Before choosing a design for a wide nail plate, pay attention to its color, shape and length. Sometimes even long but wide nails do not look very aesthetically pleasing, so a manicure can either correct the situation or make it worse. One option is to have your nails extended, but this is a decision that is made individually - many girls prefer naturalness. Let's consider designs that are suitable in this case.
A manicure that can visually lengthen your nails
The shape of your nails matters a lot when creating stylish nail art. The fashion for too long, unnatural nails has already passed. Today women prefer medium and short nails. At the same time, an oblong nail plate looks beautiful and feminine, but those with wide nails should choose a design that will visually narrow the nail.
You can add grace to your hands and visually lengthen your fingers by choosing the right manicure shape:
- Oval shape. Suitable for owners of both short and long fingers, regardless of the length of the nail plate. This manicure always looks elegant and feminine.
- Rectangular nails. This shape perfectly increases length, but is not suitable for those with wide nails.
- Spicy manicure. This form is considered quite provocative. When giving them this shape, it is important to observe moderation, otherwise the manicure will be unattractive and tasteless.
The right manicure color will help visually lengthen the nail and correct its shape.
According to most stylists, light-colored nail polish will make your fingers even shorter, while a dark color, on the contrary, will lengthen them and make them more graceful. But this does not mean that you need to do a manicure in a Gothic style. It is enough to choose a deep and rich color.
The ideal manicure color options that will help visually lengthen your nails are:
- Dark blue color scheme. It looks stylish and noble. Nails coated with dark blue varnish can serve as an excellent background for creating a complex design or decor.
- Berry and wine palette. It has many shades that allow you to create a manicure for all occasions. Berry and wine designs always have an elegant look and look great with decorative decorations.
- Emerald green shades. This manicure is a trend of the latest season. It looks quite original and stylish. The color goes well with various decor options.
Women who do not like dark manicure or, due to some circumstances, cannot use it, should pay attention to nude shades of varnish. They are neutral, discreet, always look distinctly elegant and neat, but do not stand out very much.
Nail art options
To make a manicure look perfect, it is not enough to give your nails the correct shape and choose the color. A poorly thought out design can ruin your efforts. To prevent this from happening, when choosing a manicure design, you need to take into account all the features and disadvantages of the nail plate.
- French manicure. French is a classic that has gained great popularity due to its versatility. French nails visually lengthen short nails due to a white smile that looks like an overgrown plate. This design retains its original appearance for a long time, so it is better to make it with gel. Nail plates grow unnoticeably, while the nails do not lose their neat appearance. Neutral and nude shades of varnishes allow you to wear a jacket even for women who must adhere to a dress code. If you are not a supporter of the classics, pay attention to the reverse French.
- Lunar. Moon manicure visually makes nails longer thanks to a hole shaped like a semicircle or triangle. You can highlight the lunula with glitter, contrasting, transparent or light varnish. A clear boundary between the hole and the main background of the nail plate lengthens it and makes it more elegant. You can create a lunar manicure using both bright and muted shades.
- Geometry. Geometric designs have remained popular for several seasons. All kinds of patterns, lines, figures perfectly extend the nail, but provided that they are located vertically. To achieve the elongation effect, it is better to draw narrow, elongated shapes: rectangles, sharp triangles, ovals. In this case, it is better to use a combination of varnishes of contrasting colors, for example, dark figures on a light background.
- Nude. Natural nude shades give the design a neat and sophisticated look and visually lengthen the nails. At the same time, a neutral natural manicure will be appropriate in any situation. Nude colors can serve as the basis for a stylish manicure in a minimalist style. Vertically located dots and lines perfectly lengthen the nail plate.
Lengthen them: it's easy
It's better to be than to appear - this is not about makeup, not about manicure. Natural data does not always fit the narrow canons of fashion.
Nails of any length can be beautiful, and a manicure can be expressive.
And if the nail bed is wide, if the nail plate is short - what to do when a bright palette, spectacular patterns, rich colors that visually shorten the nails are in fashion.
The main thing is not to scratch your nails: they will delight you with the beauty of their shape and will surprise you with their design.
Also, don’t make these mistakes that visually make your fingers massive and your nails disproportionately short. It’s simple, believe me – or better yet, check it.
Rule No. 1 Beauty is proportions
Beauty is proportions, form is secondary. With the right proportions, any is good.
Even if the nail plate is not narrow by nature, but very wide: there is a short manicure that hides this. Everything is thought out: it is impossible to estimate the true width and size with a short manicure.
