September always marks a fresh start but welcoming the next season feels particularly poignant this year as the world slowly emerges out of lockdown and many of us return to work and play. It has that new term feeling: enthusiasm, excitement and trepidation in equal measure.
On Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok, beauty trends – in particular nail art – take inspiration from the shiny new academic year with colours, shapes and designs bursting with nostalgic charm. Ahead, we asked nail artist Metta Francis and photographer Destinie Paige to take us back to school with the coolest nail looks inspired by a handful of the most distinctive subcultures, from emo to scene and everything in between.
The Popular Girl
The Tomboy
The Teenybopper
The Emo Scene Kid
The Gamer
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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