10 Nail Polish Looks Perfect For The First Week At College

When planning your back to school outfit, don’t forget the perfect nail polish looks to complement it. These looks can be anywhere from subtle to eye-catching but will make your first weeks back to school perfect. With these nail polish trends, you can’t go wrong. Pick whichever style you like and you will soon be all set for the first week at college!

1. College Colors

What better way to represent your college then by getting your nails done in your school’s colors. Show some school spirit in a stylish way. You can alternate colors, use the mascot, or even have the college name painted on each nail. These nails are guaranteed to make it through welcome week and even all the way to the first tailgate of the year. Plus, it will color coordinate with your outfit and who wouldn’t love that!

2. Negative Space

Don’t look on the negative side, this is one of the nail polish looks that is positively brilliant nail art. Negative space manicures incorporate some of the natural nail into the design. Usually, the design will work the natural nail into the bottom portion. This way you don’t have to worry when your nails start to grow out. The designs can be as simple or elaborate as you want. This look is perfect for those who love getting their nails polished but don’t have time to get them done every week.

3. Abstract

This look is perfect for someone who isn’t afraid of a little color. Abstract nails are just that, abstract. Each nail design is different and has its own unique pattern. This is a bold and eye-catching look perfect for your first week in college. Use a mix of pastels or bright colors to create the perfect look. Abstract nails can also have geometric shapes in their designs as well. The key is to not have anything uniform.

4. Ombre

Have you ever had two polishes that were so close in color that you could hardly decide between them? If you know what we’re talking about, then this is one of the nail polish looks that is meant for you. The ombre look is when you paint your nails with different polishes within the same hue. Meaning you use all shades of pink, blue, etc. While you display different shades, it is still aesthetically pleasing because it is all within the same color scheme.

5. Cherry Red

If you want a bold, classic look that is perfect for college, cherry nails are it! This look is a timeless look that never goes out of style (insert Taylor Swift’s song). Cherry red polish is a look that catches attention and shows the world that you have confidence. Just as there are different skin tones, there are different shades of red. Try to find a red that goes with the undertones in your skin! Just remember that red polish is so eye-catching, that it’s important to make sure there are no chips or smudges in your polish.

6. Pastels

Sorority women and Lily Pulitzer lovers rejoice! Pastels are in this summer and are here to stay. The pastel nail polish look is something everyone can get behind. This look is more subdued than some of the other trends this year. It is considered soft, feminine, and pretty. Anyone can try it out to see how they feel about it. With so many new shades there is sure to be a color for everyone.

7. Tonal French

When you say you want a French tip everyone knows what you mean. When you say you want a tonal or reverse French, it causes a moment’s hesitation. However, tonal manicures are one of the nail polish looks that are trending this year. Just like in a traditional French tip, the tip is the only portion of the nail that contains any color. With this trend, the tip can also contain a design. This gives a classic look a little revamp, making it something everyone will be wearing when they head back to college.

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8. Matte

Matte nail polish is no doubt a part of the boss babe collection package. Nothing makes you feel quite as confident as matte nail polish. It has this look to it that makes you think, “wow I’m kind of a bad a**”. If you don’t think you can pull it off, we dare you to try it! You can get the matte nail polish look in one of two ways. One, you can use a specific matte polish color coat and then add on a top coat polish. Two, you can use a regular color coat polish and finish it off with a matte topcoat. Either way, it is effective and will succeed in giving you the look you are going for!

9. Stickers

We are getting major 2000’s vibe from this trend. Nail sticker designs are making a comeback when it comes to nail polish art. They are a little bit trendier now, being used with acrylic or gel nails. A lot of nail salons are using the stickers to give the nail design a more realistic look. They range in designs from something simple like logos to more extravagant things like leaves and flowers. This design saves time for the nail artist and gives the wearer a much more creative look.

10. Metallics

Another flash from the past is metallic nail polishes. This is one of the nail polish looks that is super simple to incorporate into any design. There are seriously so many design ideas. If you want to start off bold, do all your nails in the metallic color. If you are into more subtle designs, use metallic polishes as an add on. You can use them in the design element versus the main focus. No matter how you incorporate it, the main thing is that you are using it! It’s a great way to upgrade a simple manicure, making it the perfect look for heading back to college.

Which one of our nail polish looks are you looking forward to trying? What design is the perfect back to school look for you? Comment and share with us below!