The biggest mistake is to think that black manicure on short nails is bad. This is wrong!
Long, the same almond, is deceptive: it reveals all the imperfections of the form, including wide nails, looks massive, disproportionate, visually makes the fingers full, massive.
French or lunar again, its inversion? No!
The length is equal to the widest part of the nail plate: the rule of proportional manicure.
This will not visually shorten your fingers. And the nails themselves will not be shortened. With a few exceptions: it's all about form.
Any manicure would be good, would be an idea.
Rule #2 It's all in the form
Form matters a lot...
Please note: even for those with wide hands and chubby fingers, a short manicure looks perfect. And vice versa: both the handle is narrow and the fingers of a pianist, and the short manicure is a “spatula”. Although with such data it would seem...
The soft square shape is the most successful. One of the most: everything is individual.
That's it: the key word is it would seem. Sharp corners visually shorten nails. Rounded, soft - visually lengthen the nail plate itself, fingers, and hands.
Make a Soft Square: Soften the corners to create a soft square or even an oval.
And almost unnoticeable.
Rule #3 Think about color
Don't look down on black and white: everything is complicated.
Two opposite options will be winning. The first is a transparent varnish, nude, matte. Slightly merging with the skin, they do not allow the nail shape and length to be conspicuous: it is difficult to visually assess.
The most incredible color is its absence. And nude is in fashion, “open”, and negative space...
And negative space with nude, and geometry, and a hint of French.
The second option is contrasting bright colors. But it’s important to think through the palette.
Marble asymmetrical manicure for short nails.
Simple colors shorten. It is important to choose complex colors, shades and undertones.
Whoever said that dark and shiny nails are not for short nails is wrong.
It shortens pure white, but lengthens milky ones, and even when paired with geometry, gradient, shading - more on the techniques below.
Bright colors are not taboo. But depending on what kind: acidic, too juicy, they are akin to simple ones: they make the narrowest fingers cumbersome.
True black will reveal all the imperfections, but dark brown, taupe will make your nails perfect.
Dark blue manicure for short nails.
Red will shorten it, but any of its shades, from crimson to cherry, can look bright, catchy and hide what you want to hide.
Dark burgundy, wine, all shades of gray - in the piggy bank, or rather, in the palette of those with short nails - by the way, these are the majority.
Or change to complex intermediate colors.
Rule No. 4 Technique determines form
Short nails are a field for imagination.
Yes, exactly the technique of execution. Among the lengthening ones: French and lunar, gradient (horizontal, vertical), and ombre, incl. French ombre as its variety.
And the ideas of gradient and ombre are the most successful. Some of the most.
Important: the longer the stretch, the smoother the transition, the more pronounced the lengthening effect.
Short nails want to sparkle too!
Rubbing, foil and other glitters - with the right design and the right color.
Matte makes the color “dull”, dense, and visually makes the manicure heavier. It is good either on nails that are narrow and not short, or on nails with a softened edge, tapered, protruding 2-4 mm above the fingertip. Mother of pearl too: excess shine shortens.
Design ideas for short nails.
What should I do? The compromise is regular gel polish, polish. If with glitter, rubbed in - not on the entire plate.
Cat's eye is a salvation for short nails. Even a classic.
The same double cat eye highlight, 5D effect on the classic blue-ink color will also shorten narrow nail plates. But with rainbow, combined colors - it does not narrow the boundaries, it visually enlarges.
Simple geometry is not as simple as it seems.
Simple geometry is an ideal way to correct the shape and add volume to small nails. Contrasting dark ones combined with translucent, nude colors are strong, beautiful, and clever: they visually lengthen.
Marble is good: its soft web softens the shape, does not give harsh readings and looks very gentle on short nails.
Both marble and geometry with asymmetry.
Decoration with lines or threads, strips of foil will appeal to lovers of minimalism and neat nails. And small ones.
A matte manicure for short nails is also good: just the right one.
About drawings
A bright manicure for short nails can be charmingly bright.
They can visually lengthen short nails and shorten long ones. This is a tricky, complicated thing. About the complex: ligature, three-dimensional drawing is good. But the smaller it is, the less massive the nail looks.
Who said that red, matte, bouillon and rhinestones are only for long nails?
Modeling, forging, acrylic roses - you should forget them or reduce the size of the parts to a minimum.
And velvet sand, which is still sugary, is the cutest on a short manicure.
