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There are so many exciting things that come with back-to-school season: homecoming, football games, chilly weather, pumpkin spice lattes, and of course, fall fashion and beauty. You've picked your back-to-school outfits — and now it's time to pick out your back-to-school nails. 💅
Even if you tend to be a one-coat-of-polish-and-go kind of person, there's something confidence-boosting about a fresh manicure. Plus, back-to-school season is just plain fun (think Ticonderoga No. 2 pencils, pink erasers, and those uber-nostalgic composition notebooks) so why not play it up in your nail art? If you’re looking for back-to-school nails to show off when you raise your hand in class, we’ve rounded up some incredible nail art to inspire your next mani. You can either snag a couple simple nail brush sets and have an at-home manicure night with your besties, or you can take screenshots to show to your favorite nail tech. Either way, we guarantee you'll be ~serving~ with these creative back-to-school nails.
1
'90s Lisa Frank Swirls
The colorful, serotonin-inducing Lisa Frank school supplies that TikTok revived are peak back-to-school. Lean into the magic with shades of glittery, bright polish.
2
Classic Crayola
Nothing says back-to-school like a fresh box of crayons — cut out squiggly pieces of masking tape and carefully paint over each piece in black to recreate the iconic Crayola motif on your nails.
3
Latte French Mani
Lean into the cozy browns of the leaves outside (and your piping hot morning latte) with this minimalist mix of French tips and regular polish.
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4
Easy as ABC
An apple a day keeps your nails looking totally fire — reach for your favorite shade of fire engine red for a festive back-to-school nail look.
5
Subtle Hearts
Take two contrasting shades of polish to create these alternating heart designs, starting with the split base layer of polish and then adding little heart halves on top.
6
Looseleaf & Pencil
Thin stripes of blue and red polish will transform your white manicure into sheets of adorable, miniature looseleaf.
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7
Classic Tips
You can't go wrong with an elegant white-tipped French manicure. It's a classic because it'll match every single outfit you have planned out for the week.
8
Pop Art
Summer might be behind us, but there's no need to leave behind your favorite shades when it comes to your nails. A pop of pink is a great mood-booster.
9
Rainbow Flames
One of the perks of French tips is that even as your natural nail grows out, you won't be able to tell the difference. This manicure takes things to the next level.
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10
Chalkboard Scribbles
A matte black polish creates the perfect "chalkboard" base for these math-themed nails. If only algebra was as fun as this manicure!
11
Coffee Tones
Different shades of brown (from coffee-with-a-little-too-much-milk to dark chocolate mocha) are the perfect inspo for an autumn manicure that'll match your morning brew.
12
School Supplies
It's not back-to-school season without proper school supplies. These nail designs are surprisingly easy to recreate thanks to the straight lines — just make sure to let each layer of polish dry in between.
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13
White Doodles
Start by painting your nails with a sheer pink polish. Once that dries, grab your nail brush along with a bottle of white polish and let your imagination run wild.
14
'80s Squiggles
You can rock your pastels all year long. We love this bright, squiggly take on art supplies nail art.
15
Simple Dots
All you need to recreate these candylicious nails is a bobby pin with a round dot on the end. Dip it into your polish, and voila!
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16
Accent Nails
If you can't decide between smiley faces, a checkerboard pattern, or a trusty neutral, do 'em all in a matching color scheme.
17
Soft Gradients
The easiest way to create a gradient on your nails is to use a makeup sponge (a disposable one, not your favorite BeautyBlender), paint the polish colors directly onto the sponge, and then softly dab the polish onto your nail.
18
Colored Pencils
A little patience, a thin nail art brush, and a very steady hand will help you recreate these red, blue, and yellow colored pencils.
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19
Halloween Colors
It's never too early to get into the Halloween spirit with a black and orange mani. Doodle little flowers, eyes, or dots to personalize your nails.
20
Mini Pumpkins
Once the PSL hits Starbucks, pumpkin nails are a must. Not a fan of orange? Shades of gold and rust will put a unique spin on your pumpkins.
Hannah Oh
Assistant Shopping Editor
Hannah is the assistant shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things from cute apartment decor to trendy fashion finds, TikTok products that are actually worth your $$$, and the perfect gift to buy for your boyfriend's mom. She previously wrote for Seventeen and CR Fashion Book. Follow her on Instagram for hot takes on red carpet fashion and unhinged updates on the books she’s reading on the train.
