Halloween costumes come with various levels of commitment: We’ve got the planners who know a whole 11 months prior what their theme is, the creative crafters who get to work two months ahead of time, and the 10-minutes-before-leaving-the-house crew. But did you know there’s another group filled with Halloween spirit? They are your nail-obsessed friends. Now, you might think that a costume takes more planning than Halloween nails, but once you see this collection of intricate and beautiful designs, you’ll realize they’re total works of art in their own right.
Countless nail artists are just as enthusiastic as you are about the eerie magic of October 31, with some already serving spider-web French tips, sleek orange-and-black designs, and candy corn stripes on their grids. These fun manicure ideas can stand on their own if you’re not dressing up or serve as an awesome enhancement to your Halloween costume and/or makeup look. Here are the coolest ways to wear your excitement for the 2024 holiday on your fingertips.
Iridescent ghosts
Who knew ghosts could be so adorable? Bust out a chrome powder (like Daily Charm’s Magic White Chrome Powder, which has a true silvery shift) and pink gel polish (like CND’s long-lasting Shellac Strawberry Smoothie) to re-create this set by Gabi De la Cruz. The creepy-but-cute ghosts wearing witch hats might take some artistry, but they’re totally drawable using a fine-tip nail art brush.
Spooky soulmates
For lovers of both Halloween and Valentine’s Day, we have this hauntingly romantic manicure by Charlotte Bradwell of Cavan Studio in Sheffield, UK. Bradwell swept on a sheer pink base (Essie Nail Lacquer in Vanity Fairest is perfect for this) before meticulously painting tiny, lovestruck creatures above it.
We all scream for ice cream
Can’t let go of summer? Try this “summerween” manicure, which combines a neon green polish (very brat), and an ombré paint job (two very summery nail trends) with Halloween-themed art. It’ll make you want to throw on a Fred Waring vinyl (and even maybe play it backward in search of hidden messages).
Cosmic creamsicle
Sure, this manicure uses cream-colored polish, but it doesn’t make the look any less eerie. Its snakes, evil eyes, and crescent moons make for a sinister set that skips the dark hues. For a similar cream-and-orange combo, try OPI Nail Lacquer in My Vampire Is Buff and China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Orange Knockout.
Muted mischief
When Halloween and minimalism intersect, the result is this look by Bailee Tabag. Its matte topcoat and autumnal colors give the Jack-o’-lanterns, spiderwebs, and ghosts style and finesse. For a spooky mani with a similar finish, reach for Nailtopia’s Go Matte Top Coat.
Velvet slime
If hand-painted icons or nail decals aren’t your thing, but you still want a special set for the holiday, this velvet green look is for you. Ask your nail artist for a cat-eye manicure, which involves moving the iron particles in a special nail polish with a magnet to create the illusion of texture.
Eerie oozing
If scary nails aren’t your thing, let us introduce you to this mesmerizing gel mani by LA manicurist Amy Le. The first step to creating it is carefully forming the drip effect using black nail polish, a dotting tool, and a nail art brush. Next, smear chrome powder over the top of each nail to create this oil-slick effect. Finally, add some small cute spiders to give it a Halloween-esque finish and seal the look with a high-shine topcoat.
A Little Bit Bloody
California-based content creator Lauren proved that blood drips can make a heck of a stylish manicure. She combined a milky base (like Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Sheer Happiness) with an accent nail featuring delicately placed blood drips (we love a deep, dark red like Zoya Professional Lacquer in Courtney for this step). It’s a Halloween-themed manicure without going OTT if that isn’t your vibe.
Tiny skeleton bones
You don’t need to dress as a skeleton to get into the Halloween spirit. Designs that look as good as this one by content creator Kristin Kuyper allow you to wear the theme on your nails instead.
This look requires some patience and a steady hand. To re-create it, start with a jet-black allover nail color. Then, carefully paint the bones in a white polish. (For a stark contrast, KBShimmer Nail Polish in White Here White Now over Jinsoon Nail Lacquer in Absolute Black.) If you aren’t a keen nail artist, take this inspiration to the salon with you.
Not-so-frightening French tips
We honestly didn’t know a themed Halloween manicure could get as chic as this one created by content creator Melanie. This is a look to try at home with nail stickers. For this design, Melanie used Deco Beauty nail art stickers and carefully placed them over the top of her black-and-white French tips.
Slime and stripes
If you want to partake in the spooky season festivities without it being completely obvious, take this design as inspiration. The matte black hues, monochrome stripes, and lime green slime scream Halloween (but only to those who are looking close enough). For a green that looks as chic as it does slimy, look to Habit Nail Polish in Let’s Call It a Chartreuse.
Witchy negative-space tips
These negative space tips with a starry night pattern—created by LA-based manicurist Thuy Nguyen—are the witch glam we didn’t know we needed. For this look, head to the salon and ask for a reverse French manicure with clear, free-edge tips, a true black base, and some delicate black stars to embellish the set.
