15 Short Red Nail Ideas to Heat Up Your Summer Mani

A short red and pink manicure — @iramshelton / Instagram

Red nails make for the perfect accessory. They add that little something extra that can take your outfit to the next level. Whether you decide to go classic with a solid swipe of polish have fun with some nail art, add a little edge with a chrome topper, or get playful with decals and gemstones, there are so many ways to make red nails yours—and you don't even have to have lengthy talons to do so. Need proof? Scroll on for 15 short red nail ideas we can't wait to try.

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Do Me a Solid

Short solid red nails — @amyle.nails / Instagram

And last but certainly not least, there's always the option of going simple and solid, like this tomato-red set. Lock it in with a glossy top coat for an elegant manicure that goes with everything.

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Make the Gradient

A manicure that goes from red stripe to full red — @imarninails / Instagram

Progressing across the fingers from a slim red strip to a full red polish, this manicure reminds us of the cycles of the moon (well, if the moon were made of lipstick).

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Cherry Bliss

A mismatched red manicure with cherry and squiggle designs — @tinybrushes / Instagram

This manicure brings together two of the hottest nail art trends—cherries and mismatching—and proves you don't have to go to great lengths to get a fashionable mani.

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Fire and Eyes

Short red nails in an almond shape with eyes on them — @yo_keshh / Instagram

The key to nailing this Kenzo-inspired manicure? Opting for a full-coverage, opaque base. The eye designs really pop against the cherry-red polish.

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French Ladybug

red french manicure curved with a lady bug design — @tinybrushes / Instagram

French tips might traditionally be white, but they look great in color. Swipe a red across your fingertips for a fiery take on the classic design. The ladybugs on this set add a heaping dose of adorable.

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Scarlet Puzzle

A short manicure with red swirl nail art — @imarninails / Instagram

Create puzzle-style abstract swirls on the edges of your nails. Switch up the application and put the curves at different points of the nails. It will look more interesting to have the art stemming from multiple directions.

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Baroque Moment

An opulent red and nude manicure with cathedral details — @nailsbycanishiea / Instagram

This set utilizes builder gel to craft bold designs reminiscent of cathedral architecture, and the red accent nails help the ornate details stand out even more. Perfect for that "Hot Europe Summer" you've been saving up for.

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Lightning McQueen

A red manicure with car racing details — @tinybrushes / Instagram

Embrace your inner child with this fun look. If nothing else, it'll get you cool auntie points from the littles in your life.

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Crimson and Blush

A blush-colored manicure with red outlines on each side of each finger and rhinestones at the cuticles — @iramshelton / Instagram

Consider trimming a sweet blush color with stripes of red on both sides. Add a gem to all ten fingers for maximum impact, or pick two accent fingers for a more subtle look. Try a rose-colored rhinestone instead of the traditional silver to switch things up.

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Off to the Races

A red manicure with wavy and checkerboard accent nails — @lolo.nailedit / Instagram

Sticking with the racing theme, this set combines vibrant red tips with checkerboard print and black-and-white swirl accent nails. Flag this one for a future summer mani.

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Flaming Cow Print

A cow print manicure in red and pink — @yo_keshh / Instagram

You might not have clocked it right away, but these fun tips are cow print. Red is an easy way to put a unique spin on a pattern. Consider using the vivid shade to create a leopard- or zebra-print manicure.

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