After over 200 nail art inspiration lists, black and white nail art for short nails is still one of my favorite styles. It’s a chic look that will work anywhere with any outfit and the contrast between the two colors just looks good. Whether you go minimalist or something more intricate, it’s a style that just works.
Whether you want to DIY something yourself or you want a design for a nail tech to copy, we have you covered. After picking through thousands of designs, we put together our favorites and specifically looked at short nails. We also have our overall list of black and white nail designs if you’re not married to just the shorter style.
Black & white never looked so good! 😍
We need a pretty one for our first entry, so… flowers, anyone? Daisy nail art is almost as classic as the colorway that highlights it.Here is something straightforward. I can guarantee that you can do these nails on your own and without using complicated materials or chemicals.If you only recently discovered nail arts, start with natural and simple nails. You can try this design if you haven’t found anything yet.This set may look complicated, but the pattern is relatively easy to follow. So what’s complex with blocks, lines, and dots? Go on, love. Save it.Let’s throw in a bit of gold, shall we? Mix your black and white nails with glittery gold to make them more lively. Small amount only.Let’s go for another round of daisies but with french tips this time. Do the tips on alternate colors to add life. You can draw other kinds of flowers.Ooh, I love these yin and yang nails! Can you see how balanced the colors are? Also, they are so neat and uncomplicated. Two thumbs up!It’s not my first time encountering ECG-inspired nails, but these are too cool. A unique look and I’m surprised we haven’t seen this kind of style more often.How about trying these Zebra nail art as French tips? Combine it with pink hearts that look like they are peeping. Easy but definitely cute.Surround your nails with black and white like the one in the image. That’s a good concept, too. I like the crossover of black and white on the index.Here is another DIY if you have longer than usual short nails. Squiggles save us whenever we run out of concepts, really. Check and try them out!Oh, I love the effort here. All designs are handpainted, and it took a lot of time to finish them. Which one is your favorite? Mine is the lips.Flowers and swirls will never get out of the trend. Mix silver with your black and white nails, and you will be surprised how fancy they can look.Here’s for those with short mountain peak nails. I love the heart. Ooh, the contrast between these colors will never get out of style.I got some animal shots for you, girls. These nails are achievable even in DIY mode. Get your polishes and prints ready; your nails need some lovin’.This set is full of diverse designs, but it doesn’t look off. The nails are all-natural, as you can see. My favorite is the squiggles with inkblots.Would you like some Mickey Mouse balloons? Go matte with this nail art inspiration. It’s pretty easy to imitate since there is only one pattern to follow.I heard someone say “very simple,” so here you go. Freehand, natural, and straightforward. I can’t imagine you having difficulties doing these.Here’s another easy masterpiece. If you have trouble doing straight lines, you can use tape as a ruler. You can add gems at the center, too.We have here another set that has various designs but is still beautiful. I’d pick the yin and yang or the V-shaped tips. Simplicity is such a beauty.You can go retro and add a bit of gold to make your nails more majestic. Look at the diamond at the center. It looks 3D, but that’s just nail polish.You can also make the night your inspiration. If you follow this set, add violet and silver for a magical effect. Your nails will look galactic.I can’t tell if that’s a white or pale gray base. But, of course, you can always go for white and black only, then follow the design.Do you like geometric lines? Got you covered, girl. Follow the geometric patterns on this set or mix them up a bit, as you please.Marble nails are outstanding. However, I’m not quite sure how they create that black and white marble nail effect; you can ask your nail tech to copy this design for you.Classic french tips for your short, adorable nails. You can add a touch of gems, crystals, or glitters to add life. Check out the image, for instance.It’s the milky white glitters that caught my attention here. They are not so obvious, but they are beautiful. You can use a black base for them.You could mix it up with some white marble nail designs too. I love how the actual mixture of white and black turned into gray. This is very pretty! I will definitely have this set.Or you can go pure black and stick some zebra prints for a touch of white. Look at the sample above. They would look simple yet elegant.I know we said black and white, but some red wouldn’t hurt, right? I like the glossy effect, and it’s probably better this way than matte. Love it!Go Japanese style with white blocks in the middle, just like this image. Black french tips, a clear base, and a pearl would complete the look.Here’s another geometric art inspiration, except that you have a black base. These are handpainted, by the way, and I’m sure you can slay them too.Are your nails rounded or in almond shape? You can go for this design, and wear black tips. I suggest using white tips on your other hand.I give you another example of Mickey Mouse-inspired nail art, but it has more design this time. A lot of this style is in bright colors but it does work with short black and white nails.Oh, the eyelashes caught my attention for this one. It looks like a sleeping unicorn; don’t you think so? Complete it with the cow print nails.In my opinion, splattered ink is one of the most engaging designs for nail art. Try this set, and you will find yourself amused by the outcome.Ah, this seems to be very easy to apply, and you can do it on your own. Grab a white polish, and make sure you have a fine brush for the lines.You can try a black base on the one hand and then a white base on the other. But, of course, you have to use the counterpart for each design.OK. I know this set looks a little creepy, but it’s adorable. I wonder which scary character was the inspiration for it. Do you perhaps know?I admit that I included this because of the gems and crystals. They were organized elegantly. You can use white for the base, all right.I also love the crystals here, to be honest. Look at how they make the whole thing elegant and sophisticated. I am such a fan of classic nails.Isn’t that sticker so beautiful?! Celebrate womanhood with these nails, and never forget that you are a Queen: regal, remarkable, and beautiful.Lines… what classier way to use black and white other than lines? These are handpainted; hence, they are easy to do. Just follow the pattern.Oh, I am in love with this set. I like sun and moon designs. For this one, however, my favorite is the statement. I love you to the moon and back.Here’s another marvelous design for my fellow moon lovers. I will try this one, too. I can’t believe they are handpainted; they are so beautiful!Where are my Polka Dots girls? Say aye if you have been waiting for this. I prefer these kinds of dots (scattered) instead of the ones in straight lines.Will I ever forget my ladies with super-short nails? Of course, I have an entry for you, too. Check this one out and see if it suits your preferences.Ah, smoke-filled inspiration for my lady smokers. Gotta love that natural base, but I would prefer one with a gray or dirty white. It’s still lovely, though!I’ll guess your favorite. It’s the middle fingernail, right? If not, no frets. I can fully understand if you say you like them all. It’s the same for me.Stormtroopers! How to design Star Wars nails? It’s simple. Make your nails look galactic, and then add a Stormtrooper image (like this one).
I love this trend of black and white nail art for short nails. You don’t need a whole lot of space to create a great-looking design and this minimalist vibe is just so my style. Whether you copy one of these styles or you try something completely different, please let us see it! Our inspiration photos come from user submissions and open sources and we’ll always give credit. All of the fantastic styles belong to their respective owners. If we’ve got a credit wrong or you’d rather we don’t feature you – just drop us an email.
