. In addition to external design, it is important to carry out hygiene procedures and processing with tools.
Harmonious color combinations with pedicure polish
How to combine colors correctly in the coming season? The color of the pedicure, shoes and clothes will form a harmonious ensemble if:
- For a blue pedicure, you will wear chocolate-colored shoes.
- Purple sandals go well with a lemon or golden pedicure.
- A red pedicure will perfectly set off the berry shades in your clothes or shoes.
- Green open sandals will effectively demonstrate an orange or purple pedicure.
But these are by no means exhaustive rules. As they say, options are possible. You have to take a look at the season: in winter the shades of varnish can be darker, in summer they can be lighter and lighter. The decor of nail plates can also be seasonal: in winter – stars, snowflakes, “knitted” pedicure, in summer – flowers, butterflies, marine themes. Of course, the length, shape and condition of your nails also make their own adjustments.
Execution Rules
Nails with a short length require careful care, otherwise the shape of the nail plates may become distorted and look unkempt. To do this, just follow the rules for performing a pedicure:
- Remove old varnish, if any, and sand and polish. This needs to be done, since on short nails the irregularities look very noticeable.
- Make a warm bath, perhaps with chamomile infusion, and take it for about 15 minutes until the rough layer softens.
- Perform a hardware or instrumental pedicure, be sure to remove the cuticle or move it well with a stick so that the hole is exposed as much as possible.
- Apply a base clear coat and wait until dry.
- Paint your nails, make a design if necessary.
- Cover everything with a clear finishing sealer.
Treating the feet and nails will give an aesthetic appearance and make the short length unnoticeable.
Other methods
If short nails are given by nature and are not a source of pride, you can use one of two ways to lengthen your nails:
- Extension. This procedure, previously related only to manicure, is increasingly popular. You can make it any length, but don’t get carried away. As a rule, extensions are performed with gel, but there are artists who use acrylic. The latter is preferable as it has much greater rigidity. Extended nail plates can be designed taking into account any fashion trends. For example, paint it with a dark monochromatic coating, use a classic French style, or do a colorful summer pedicure with an original design.
- Shape correction. This method is not as radical a method as extensions, but it has its advantages. By changing the shape of the plate, it can be significantly lengthened. The procedure is carried out using a gel, as well as tools that work with the cuticle and skin of the fingers.
If a girl has short nails and doesn’t like it at all, then these types of plate extensions will be very useful.
How and with what to moisturize the skin around the nails
You don't have to buy special cuticle oils, wax or beautifully designed gloves. It is enough to take simple Vaseline or a moisturizer with it in the composition and cotton household gloves and give your hands a spa. You can put cotton socks on your feet and go to bed in them - the cream will nourish the skin and nails.
It is important that before applying the cream, your hands and feet are slightly damp - the cream “locks” it under its layer. More water means more hydration.
The more often you nourish your hands and nails with creams, the better. And don’t forget to wear gloves when washing dishes and cleaning the house so as not to dry out your skin and nails.
Dermatologist from the USA Andrea Suarez is better known by her nickname Dr Dray and runs a useful YouTube channel with skin care secrets. In this video, she explains how to nourish your skin with moisture using pharmaceutical cream and gloves. And shows the effect on yourself. Spoiler: her hands really look neat and you want to touch them!
Design options
The choice of designs for short nails, although somewhat limited, still has quite a few stylish options. The main thing is to harmoniously combine the features of the nail plates, color, pattern and other decorative elements. Here's what fashion trends offer for small nails:
- Smooth lines . They are represented by curved stripes or an abstract design like cobwebs. This pattern goes with most shades of varnish.
- Sequins . It is advised not to place them at the top of the plates; it is better to cover the hole and the middle part. It is worth choosing varnishes with a slight abundance of glitter, otherwise the pedicure will turn out to be too heavy, which does not always look beautiful on short nails.
- Geometric design . It has an original design in the form of clear lines or shapes. Very popular among new designs. A slight contrast between the pattern and background is acceptable.
- Floral and plant ornament . For such drawings you need to select a background in the form of delicate light shades. The ornament itself can be of any color, except for too catchy options.
- Bright varnishes . This may be too risky for short nails, but if the nail plate has a fairly regular shape, then you can experiment with brighter and colored polishes. Light neon shades will look interesting.
