15+ Back to School Nail Ideas That’ll Make You Excited for Class!
Heading back to school? Don’t just freshen up your wardrobe—your nails deserve a glow-up too! Whether you’re into subtle pastels, bold doodles, or classic French tips with a twist, these back-to-school nail ideas will have you feeling confident from your first class to your last. From notebooks to pencils and even locker-inspired designs, these nail looks are fun, creative, and totally Insta-worthy. Scroll on for the cutest nail inspo that’ll have everyone asking, “Where did you get those done?”
Math Class Meets Manicure
This fun and quirky set captures the school vibe perfectly—with a chalkboard, a ruler, notebook lines, and even a pencil design. It’s like carrying your classroom on your nails!
Pretty in Pastel with a School Twist
This pastel-themed set brings together all the classroom icons—an apple for the teacher, a splatter-style chalkboard, printed text, and a purple pencil tip! It’s playful, artsy, and totally ready for syllabus week.
School Supplies, But Make It Fashion
This set is a full-blown school starter pack—pencil, notebook, chalkboard, ruler, and even a composition notebook print! Each nail is like a mini classroom accessory, making this design fun, creative, and totally back-to-school ready.
Classic School Vibes in Matte
With ABCs, a pencil tip, math on a chalkboard, and a crisp red apple, this matte-finish mani brings all the nostalgic classroom feels. It’s simple, sweet, and totally teacher-approved!
Pencil Tips for the Win
Nothing says “back to school” like a full set of matching pencil nails! This design is clean, matte, and super fun for anyone who wants to keep it cute and coordinated for the first week back.
Science Class Meets Nail Art
These school-themed nails feature chemistry flasks, red apples, notebooks, and bold pops of color—all sketched out on lined paper backgrounds. It’s giving lab day energy with a stylish twist!
Notebook Doodles Come to Life
These nails look like your high school notebook margin brought to life—with little flowers, hearts, suns, and even tic-tac-toe sketched over lined paper. It’s cute, casual, and full of back-to-school nostalgia!
Straight-A Style with a Smile
This vibrant nail set has it all—ruler marks, notebooks with an A+, chalkboard ABCs, a shiny red apple, and a perfectly detailed pencil. It’s cheerful, colorful, and sure to earn top marks in nail art!
Smart, Silly & Sneaker Chic
From a chalkboard of equations to a classic Converse sneaker and a cheeky “nope” doodle on notebook paper—this design nails every back-to-school mood. It’s playful, clever, and totally unforgettable!
Rainbow Crayon Magic
Bright, playful, and full of first-day excitement—these rainbow crayon nails are every creative kid’s dream. Perfect for art lovers or anyone who wants to add a splash of color to their school look!
Uniform Chic with a Pop of Blue
From polished collars to classic sneakers and plaid skirts, this nail set captures the preppy school uniform aesthetic in a bold blue palette. It’s cute, coordinated, and totally back-to-school runway ready!
Back-to-School in Pencil Perfection
These orange-and-pink striped pencil nails are bold, bright, and totally classroom-ready. The metallic silver accents give them a fun twist, making this mani ideal for making your first day look pop!
Playful & Preschool-Inspired
This cute and colorful nail design features chalkboard doodles, bright apples, mini pencils, and lined paper with ABCs. It’s giving kindergarten core in the best way possible—fun, friendly, and full of first-day joy!
Neon Letters & Lined Paper Fun
This colorful alphabet design combines neon stamping over classic notebook lines, making it perfect for anyone who loves playful details and bright vibes. It’s loud, fun, and totally first-day fabulous!
Chalkboard Equations Vibes
This black-and-white nail set looks like it’s straight off a chalkboard, featuring intricate math formulas and diagrams. It’s bold, brainy, and perfect for someone who wants their nails to do the smart talking.
ABC 123 Matte Magic
Primary shapes, colorful letters, and math symbols pop beautifully against a matte black background in this playful school-inspired mani. It’s bright, bold, and full of childhood classroom nostalgia.
Color Me Crayon Cute
These glossy nails mimic your favorite box of crayons in bright red, yellow, green, and blue. Simple, bold, and nostalgic—they’re perfect for art lovers or anyone who’s still a kid at heart.
Sweet Apples & Sparkly Numbers
This glossy set features juicy red apples and playful rainbow numbers on a crisp white base, giving major teacher’s pet energy with a touch of glitter. It’s sweet, colorful, and totally classroom chic!
All Subjects, One Set!
This school-inspired mani features a pencil, simple math equations, a globe, a science flask, and even a floral alphabet tree. It’s the ultimate tribute to every subject you’ll tackle this year—and it’s as fun as it is educational!
Back to School, The Chalkboard Edition
From math equations and a DNA strand to a school bus and an A+ report, this green-and-cream set captures all the classroom essentials in a nostalgic chalkboard style. Smart, creative, and totally first-day ready!
Final Thoughts
Back-to-school season is the perfect time to show off your personality—and your nails are the cutest place to start! Whether you’re into crayons and chalkboards, pencils and paper, or playful alphabet art, there’s a design here to match every style and subject. These school-inspired nail ideas aren’t just creative—they’re a fun way to celebrate a fresh start. So grab your favorite polish, channel your inner student (or teacher!), and head into the new school year with nails that deserve an A+!
