By definition, white is the absence of color. However, despite its subtlety, the milky hue still makes for an impressive manicure. We love that white nails have such a classic, chic, and cool appeal—plus, there are endless ways to customize a crisp, white mani. You can create a simple white French design or pair your snowy polish with colorful nail art. You can also experiment with length—and on that front, we've spotted tons of stunning short white nail ideas on our feed as of late.
Ahead, we've rounded up 22 short white manicures you should try.
Matte White Abstract Nails
For an abstract short white nail look, use a fine-lining nail art brush to create abstract shapes. Top your designs with a matte top coat, like the Olive & June Matte Top Coat ($9). The result is a minimalist yet chic manicure.
Sheer White Constellation Nails
This short white mani caught our eye for more reasons than one. To create a similar constellation-inspired look at home, use your favorite milky white jelly polish and an opaque white polish for the nail art. To create the constellations, use the Lights Lacquer Dotting Tool Kit ($13).
Crisp Cream Nails
Celebrity nail artist Betina Goldstein is the queen of minimal nail looks, and this cream-colored one is a winner. If you look closely, you'll notice this look uses cream polish as the base and a thin strip of crisp white polish along the tips.
Tuxedo Nails
Black and white is a classic color combo, making for an ultra-cool manicure. The half-and-half designs create an interesting contrast. Plus, this is such an easy DIY look.
Cutie Conch Nails
Here's another Goldstein creation that's both creative and chic. This beachy manicure is perfect for the summer. Where she found such a teeny conch shell, who knows?
White Dot Nails
For a super pared-back white manicure, opt for this dotted look. To recreate this look, pick your favorite white polish and use a dotting tool to create precise circles above your cuticle.
Watercolor Rainbow Nails
Amp up your white manicure with a few rainbow accent nails. This short, square manicure features multicolor watercolor-esque art on two fingers to add a bold touch to the look.
Black and White Cutout Nails
Cutout nails are popular for negative space accents. The edgy trend looks especially bold when painted in black and white. To achieve the cutouts, you can either freehand your designs or use a lining brush dipped in acetone to carve them out afterward.
Blue and White Splotchy Nails
This splotchy blue and white nail look is intentionally messy and abstract—and we love it. Look closely, and you'll notice gold French tips. The metallic tips add a luxe touch to the effortless mani.
Cow Print Nails
Cow print nail art is so fun, whether all over the nail or confined to just one side. If you have trouble painting within the lines, simply block off one side of each nail with tape. When your design has dried, you can peel it off for a crisp border.
Arched French Manicure
Elevate your French manicure with additional nail art. To get the look, start with a sheer nude base, then use the Orly Half Moon Guides ($8) to space out your arches.
Short White Floral Nails
This white floral nail look gives grand millennial vibes. On one hand, it's timely with its chrome accents. On the other hand, it has a vintage-inspired feel with its pressed flower accents.
Short Checker Nails
Checkerboard nail designs are easy to recreate yourself. Start with a chrome base, and then use a lining brush to section your nails into quads. Fill in two sections with white polish to create the checkered design.
Matte Squiggle Nails
For an artsy nail look, opt for a cream base with multicolor squiggles. Complete the look with a matte top coat.
Line Cutout Nails
Creating this cutout short white mani is a breeze. Apply striping tape across your nails, then paint over top of it with the white polish of your choice. Once dry, gently remove the tape and finish with a top coat.
Simple White French Nails
Keep it simple with a baby French manicure. Use a bright white polish like Mischo Beauty Nail Lacquer ($21) in A Beautiful Life to achieve sharp white tips.
Bedazzled French Nails
In case you haven't noticed, there are so many ways to reinvent a French manicure. Enhance your white tips by adding rainbow-colored nails gems along your cuticles.
White Line Nails
This mani won't take long to recreate. Start by applying clear polish as your base. Then, use a thick nail brush to draw chunky lines on each nail. Shape each squiggly line differently to create the most exciting look.
Gorgeous Glitter Nails
This manicure is glittery and gorgeous. For the shimmery accents, use a blend of purple and silver metallic polish.
Red and White Floral Nails
Floral nail art can be interpreted in so many ways. In this case, bright red leaves are the star of the show. The detailed red foliage on each nail makes this look incredibly eye-catching.
Grid Nails
For this manicure, precise lines are the key. The white grid design is simple but makes for incredibly cool nail art.
Black and White Squiggly Nails
Here's another way to play with black and white nail polish. Start with a white base, and then use your favorite black nail polish to create your abstract, squiggly lines.
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