An asymmetrical geometric pattern is the best thing you can come up with. Only the geometry is not so simple: the lines are thin and clear, starting from the base, less horizontal. And vertical: the best are diagonal, triangular shapes.
Let there be a French one. But not boring. And velvet.
If you want geometric shapes, let them be small. But thin knitting also has the opposite effect, just like a massive three-dimensional pattern, it visually shortens it. Contrast is important: the stripes should not merge with the main color.
And why lengthen, in fact, short nails. They are so cute, charming...
Contrast helps
Red doesn't suit you? Combine!
It is a very big misconception that those with wide nails should avoid contrasts. On the contrary, these are the best assistants in visual lengthening.
The simplest geometry is the most effective. More precisely, spectacular.
It’s just important to choose them correctly. Let's look at the points above: not simple, not chemical colors, not matte textures. The gradient has a long stretch, the geometry is complex, but not massive. Asymmetry too:
How will we decorate short nails?
About the main thing: details - rhinestones, broths, kamifubiki
A flock of small rhinestones placed on a hole will visually lengthen it. A massive composition is the opposite. The same goes for broths and confetti: those who consider them the lot of those with long, sharp, narrow marigolds are mistaken.
Only the rule is the same: details should not be too bright, simple colors, compositions should not be massive.
Breaking stereotypes: black is good, and the decor is appropriate.
Kamifubiki look very beautiful on a delicate, almost transparent background.
Marble and foil, black and malachite with taupe: this is a trend.
Microscopic broths in small quantities are assistants, in large quantities they are the best way to visually shorten your nails.
You do not want? Let it be just a matte black manicure.
And a secret: down with prejudices
And let them say that mother-of-pearl is not suitable for short people, and forging is taboo...
Beware of prejudices, beware of established opinions. It is generally accepted that bright, contrasting - it shortens. That black and red are only for long ones.
Let them consider contrast and bright colors, the shine of the rub, to be the destiny of long nails.
Let them say that the ligature of patterns, the tricks of geometry and painting are the lot of the moon-faced, almond-shaped, sharp and narrow. The main thing is not what, but how: and then the principle “it is better to be than to appear” loses its meaning: the main thing is not the initial data, but how to use them.
Little ones can be simply adorable!
There are no such things as ugly nails, just a less-than-successful manicure.
Let your nails be beautiful - regardless of length and shape.
Source
Design features
If you have naturally wide nail plates, don’t worry about it: enjoy your naturalness. The modern nail industry offers a huge number of possible design options that will harmoniously highlight your nails, making them visually narrower and more attractive. Experienced nail art masters are ready to share several secrets with which you can improve and transform your hands:
- remove the cuticle - the nail plate will become visually longer;
- give preference to more rounded tips - the square will look too rough;
- The varnish should be applied in the center, trying to leave a little space from the edge of the nail;
- to visually narrow the nail, choose dark, rich shades of varnish;
- if the design includes a pattern, apply it closer to the center - this way it will distract attention from the width of the nail plate;
- grow your nails a little - too short and wide do not look very beautiful;
- The painting and decoration on the nails should be elegant - do not choose large patterns, they will visually enlarge the nail bed even more.
Wide marigolds also have their advantages: due to their size, they are much easier to process, design, and shape. The more space for creativity, the more you can show your imagination and creativity. Let us recall techniques that are best not used for wide nails:
- decorate only one nail with a print - do not focus on all of them;
- do not draw horizontal lines in the central part of the nail plate - they visually expand it and make it shorter;
- choose the right color: acidic or too bright colors are inappropriate, they make you look like a teenage girl who doesn’t know how to take care of herself.
You should never focus on the shape or visible imperfections of your hands and nails. They are a gift from nature, they complement you and highlight your individuality. Choose your own unique manicure and feel unique.
Color that lengthens
The right palette can do a lot not only when choosing an outfit, but also a nail composition. Therefore, it is worth listening to the recommendations of professional stylists. They insist that light shades visually shorten, and dark shades lengthen and add grace. This doesn't mean that a dark gothic palette is the best option. You should pay attention to deep and rich palettes of shades.
Ideal options for optical extension:
- dark blue is a noble palette that never looks too provocative and is an excellent backdrop for a varied design;
- berry-wine , incredibly rich in shades, looks very advantageous and elegant in any situation, goes well with the decor;
- emerald green is a hit of recent seasons, a high-status and non-trivial option that looks great in a duet with different elements.
