Back to School Nail Designs: Cute, Easy Looks for the First Day (and Every Day After)

 # Back to School Nail Designs: Cute, Easy Looks for the First Day (and Every Day After)

The outfit's picked out, the backpack is packed. The only decision still looming over heads on the night before the first day of school is the nail polish.

Back to school nail designs are popular for a reason: the perfect first-day look is a mix of creative, cuteness and minimal effort, and these designs are all achievable with some polish one might already own. Miniature apples, pastel colors, and a touch of sparkle can create looks both simple and eye-catching.

Here are a few of the reasons why back to school nails are so popular, plus six back to school nail ideas anyone can achieve at home.

## Back to school nail designs: reasons to try them

• It's a stress free way to express creativity that can be easily changed in a week if a different look is desired

• The perfect first day of school pictures often include a detail shot of the nail polish, and these designs are sure to be photo-worthy

• They're easy to achieve at home; the popularity of back to school nails lies in simple designs anyone can achieve with minimal supplies

## 6 back to school nail design ideas

### 1. Miniature Apple Accent Nail

One or two nails decorated with a small hand-painted apple design are part of a popular back to school nail trend this year, and for good reason. The simple design of a round red top with a small green leaf at the top is sure to draw attention, and a solid base color on the other nails will make the decorated nails stand out. This design would also look cute with the leaf painted in gold leaf nail polish, or other metallic color.

### 2. Simple pastel base with no design

Sometimes the best designs are those with no design at all, and a simple pastel base is perfect for back to school nails. A nice warm yellow, bright pink, or lavender base is fresh and cute, and doesn't require any extra polish or tools to achieve. If a solid color is too simple, small dots of polish can be painted on one or two nails to add interest without going overboard.

### 3. Rainbow, one color per finger

One nail in a bright pastel or bold color, one in the next, and so on down the hand is an easy way to create back to school nails that look fun and interesting. This design is sure to make a statement while still being subtle enough for the first day of school.

### 4. Polka dot accents or sparkle nail art

A few hand-painted polka dots or small rhinestone accents is another simple way to add interest to otherwise plain nails. One or two nails with dots or tiny sparkle accents would make a cute first day of school look without making the whole manicure seem too busy or complicated.

Bobby pins or toothpicks can be used to make dots of polish by dipping the end in polish and then tapping it on the nail to make small round dots.

### 5. French tips with a twist

Traditional french tips can be brightened up and made more interesting for back to school nails by using a colored tip in place of the traditional white.

Colored tips could be used in combination with school colors, or one could go for a pastel or sparkle-accented tip instead.

### 6. Leopard or animal print accent

Leopard print or other animal print accents on one or two nails can add cuteness and style to otherwise simple back to school nails. Again, accents like this could be created on only one or two nails to add interest without being overwhelming. The other nails could have a solid base color or also have sparkle accents painted on them.

## How to achieve back to school nail designs at home

• Start with a clean, short or medium length nail.

Most of the above designs would be best worked on short nails, as they are all very subtle accents in place of a plain base color, and longer nails run the risk of breaking.

• Thin brushes should be used for accents, or bobby pins and toothpicks can be used to create dots or other small designs.

A thin nail art brush is all one needs to create small accents or dot designs.

• Don't go overboard with accents if one isn't confident in their polish skills.

A simple base color with up to two accent nails is all one needs for cute, first day of school nails.

• Apply a top coat to seal in the design and keep it from chipping.

This is one step that is sometimes overlooked when applying polish, and it makes all the difference in how long a manicure lasts.

## TL;DR

1. Miniature apple accent nail

2. Simple pastel base with no design

3. Rainbow, one color per finger

4. Polka dot accents or sparkle nail art

5. French tips with a twist

6. Leopard or animal print accent

All of the above designs can be achieved at home with minimal time or supplies. In fact, one might already have most of what they'll need in their polish collection, and a top coat can make these manicures last all the way through the first week of school. Be sure to save this post for your next at-home mani!