With the end of the semester approaching, homework and exams are starting to pile up (profs just love to throw it all on ya toward the end). Why not relax by giving yourself a DIY spa treatment with one of these nail designs? They’re not too hard, we promise!
1. Ombre Glitter
Purple nails are cute, but half-sparkly purple nails? Extra adorable. Start by painting a purple base coat, then paint a layer of sparkles after it dries, but only on the top half of your nails, in order to get that sparkly ombre look.
2. Black and White Sophistication
Black and white nails never go out of style. This look is sophisticated and simple: just paint a white base coat, and finish by painting a thin black triangle on the tips of your nails. To keep your lines extra straight, add a piece of tape over your nails after the white coat is dry and paint the black over it, removing the tape afterwards. So chic.
3. Pretty in Pink
For a super sweet look like this, paint your nails with a light pink coat, skipping over your fourth finger. Then, paint your fourth nail white, and use a toothpick to paint thin black stripes on top. Paint a small pink heart with another toothpick on the corner.
4. Leopard Print
Leopard print is a timeless classic—plus, it’ll always manage to make you feel sexy! To get this flawless look, get a set of Incoco’s leopard print nail polish appliques ($8.99). Place the sticker on your nail, tug to eliminate creases and finish by filing off the excess. Incoco has a step-by-step tutorial video just in case you need extra assistance!
5. Quirky Neon
Painting pop art nails make for a great pick-me-up study break. Channel your inner Katy Perry by painting your nails a neon red, and finish by adding neon orange half stripes with an ultra-thin paintbrush.
6. Chic Color Combo
Gray and yellow is such a cute combo. For this stylish look, begin by painting your nails pale yellow. Then, starting at your cuticle, paint three gray dots, with the biggest dot being nearest to the base of your nail. For a cool twist, reverse the colors for every other nail.
7. French Manicure Spin
Blue sparkly-tipped nails are perf because they’re not overkill but are still glamorous. Plus, they’re super easy to create! Just paint a nude base coat, and then paint a sparkly blue line on the tip of your nails. For a super-straight line, you can also apply a piece of tape after the nude coat is completely dry and use it as a guide for when you paint the blue line. Finish off with another clear coat (after removing the tape). You can go all-out glam by pairing these nails with colorful eye makeup.
8. Wildlife Design
Tribal giraffe nails?! Yes, please! You’ll have the coolest nails on campus by sporting these sweet decals. And they’re so easy—start by painting your nails a light color such as nude or white, and after drying, stick on the decals and file off the excess (just like the leopard print stickers).
9. Midnight Nails
These nails are so divalicious—perfect for the weekend, when it’s finally time to shake off the stress and party. Just paint a black or dark blue base coat and decorate the edges of your nails with a gold or silver sparkly polish, leaving the tips and one side bare. Can you say sexy?
Which nail design are you dying to try, collegiettes?