So Fetch! 17 ‘Mean Girls’ Manicure Ideas That Will Steal the Spotlight

It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since the original Mean Girls hit the big screen, but here we are in 2024, ready to welcome a new class of Plastics. The latest adaptation of the story—a movie version of the stage musical based on the original film—debuted in early January. And whether you’re into musicals or don’t consider yourself a fan, trust us when we say this new take is a fun and nostalgic romp.

And what better way to celebrate the return of Regina, Cady, and Company than with a Mean Girls-inspired manicure? Scroll on for over a dozen manicures that will take you from the mall to the Spring Fling dance and everywhere in between.


Micro French

close up of nails with light pink base and thin white french tip
@NAILTHERAPY.CO / INSTAGRAM

The go-to mani we imagine the Plastics love is a classic French. For a more modern twist, go for more of a micro-French. Paint your base in a light pink hue and add a dainty and thin white line on the top.


Pink Aura Mani

close up of nails with pink ombre aura color
@LOLO.NAILEDIT / INSTAGRAM

As we all know, the Plastics have a particular affinity for pink—they have a whole day reserved for wearing it. To copy this pink aura look, all you’ll need are two pink polishes in the shades of your choosing. If you like this specific color combo, pick up Gucci Beauty’s 02 Valentine Fuchsia ($35) and 413 Ellen Blush ($35).


Baby Pink Chrome

close up of nails with baby pink chrome
@AMYLE.NAILS / INSTAGRAM

It doesn’t get more It-girl than chrome. But instead of going for the traditional glazed donut look, we think any Mean Girls character would make it their own with pink. To get this mani, swipe on two coats of a light pink polish (like DND’s #882 Sheer in the City, $10) and top them with chrome powder. The result is a shiny and sparkly dream.


Camo Print

close up of nails with army print in different colors like blue, purple, pink, orange
@YO_KESHH / INSTAGRAM

Regina George would absolutely approve of this early ’00s-inspired mani. What’s fun about this set is that you can switch up the colors on each nail or stick to more of a traditional army green. And dare we say it would look great with army pants and flip-flops?


Reverse French

close up of nails with red polish and pink french along the cuticle bed
@BETINA_GOLDSTEIN / INSTAGRAM

Something about this reverse French mani reminds us of Regina George’s cut-out bra moment. (Don’t ask us why!) To set yourself apart from a crowd of followers, start the trend and paint your nails in a vibrant red—then pop on a French tip along your cuticle instead of the top of the nail in a fun hot pink color.


Pink Party Nails

close up of nails with light pink base and various shades of pink as french tip, gold stars and pink rhinestones
@PHOEBESUMMERNAILS / INSTAGRAM

If you’re on the hunt for a Mean Girls-inspired mani with more of a design aspect to it, look no further than these pink party nails. Start with a simple light pink base and paint on French tips in various shades of pink. Finish by adding gold stars (paint or stickers) and pink rhinestones.


Pink and Black

close up of nails with light pink pearly base and black swirls on top
@BRUSHEDBYB_

Remember when Cady Heron wore that pink and black dress? This set evokes the moment. Swipe on a few shades of OPI’s Merry & Ice ($20) for the base and Black Onyx ($20) for the cute swirls.


French Illusion

close up of nails with hot pink ombre color and french tip in seamless design
@DISSEYNAILS / INSTAGRAM

We can’t even begin to describe how perfect this French illusion mani is. Using shades of pink and a sponge for the ombré touch, this look takes dedication and some serious skill; unless you’re confident in your nail art prowess, you might want to leave it to your nail tech.


Soft Pink Matte

close up of nails in color gradient of pink going from light to dark in matte
@NUKA.NAILS / INSTAGRAM

Color gradients will always get our stamp of approval, especially when they incorporate baby pink. Pick a few shades of your favorite light pink nail polishes and swipe them onto each finger for a faded look. To finish it off, instead of going in with a traditional shiny clear top coat (which would also look fabulous), consider opting for a matte finish.


Classic Hot Pink

close up of nails in hot pink color
@BETINA_GOLDSTEIN / INSTAGRAM

When in doubt, go for hot pink. It’s a color that will never go out of style and works for any season (spring and summer in particular). The shade looks beautiful on any nail shape or length—just make sure you swipe on three coats to really get that vibrant look.


Glossy Minimalist

close up of nails in glossy neutral barely there hue
@OVERGLOWEDIT / INSTAGRAM

We think the Mean Girls characters would rock more of a glossy minimalist mani for special occasions. The exact look shown here uses Gelcare’s Bare BB Cream ($20), which, in our humble opinion, is the perfect barely-there shade.


Creamy Baby Pink

close up of nails in creamy baby pink color
@GELCARE.OFFICIAL / INSTAGRAM

If hot pink isn’t your vibe, you can’t go wrong with a creamy baby pink shade. Pop on a few coats of your favorite shade and top it with a clear coat for extra shine. If you’re craving the exact color used in this photo, you’ll want to get your hands on Gelcare’s Polly Pink ($20).


Sleek French

close up of nails with thick white french tip
@NUKA.NAILS / INSTAGRAM

If you were around in the early ’00s, you definitely remember the thicker French manicures beloved by everyone and their mother. The look gives off OG Mean Girls energy, and we’re totally here for the throwback moment. You can go “old-school” and have your nail artist do a classic acrylic, but for a more modern version, keep the same shape but use a gel builder instead.


Swirly Pink

close up of nails with hot pink base and thick red swirls on top
@BETINA_GOLDSTEIN / INSTAGRAM

We love this swirly pink look that incorporates hot pink as a base (and think the thicker red swirls on top give it some added edge). It’s giving summer energy in the best way!


Hot Pink + Chrome

close up of nails in hot pink color with pink chrome
@OVERGLOWEDIT / INSTAGRAM

Sure, you can go for a hot pink mani and call it a day. But what if you topped it off with chrome powder? When we saw this mani, we immediately knew we’d be adding it to our mood boards, thanks to the vibrant colors and fun, shiny accents. Top Gelcare’s Jelly Pink ($20) with a touch of chrome to copy the look.


Pinky French

close up of nails with light nude base and pink french tip
@DISSEYNAILS / INSTAGRAM

Consider updating the classic French mani by switching out the white tips for pink. For your base, you’ll want to go in with a nude-pink color (at least two coats) and, for the tips, swipe on your favorite shade of pink. We love this look on a longer nail shape, but it’s entirely up to you.


Pastel Pink

close up of nails in pastel pink color
@LOLO.NAILEDIT / INSTAGRAM

To finish our list, we simply must include a Mean Girls look in the iconic shade of pastel pink. It looks great on any nail shape and with any skin tone and is bound to get you loads of compliments! For this exact shade, pick up Static Nails’ Martini Goggles ($16).

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