28 Dark Academia Nail Ideas For A Moody Schoolgirl Manicure

For those of you who don't already know, dark academia fashion, like light academia, draws inspiration from vintage literature and Greek art and history and has an element of gothic style. It's all about plaid and pleated skirts, fitted blazers, and romantic looks that would grace the cover of any gothic novel. Imagine retro Ivy League halls and students carrying stacks of books, both educational and mysterious. As fashion stylist and image consultant JenniLee told Reviewed, "I would describe it as a boarding school meets goth enthusiast." For an older reference to the inspiration behind this look, think of "Dead Poets Society." For something more modern, look to "Harry Potter" and "Wednesday."

Want to capture the dark academia aesthetic with your manicure? Stick to moody schoolgirl basics, like browns and grays, and add in a little Wednesday Addams charm with spooky graveyard designs or elements that scream "Harry Potter life." From edgy to cutesy, you have lots of options in terms of color or theme for infusing your nails with that spark of dark academia magic.

Even Harry Potter encountered phantoms, from haunted bathrooms and beyond. Ghosts aren't limited to Halloween, so you can embrace them all year long if you're aiming for a fun vibe with your dark academia look. We adore the glittery purple details on these nails, but you can customize the colors to match your own style, whether it's a retro orange or an earthy green. The most adorable feature of this set is the surprised faces on the ghosties!

This Instagrammer said they wanted a manicure that resembled a "smokey effect," and we think the artist nailed it with this design. Whether you see a gradient going from black to clear, some sooty nail tips, or a smoky haze — it's all befitting of a gothic and dark academia look.

Are there any Slytherins in the house? The precious snake on the middle finger of this set is so cute and cuddly (if you're into that sort of thing). We love the pale pink tips on a few of the nails, which add a somewhat innocent feel to the whole look that even a Hufflepuff could appreciate. With silver moons and black and silver stars, this nail design also draws on the celestial realms, so even those who lean more towards a witchcore aesthetic for fall can appreciate the look.

Can't get enough insects in your life? We've discovered another bug-themed set of nails sure to inspire you. We love the simplicity of this manicure – black with some glitter. However, the addition of a life-like bug adds an extra burst of creativity that really makes the design stand out. Not only will this satisfy your inner entomologist, but it also provides a bit of a surprise factor, as some people may wonder if your little friend is real!

These nails are elegant and understated, with a dark look suitable for the office or the classroom. The creator simply painted their nails with a matte black color, then applied a shiny clear coat on the top part – a simple design and chic way to wear black nail polish that gives the impression of being much more time-consuming than it actually is.

Because even the darkest souls love a little holiday cheer, this wintry set of nails makes for a great dark academia pick. With glistening snowflakes falling from the sky to cute little white Christmas trees speckled on one nail, even the darkest hearts can get into the winter spirit with this inspirational look. Using a deep green instead of black would look fantastic as well.

This manicure definitely reminds us of falling leaves. While you aren't restricted to wearing fall-inspired nails only during the autumn months, the dark academia vibes really come alive during those chilly days. We adore the feeling evoked by the brown, green, orange, and yellow combinations of this design. The colors possess a vintage essence and will capture the attention of anyone who happens to glance at your hands.

The Halloween aesthetic falls squarely into the realm of dark academia, even just with the color schemes that they share – blacks, grays, dark browns, and other deep, rich, and dark colors. This manicure blends a bit of dark and light academia together, but we're here for it. Black, orange, and white with lots of stars and a moon here and there – it's like a fall night looking up into the sky. Just don't forget to grab your sweater.

Combine your love of dark academia with light academia accents on your manicure by using multiple shades of colors on each nail. These can range from a nice pale tan to a black thumb. It's a simple manicure, but it still has a creative and elegant look. If you think they're too plain, add some dots, stripes, or something else to each of them to bring the colors together more.

Dark academia has a thing for dark browns, and we have a thing for this manicure. The creator's nails appear as if they were dipped in caramel and then chocolate – yum! This is a distinctive way to showcase a French manicure with a moody twist. It exudes a warm ambiance and evokes a longing for autumnal foliage, spiced lattes, and caramel apples.

While we've already had a couple of instances of moons here, we couldn't pass up sharing this glorious set of nails with you. These black nails are adorned with moons and stars in silver, making us think of the night sky. If gold isn't your color, silver looks fabulous with black, and most of us associate silver with the moon and gold with the sun anyway.

It wouldn't be dark without some bats, would it? One nail harbors a multitude of little bats, while the others look as though they have silver dripping on them — but those are also bat-shaped! What we love most about these nails is that they are understated, yet so unique once you take a close look at them.

We had to add another set of ghosts to the collection when we saw these. They make us think of haunted college hallways and spooky candlelit nights. Imagine walking down the halls of a haunted mansion or private school and seeing strange shadows flitting about – those are the spooky feelings we get from this cute nail design.

These will look great with that pleated school skirt, and you can look for plaid faux nails or nail polish strips, which give you an easier way to achieve such a fun and detailed design. Of course, if you're up for a challenge, you can grab the colors that match your favorite plaid outfit and paint them by hand.