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Nothing says you’re ready for the school year quite like fresh, fun nails! This season, back to school nails are going bold with cute designs inspired by your favorite school supplies think pencils, notebooks, highlighters, and more! These creative back to school nail designs are playful, eye-catching, and perfect for expressing your style from day one. Whether you’re heading into middle school, high school, or college, these nails will add a confident pop to your look. Plus, you can totally DIY them at home for an easy and budget-friendly refresh!
12. Pencil Tip Nails
These nails mimic the look of classic yellow pencils, complete with a pink eraser tip and a sharp graphite point. They’re quirky, detailed, and perfect for showing your love for learning! I love how instantly recognizable and nostalgic they are like bringing your favorite classroom tool to life on your fingertips.
DIY Tutorial (Step-by-Step):
- A base coat was applied.
- Yellow polish was painted on 2/3 of the nail.
- A silver stripe was added for the ferrule (metal part).
- Pink polish was painted on the tip for the eraser.
- A triangle shape was added in black at the base to mimic the pencil tip.
- A top coat was applied to seal the design.
Tools Needed:
- Yellow, silver, pink, nude, and black polish
- Nail tape or thin brush
- Base coat and top coat
11. Notebook Doodle Nails
These nails are like mini notebook pages! With white base, blue lines, and cute red margins plus fun little doodles they’re creative and totally original. I love how they capture that back-to-school excitement, like the first page of your new notebook, just waiting to be filled with ideas.
DIY Tutorial (Step-by-Step):
- Nails were painted with white polish.
- Blue horizontal lines were drawn across the nails using a striping brush.
- A single red vertical line was added near one edge to mimic the margin.
- Small doodles (hearts, stars, smiley faces) were painted in black.
- A top coat was applied to finish.
Tools Needed:
- White, blue, red, and black polish
- Thin striping brush or nail art pen
- Base coat and top coat
10. Highlighter French Tips Nails
This bright twist on French tips uses neon highlighter colors pink, green, yellow, and orange for a glowing finish. I love the subtle nod to those highlighter pens we all use in class. It’s minimal, trendy, and adds a fun flash of color perfect for any back to school nail look.
DIY Tutorial (Step-by-Step):
- A sheer nude base was applied.
- Neon polish in various colors was painted on each tip in French tip style.
- Clean lines were achieved using nail tape.
- A glossy top coat was added to finish.
Tools Needed:
- Nude base polish
- Neon pink, yellow, green, orange polishes
- Nail tape
- Base coat and top coat
You can find other articles related to back to school
9. Crayon Scribble Nails
These nails look like colorful crayon scribbles on a white canvas! Each nail features unique swirls and loops using bright colors, giving an artsy, back-to-basics vibe. I like how carefree and fun these look perfect for showcasing your creative personality on the first day of school.
DIY Tutorial (Step-by-Step):
- Nails were painted with a white base.
- Random scribbles were drawn using bright colors like red, blue, green, and purple.
- A detail brush or nail pen was used for precision.
- A top coat was applied for shine.
Tools Needed:
- White base polish
- Bright red, blue, green, purple polishes or nail pens
- Detail brush
- Base coat and top coat
8. Sharpener Accent Nails
This accent nail is inspired by a pencil sharpener, complete with metallic silver and a tiny black screw detail! I love how detailed and unexpected it is paired with pencil or crayon nails, it makes the whole back to school nail design pop and adds a cool, edgy twist.
DIY Tutorial (Step-by-Step):
- Nails were painted with a solid color (yellow or white).
- One accent nail was painted metallic silver.
- A small black dot was added to resemble the sharpener screw.
- Optional: a curved line was painted to show the sharpener blade.
- A top coat was used to seal the design.
Tools Needed:
- Metallic silver, black, and base color polishes
- Dotting tool or fine detail brush
- Base coat and top coat
7. Sticky Note Squares Nails
Sticky notes become nail art! Each nail is painted like a pastel Post-it with tiny reminders and doodles written on top. It’s functional-meets-fun and I love how unique it feels. Perfect for planners and list-lovers looking to bring some organization to their back to school nail designs.