If you don’t like dark colors or they are impossible due to the dress code, pay attention to fashionable nude nail art. You should focus on neutral, restrained, soft tones that look neat and expensive, but do not stand out too much.
Ombre with a sponge
In addition to the brush, you can use a special sponge. It has a fine structure that allows for smooth color stretching. Several layers of a light shade are first applied to its surface. Movements should be smooth.
For a bright gradient, it is recommended to apply 2-3 layers of a contrasting shade. We fix the decor on the nails with a finishing coat.
Stretching manicure with glitter allows you to create an unusual design. This decor can be chosen for a daily or evening look. In the first case, he combines a pastel palette of shades and a discreet color of glitter.
To create the second option, choose bright colors that highlight the individual characteristics of their owner. Brilliant decor can be made in the same color scheme or, on the contrary, stand out from the general background.
Pink
This color is not inferior to white and black. It is widely used in manicure design. And the combination of pink and white looks luxurious and elegant.
- Dripping manicure (manicure with droplets): examples and step-by-step description of creation. 125 photos and videos application master class
- Manicure with a gradient: 115 photos and videos on how to make a fashionable nail design with your own hands
French manicure with a pattern: modern ideas for classic manicure (130 photos + video)
Optimal types of design
It is not enough to choose the right color and shape. A bad drawing or ill-conceived design can ruin all your efforts. We bring to your attention win-win nail art options that visually add length to your nails and fingers.
This is a classic manicure, the main advantage of which is its versatility. French manicure gives length to short nails due to the border that imitates the growth of the plate. This long-lasting nail art perfectly retains its original appearance for a long time, so it is recommended to use gel coatings. This option will allow your plates to grow unnoticed and not visually lose their effectiveness and accuracy. Neutral shades allow you to use a jacket even in strict dress code conditions.
Ugly nails: how to correct imperfections?
Shiny To form a beautiful and healthy nail plate, we follow the following care rules:
- Using nourishing oils, we moisturize the nail plate, cuticle and skin on the feet.
- To remove the applied coating we use products without acetone. This will help avoid cracking and delamination of the nail plate.
- The internal processes of the body are also responsible for the external condition of the nails, so do not forget about high-quality nutrition and a course of vitamins.
- Unsightly toenails often have a yellow tint and split. In this case, consultation with a doctor and drug treatment is necessary.
Needs to be tidied up
- Tatyana, 26 years old. At home I perform trim manicures without painting. I decided to try changing the shape of the nail and visually lengthening the plate. Having tried many different techniques, I have identified several effective methods for myself. I changed my short square nails to an oval shape. Through trial and error, I figured out which color of polish lengthens my nails - I always do a manicure with a single-color polish in dark shades. I moisturize my cuticles with oil every day. To correct the shape I use only a glass nail file.
- Sofia, 32 years old. By nature, I was not given the most beautiful shape of nails. I don’t always have the opportunity to get a manicure in a salon, so I’ve set myself a few golden rules when it comes to caring for my nails on my own. Once a week I get rid of the cuticles, this allows me to increase the space of my nails. Before cutting, I work the cuticle with an orange stick, thanks to this the plate has become more even. To strengthen the nail plate, I stopped using sanding files.
- Anastasia, 28 years old. Every three weeks I visit a manicurist, where a new design is applied to me. To correct the shape of my wide nails, the master always suggests what color of varnish will visually lengthen the nails. I noticed the professional cunning of the master. When painting a French manicure, the artist draws the lower white edge slightly below the line of the grown part. Thus visually lengthens the main plate. When painting with a single-color varnish, the plate is slightly unpainted on the sides. The shape of the nails takes on a flawless appearance.
What color makes your nails look longer: 10 of the most fashionable manicures
Find out what color of polish visually lengthens your nails.
Long nails are the dream of many girls. Almost everyone wants to wear a length on which any nail design looks beautiful, and even the most ordinary nail polish has enough space to reveal all its beauty. If you can’t grow long nails or the school or college dress code doesn’t allow you to wear a manicure like Cardi B’s, then paint your nails with polishes that will visually lengthen your nails. I have collected 10 fashionable manicures for you - get inspired!
