I've Been a Fan of "Princess Nails" for Years—the 15 Classiest Designs I'd Wear In a Heartbeat

I've spent the better part of five years with the goal of growing out my nails, only to recently experience more breakage in a few weeks than I ever have. Restarting my nail growth journey has come with some trail and error, but the process the process hasn't been without its huge wins. While I may not have the length I've gotten so used to, my shorter nails are healthy, strong, and ready for anything. I don't have to worry about breakage when I'm in a pilates session, testing new products, or packing for trips. In fact, I've learned to love the look of them in their most natural state.

TikTok's "Princess Nails" trend where short lengths are celebrated and chic nail designs are celebrated has kept me scrolling through hours of inspo. So, why not share some of my recent finds? Keep scrolling to check out the 15 nail looks that look especially stunning on short nail lengths like mine (plus, all the must-have products shared by the nail artists that created them).

Gold-Dipped Tips

Whether you're a bride-to-be like the person who received this manicure by Iram Shelton, or have been itching for a minimalistic nail look with a touch of chrome for intrigue, this french manicure with delicate gold tips makes the perfect option. To create this, Shelton started with a milky with base before adding gold foil.

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Dew Drops

Nail artist and digital creator Mate Janova always knows how to pull off delicate and detailed short nail designs, including this 3D water drop inspired nail look using a neutral pink shade as a base and sparkling gem stones placed at random to perfectly catch the light.

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Dainty Intials

Another chic and minimalistic manicure I'll be trying are these milky white nails with a bold old english initial places in the corner of the thumb done using a black gel polish by The Gel Bottle Inc. I think this would also be an elegant option for a wedding nail look.

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Citrus Chrome

Chrome manicures are still dominating everything from my Pinterest to Instagram, so it's no surprise I'm starting to see it combined with this year's top polish colors. Queenie Nguyen's took on the trend with a glazed butter yellow french combining butter yellow tips with a white chrome or glazed donut topper.

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Wavy French

Another modernized take on a french manicure that's been popping up frequently across social media platforms for me have been these chic French nails with wavy white tips. It's a fun play on a minimalistic, negative space look that doesn't stray too far from a traditional French manicure.

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Ditsy Daisies

If you still believe in the magic of daisy chains and have been on the hunt for an elevated take on floral-inspired nails, consider trying this daisy mani design. To recreate, use a dotting tool tipped in an off-white polish for the petals, then match each flower's yellow center to the tips of your nails for a playful finishing touch.

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Milky Moons

Here's one of those "your nails, but better" manicures that will show off the natural tones of your nails with a little color and an eye-catching glossy finish. These nails were created using two popular polish colors by OPI: Put It In Neutral (soft beige pink), and Funny Bunny (sheer white).

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Classic Dots

Looking for a quick and easy way to elevate any nail look? Add some quirky dots of different sizes in unexpected places. For my upcoming manicure, I'll be taking notes from these French nails by Nguyen include extra wide tips and black polka dots of various sizes.

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Glitter Dusting

These are the ideal nails for someone who are setting out to add a touch of glitter to their manicures without fully committing to the glam. I especially love this look because it's created using pink polish and glitter from one of my favorite brands, Manicurist.

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Tennis Inspired

I don't know about you, but I still haven't gotten over my Challengers era, and this summer has re-sparked an interest in all things tennis (including nail art). This nail art-centered take on a French by The Mani Club features tennis balls and rackets serving looks across the index and ring fingers.

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Mixed Metals

I can't go a day without seeing some variation of a mixed metal manicure make its appearance on one of my social media platforms. However, out of all the ones I've been saving lately, this 3D floral design made of mixed metals in silver, blue, and gold tones has my heart. I'm obsessed with the way it sparkles.

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Tiny Dots

I can't prove it, but I'm 99.9% sure that having barely there manicures is the easiest way to feel like you have your life together. This nail look, by Jonava, is beyond effortless and simple to recreate. Just grab a milky white shade for your base, and then add a tiny white dot at the very top of your nail.

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Contrasting Colors

Switching off between contrasting colors at the top and bottom of the nails looks especially stunning when done in classic shade of black and white as demonstrated by this manicure. To create this look, manicurist Georgia Rae started with cuticle care by Navy Professional before completing the look with OPI polish.

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Soft Pearls

An ocean-inspired manicure can feature anything from fishing net-like textures to swirling 3D polish to resemble the ocean waves, but nothing captures my attention as much as a delicate pearl detail. To create this enchanting nail look, start with a milky pink base before gently placing a pearl nail decal just below the cuticles.

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3D Blooms

Another 3D nail trend I've been spotting amongst the fashion crowd have been milky white manicures with elegant 3D flower art arranged at the top and bottom of the nails. The stunning nail look above is described by Shelton, "minimal nails with that added flare," on her Instagram.

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