Last year’s obsession with polka dots was a nod to a retro Italian summer (limoncello included), while this year it’s all about taking the design into the future. Stars including Joey King and Vanessa Hudgens have been keeping the trend alive, modernizing it by adding cat-eye shimmer and cute bug details.
Polka dots are also being wrapped in metallic finishes, layered atop shimmery cat-eye bases, and embossed with jelly polishes. “These subtle details are what make short nails feel polished and refined,” says Slynko.
For summer 2026, Miss Pop, a nail artist in New York City, adds that polka dots are getting even smaller. “I used to place macro-dots in the corner of the nail, but now we’re seeing teeny-tiny micro-dots,” says Miss Pop. “On short nails, you can cover the full surface, and it’s minimal, but also maximalist in the sense that it’s all over the nail.”
Jelly micro-French nails
Courtesy of @yuiko_hysd
Courtesy of @corrinnabianca
Some natural nail lovers are true minimalists, and for that crowd, the prettiest and simplest design you can get is a micro-French. It’s an especially good option for those with very short nails since it requires so little space. If you have even a sliver of a white edge on your nails, a micro-French manicure will look good. “I’m so sad when I do a micro-French on a long nail because it looks so much better on short nails,” says Miss Pop.
Micro-French tips are popular year-round, but this summer there’s an added wash of color, thanks to semitranslucent jelly polish. It’s “such a beautiful little treat,” says Miss Pop. Whether it’s at the center of the nail or all over, it adds an extra layer of dimension.
The simplest way to create a micro-French tip is with a tool like the Le Mini Macaron Le Frenchie Nail Stamper. Just brush your polish onto the silicone stamper and press the very tip of your nail into the stamper. (The brand recommends doing so at a 45-degree angle to achieve that slightly rounded arch.) Add that layer of sheer color (we recommend the Essie Nail Art Studio Jelly collection for an array of color options), then finish with an extra-glossy topcoat.