Structure of the nail plate
The size and shape of nails are individual parameters that are determined genetically and vary slightly throughout life. But the structure of the nail plate and the area adjacent to it is the same for everyone, including:
- nail bed - the part of the finger on which the nail is located, penetrated by many nerves and capillaries. The condition of the nail itself—the keratinized plate with a high content of keratin—depends on the condition of the vessels and the nail bed as a whole. Lack of keratin negatively affects its strength and appearance;
- the root of the nail , which determines its length, width and thickness. The root part is hidden under the skin, so it is difficult to damage it. But if this happens, the consequences can be the most unpleasant - from slowing down or completely stopping growth to changing the shape of nails for the worse;
- lunula - the open part of the nail root, visible on the surface as a small light crescent. The nail plate in the lunula area is softer and more vulnerable than at the edges, so special care must be taken when mechanically treating this area. If the lunula is damaged, the initially correct shape of the nails may deteriorate and the symmetry will be disrupted.
The thin fold of skin above the root of the nail is called the cuticle and performs protective functions. To make your hands look well-groomed and your manicure neat, you should pay attention not only to your nails, but also to the skin around them: apply special oil and moisturizer, remove excess cuticles and hangnails.
Dark varnish
Every woman should know that dark polish makes her nails longer and larger. Therefore, women with short nails should stock up on dark shades. To make your nails look longer, you should use glossy varnishes with shimmer, pearl, or metallic, since a nail plate covered with a matte or satin top will not give the desired effect. Manicure "cat's eye", with rubbing, with foil for length correction are ideal.
A very light varnish color will, on the contrary, emphasize the short length of the nails. Exceptions are nude shades (from light pink to beige tones). It is advisable to choose a flesh color that is slightly lighter than your skin tone.
Colors to use: purple, cherry, deep red, chocolate and others. It’s good if there are vertical stripes (as in the example above), just a striped version of the manicure or contrasting color combinations.
Avoid matte finishes
Matte varnishes are at the peak of popularity. This is a great opportunity to create a beautiful, stylish manicure - one-color or multi-color, with or without decoration. But the matte texture does not decorate too short nails. They seem wider than they actually are, which does not add grace to the fingers at all. In this case, pearlescent and glossy varnishes will be the best choice. They will create vertical highlights on the nail plates, visually lengthening them.
And matte varnishes look much better on long and medium-length nails.
How to do a gradient manicure at home.
Here it is very important to consider the materials that you want to use for manicure: varnish or gel polish coating. Depending on your choice, the coating technology will change.
Let's look at the materials needed for the gradient.
When using quick-drying varnish you will need:
- several shades of varnish (gel polishes or nail polishes),
- a soft sponge or a special sponge for gradient manicure,
- several toothpicks or an orange stick,
- concealer or cotton swabs with nail polish remover,
- top coating.
Many people ask the question: which varnish is suitable for a gradient manicure?
We recommend using varnishes with a dense texture and good pigmentation - they are optimal for the design and require a minimum of coating layers. Next, you need to choose one of the gradient methods that is convenient for you:
What is stretching in gel manicure?
A manicure with color stretching is a technique of applying a color coating that smoothly transitions from a dark to a lighter shade. To work, use a special brush made of natural material, the surface of which evenly distributes the coloring composition over the surface of the nail plate.
Professional artists call this technique gradient or ombre. A manicure done using this technique looks impressive. It is suitable for everyday and evening wear. To prevent the coating from looking vulgar, it is recommended to choose bed or light shades of gel polish.
You can dilute the color horizontally, vertically and diagonally. To do this, the brush is held at a certain angle. The drying process plays a huge role in the design process. To work, in addition to a brush, you may need additional tools and materials:
- Foam sponge;
- Spray gun for gel polish;
- Set of brushes.
The relationship between polish color and nail shape
Before choosing a polish color, you need to consider the shape of your nails. Nails with a rectangular or oval shape can be covered with any dense shades. To visually enlarge your nails, you should paint them completely.
Women whose nails are wide and short need to apply varnish only to the middle of the nail. There is no need to paint the sides of your nails with polish.
Gradient is quick and easy. The two most popular methods of execution.
The first method is to apply several shades of varnish in strips directly onto a sponge. Immediately after application, you need to transfer the varnish onto the nail with light patting movements - due to this, the varnishes on the border will mix and give a soft transition. However, be careful! If you fiddle with the sponge for too long, the varnishes at the border of the transition may interfere with each other and give a dirty shade. To prevent this from happening, it is better to use different shades of the same color for this method. There is also a high probability that the varnishes will begin to dry out, since the layer of varnish on the sponge is very thin, and will begin to roll off on the sponge and nail, leaving stains and gaps. In this case, it is better to make a thin first layer, dry it, and then add a new varnish to the sponge and duplicate the layer again - this way it will be bright and the sponge will not create any inconvenience for you