- French pedicure . Also acceptable for small nails, but you need to try to grow them a little. This option is ideal for any plate shape. Sometimes a small pattern is added to the jacket so that the nail does not look wider.
- Lunar design . It may seem that such a pedicure, on the contrary, makes the nails visually shorter. However, there are many lunar pedicure techniques that correct small plates. For example, if you add a vertical line down the center, the nail will appear significantly longer.
- Matt lacquer . It is known that matte coatings significantly take away volume, but there are ways to use such varnishes. You can cover only the nails on your thumbs, or paint over not the entire part of the plate. Preference should be given to light tones.
- Pearl pedicure . This is a great way to make short nails look beautiful. The reflective ability of mother-of-pearl does not make the pedicure heavier and makes it a little longer.
- A scattering of rhinestones . Small pebbles are not so catchy, and their proper placement will be an excellent design for small nail plates.
- Transparent pedicure . For those who do not want to attract too much attention to their feet, a natural option is suitable. You can apply a tiny design on a colorless base or cover only your thumbnail with colored varnish.
Undoubtedly, the design of short toenails should correspond to the character and lifestyle of the lady. At the office, at a party or on a seaside holiday, you will need a different pedicure. Having short nails does not mean that they need to be hidden from others. The variety of designs for these nails allows you to choose many ideal options that will create a beautiful, elegant and fashionable pedicure.
How to decorate your toenails
Today there are many ideas for designing nails on both hands and feet. Let's look at the most common methods.
Coating with varnish, gel, shellac, biogel: how to choose the color
The most common and simplest method, which is available even at home, is applying varnish . But you should not take this step lightly and underestimate its importance.
The most difficult thing here is probably choosing the right color. To do this, it is important to consider some points.
- Color of clothes and accessories . If you are doing a pedicure on a night out, then you need to think carefully about how the colors will combine with each other. You can choose a shade to match the color of your shoes, handbag or accessory, or you can choose to match your outfit.
- Durability of varnish . It has long been noted that varnishes with mother-of-pearl and sparkles last much longer than glossy and matte coatings. If you need a pedicure for a long time, you should give preference to these products.
- Varnish color combination . If you decide to get a multi-colored pedicure, check how the colors harmonize with each other. This can be done by applying varnish to the nail or paper.
- If you find it difficult to decide on a color , keep in mind that the most popular are still universal red and all kinds of nude shades.
For a more durable coating, it is recommended to give preference to gel polish (aka shellac). This coating will last 2-3 weeks without correction. If your nails are thin, break or peel, it is better to use biogel, because... it will strengthen the nail plate.
It is very difficult to do a pedicure with gel coating on your own without professional products and equipment, so you should not waste money on visiting a professional.
Decoration: rhinestones, sparkles, modeling
You can make your nails even more attractive by decorating them with rhinestones or sparkles. The main thing is not to overdo it, 1-3 elements per nail are enough.
And for them to stick better, you need good nail glue. As a last resort, you can use clear varnish, but it is less reliable.
Artistic painting
This is a more complex technique that is difficult to implement at home. It is better to turn to a professional and save time and nerves.
French pedicure
Nobody canceled the classics. French on the legs is no less popular than on the arms. It allows your nails to look stylish, well-groomed and will go with any outfit and accessories. It’s easy to make with the help of special smile stickers and good varnish.
If you decide to buy a set for French manicure/pedicure, pay attention to the consistency of the varnishes: they should not be too thick, because... The layers are applied very thinly.
Where to find and how to choose an idea for a beautiful pedicure
If it’s difficult to decide on a pedicure style, look for ideas online. Nowadays there are many professional websites, groups on social networks and photo galleries, where masters of their craft post their works and even master classes.
First, try copying a couple of other people's designs. The main thing is patience while working, because the drawing does not always turn out right immediately.
Here, for example, is an original idea - ethnic pedicure:
Beautiful combinations of pedicure and manicure
Fashion changes every year. Recently it was stylish to do a manicure and pedicure in the same color, today it is allowed to decorate your nails in different ways. If you decide to do just that, pay attention to the harmony of the chosen coating. There should be a common style: be it a bright pattern or rhinestones.