DIY Tutorial (Step-by-Step):
- Each nail was painted with pastel yellow, pink, blue, or green polish.
- Black ink-like text or icons were added (e.g., “Don’t Forget,” stars, smiley).
- A matte top coat was used to mimic paper texture.
Tools Needed:
- Pastel polish set
- Black nail art pen
- Matte top coat
- Base coat
6. Ruler Stripe Nails
These nails use ruler-style measurements as the pattern—complete with numbered lines across the nail. I think it’s such a clever and clean design, giving math class vibes in the best way. It’s perfect for anyone who loves geometry, planning, or precision in their back to school nails.
DIY Tutorial (Step-by-Step):
- Nails were painted with a beige or light yellow base.
- Black lines and tiny numbers were drawn across using a fine-tip nail art pen.
- A glossy top coat was used to complete the look.
Tools Needed:
- Beige/yellow polish
- Black nail art pen
- Base and top coat
5. Chalkboard Nails
These matte black nails resemble a mini chalkboard, complete with white doodles and cute messages like “A+” or little apples. I love how nostalgic they feel—like being back in class on the first day. They’re perfect back to school nail designs that are classy, clever, and super wearable.
DIY Tutorial (Step-by-Step):
- A matte black polish was applied as the base.
- White nail art pen or polish was used to draw simple icons or messages.
- Optional: green or red polish was used to draw apples or checkmarks.
- A matte top coat was used again to preserve the chalkboard finish.
Tools Needed:
- Matte black polish
- White nail art pen
- Optional green/red polish
- Matte top coat
- Base coat
4. Binder Ring Nails
Inspired by the classic 3-ring binder, these nails use metallic loops and paper-hole accents to create a super fun and unique design. I love the unexpected creativity—it’s a subtle but clever reference to one of the most-used school supplies. Ideal for those who love quirky back to school nails with a twist!
DIY Tutorial (Step-by-Step):
- Nails were painted in white or pastel to resemble paper.
- Small silver circles were dotted along one side of each nail.
- A thin gray stripe was added to represent the binder spine.
- A top coat was applied for durability.
Tools Needed:
- White or pastel polish
- Silver and gray polish
- Dotting tool and fine brush
- Base coat and top coat
You can find other articles related to back to school
3. Graph Paper Nails
Graph paper-inspired nails are the ultimate math-lover’s dream! Blue grids on a soft white base feel clean, sharp, and totally school-themed. I adore how subtle yet themed they are definitely one of the more minimal back to school nail designs, but still very clever and Pinterest-worthy.
DIY Tutorial (Step-by-Step):
- White polish was applied as the base.
- Fine blue vertical and horizontal lines were drawn to mimic graph paper.
- A glossy top coat was used for a crisp finish.
Tools Needed:
- White and blue polish
- Nail art pen or fine brush
- Base coat and top coat
2. Backpack Patch Nails
These nails look like cute backpack patches—colorful hearts, stars, smiley faces, and mini icons on a denim or canvas-style base. I love how this captures the excitement of decorating your backpack with patches and pins. These back to school nail designs are fun, expressive, and full of retro charm!
DIY Tutorial (Step-by-Step):
- A denim blue or canvas beige base was applied.
- Small patch-style designs (hearts, stars, badges) were painted or stickered on.
- A matte or glossy top coat was used, depending on your patch style.
Tools Needed:
- Denim blue or beige polish
- Bright color polish or nail stickers
- Nail art brushes or decals
- Base coat and top coat
1. Glue Stick Gradient Nails
This gradient design is inspired by a glue stick—starting with bright orange at the base and fading into white, just like the cap and glue of a classic school supply. I love how subtle but original this idea is, turning something ordinary into stylish back to school nails with an ombré twist.
DIY Tutorial (Step-by-Step):
- Nails were painted with a gradient of orange to white using a sponge.
- Blending was repeated for opacity and smoothness.
- A glossy top coat was added for a sleek finish.
Tools Needed:
- Orange and white polish
- Makeup sponge
- Base coat and top coat
