NaNoNails: Nail Art for #NaNoWriMo

Posted by Rose Moore

Writers are the masters of procrastination, and if you are anything like us, it always seems like you notice a chipped manicure as soon as you sit down to write! Time to do a little preventative polishing by giving yourself some new nail art before getting started.

Or, if you are one of those productive souls attempting NaNoWriMo in fashion this year, we’ve rounded up the best and brightest writing-inspired nail art designs to prepare your fingers for what is sure to be a very busy month!

NaNoWriMo Nails

Keep it simple with a pretty blue polish (the color of NaNoWriMo), and an accent nail featuring the project’s shield. The crest includes four symbols that are very close to a writer’s heart: laptop, paper, pen… and coffee! 


Nails by CoewlessPolish

Simple Script

This design keeps it sweet and simple with a plain white polish and some delicate black handwriting over the top. This is definitely not the easiest design to create yourself (at least, not without a very thin brush and a steady hand), but it’s absolutely stunning.

Blossoming Script

If you like the look of the script design but want a little bit extra on your fingers, why not mix it up with some pretty blooms? This design combines simple script over a grey background with some soft blossoms – they don’t have to be perfect, either, the beauty of this design is that it can be a little bit messy and still look beautiful.


Nails by Chez Francine

Love Letters

Another option to beautify that simple script is this romantic design combining script with pink polish and pretty red hearts. The perfect design if your NaNoWriMo project is a romantic tale.


Nails by Newsie Nail Novice

The Most Important Word

The simplest design of all can be just a single word. Choose the word that sums up your writing, your inspiration, or something else entirely and add it on one nail as an accent over any color. How about a nail reading “NaNoWriMo”, or simply “Write” as a little reminder of what you should be doing whenever you look at your hands?

 
Caption: By Ane_li

Newspaper Wraps

If you are looking for something a little easier for a nail-art beginner, you can get the same effect with some newspaper wraps. This amazing effect is so simple to create, and all you need is some newspaper, polish, and rubbing alcohol. Try it over white polish, or get creative with different colors. (Get the tutorial here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr3vREdkZwU)

 

Quill and Paper

The same newspaper technique can be more than a look on its own- it can also be the basis for a more complex design, like this incredible book and quill art. The newspaper print becomes the pages of a book, with a beautiful quill pen on the thumb.


Nails By Polished Pooka

Ink Splotches

If you want a design that harkens back to the days of ink pots or fountain pens (ah, the glorious mess of it!) these beautiful designs makes ink blotches and splatters look stunning.


(Caption: Left design by Color Happy, Right design by Lacquer or Leave Her)

Quill Nail Decals

Love the look of these feather quills, but don’t have the skills to create them? Try these amazing nail art transfer decals! Use them on every nail, on an accent nail, or alongside other nail art techniques to create your own design. (Buy them here. <http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nail-WRAPS-Nail-Art-Water-Transfers-Decals-Quill-Feather-S026-/330939876280>)

The Ultimate Quill Nails

These might make it a little difficult to type, but they look absolutely incredible! Turn your nails into the nib of a quill pen or fountain pen with these Illamasqua Nail Quills, or get the look with the addition of a pointed acrylic or gel tip and some silver and black polish.

Paper Nails

 If you prefer to do your writing by hand, you’ll be stocking up on paper this month… so why not add some to your nails as well? These incredible designs combine lined paper and pretty doodles to inspire your writing.


(Designs by Manicurity, Linda’s Nail Art, The Daily Nail)

Number Two Pencils

Where would you be with paper, but no pencils? Get the look of the classic yellow pencil and its pink eraser with these adorable nails – definitely the brightest option, these aren’t for the faint of heart! Then again, neither is committing to writing 50,000 words in one month!


Nails by Cute Polish

Writers Block

Finally, a little something for those days when the writers block hits hard, and all you can do is crumple up your work and fling it across the room. Or, be a little more whimsical, and fold up the offending pages into paper airplanes and watch them soar away… Try this cute design over some NaNoWriMo-blue polish for the perfect look.

 

What are your favorite nail art designs to show your love for the written word? Let us know at @QuirkBooks!