Pumpkin French tips
Bet you never thought you could love pumpkins on a set of nails so much. To try this design at home, start with a neutral-toned base and then choose five other autumnal hues that will form your pumpkin, like the gorgeous shades in Olive & June’s Fall Box.
Begin creating a rounded tip (where your classic French tip would go) with those shades, making sure to create a small indent to form that pumpkin shape. Then, using a detailing brush, go in with a black polish and outline those pumpkins, adding personality with stalks.
Matte Black Bats
Playing around with matte and shiny topcoats on a black nail polish shade is a supercool way to spook-ify a traditional Halloween character. Take this set by Minnesota-based nail artist Sydney, who painted high-shine spooky bat designs atop a matte black base.
Ghosts in the dark
Possibly the cutest ghosts we’ve ever seen belong to this set of nails. Playing with contrasting shades and finishes gives even the simplest designs an extra special something.
Jelly spiderweb
Jazz up a spiderweb design by painting on a purple jelly nail base like nail artist Gabbi did for this set. If you’ve got a steady hand and a jelly nail polish (like the Cirque Colors Ube Jelly), this is one you might want to try your hand at re-creating at home.
Itsy-bitsy spiders
Have you ever seen a French manicure made of cobwebs? Us either. Ask your nail tech to swap out the regular French tip for a spiderweb design before adding teeny spiders and finishing the look with a matte topcoat.
Chrome green wet look
This chrome green set created by LA-based Michelle Won is simultaneously simple and bold. Proving that not all epic Halloween manicures need to be intricate to be incredible, sometimes you just need a long canvas to work on, an epic chrome power, and some super-realistic water droplets.
Scary-cute characters
We challenge you to find a cuter set of spooky characters than this manicure. This set has it all: pastel shades, a black cat, and an itsy-bitsy spider. With a little patience and the right tools (a dotting tool and detailing brush), this is ideal to attempt at home. Re-create this design or take small aspects from it depending on your skill level.
Shimmery Halloween scene
Level up any Halloween manicure with a shimmering cat-eye base like the one in this design by content creator Aistė Plechaviciute. We cannot get enough of this velvet look with orange accents to create a night sky scene with tiny bats and stars for a magical Halloween look.
Spotty sorcery
Orange-and-black manicures are quintessential to Halloween, but you can add so much more personality to the colors with graphics like those in this look by UK-based nail artist Aimee. The flawless orange ombré is topped with witchy illustrations in matte black and white, like a snake, a moon, and potions. Little dots and stars keep it looking more cute than creepy.
Petrified pastels
From a distance, this pastel masterpiece by Orlando-area nail artist Ceirra Carlini-Smith looks like a sweet, springtime, tie-dye-inspired manicure. Look a little closer, however, and you realize the graphics are straight out of the movie Scream—just with a bit of a flower-child twist. We love how it’s a super cute way to wear your enthusiasm for Halloween without an in-your-face obviousness.
Black-and-white bats
At first glance, this manicure by Welsh nail artist Grace Andrew looks like bubbly, abstract shapes on a sheer pink base. Upon closer inspection, you’ll find that it features a spooky scene—a bat flying against the clouds on a starry night.
Neon necromancy
On its own, the use of a metallic purple to black ombré on this superlong, pointy manicure evokes the gothic mood of Halloween. Houston nail artist Christie Schobel takes the look to another level with neon green graphics. Fluorescent moons, spiderwebs, snakes, smile drips, and more pop out with an incredible contrast against the moody base color.
Bony beauties
Anatomically speaking, these nails by Minnesota nail artist Zoe are… not correct. Nonetheless, they are creepy and perfect for Halloween. Zoe painted opaque, white bone over sheer, jelly-like, blood red nails, the length of which are not for the timid.
Ghoulish galaxy
This mystical manicure by California nail artist Sabrina Fagundes is a whimsically witchy way to celebrate Halloween. And it proves that any color you’re in the mood for—like this dusty periwinkle—can work for a spooky manicure when you enhance it with details like eyes, snakes, and a starry sky.
Frankenstein’s French Tips
Arguably the easiest Halloween manicure to achieve at home, this design inspired by Frankenstein’s monster from Phoenix-based nail artist Sarah Thompson only requires black and metallic green nail polishes, a detailing brush, and a steady hand.
Cherry skulls
Chances are you’ve seen plenty of iterations of this French-tipped manicure featuring tiny cherry details. An artist at Los Angeles Cosmo Studio brings an original Halloween twist to this deep French look by replacing the cherries with itty-bitty black skulls.
Duo-chrome bats and birds
Crows and ominous trees don’t appear in Halloween manicures nearly as often as they ought to. Nail artist Delia uses a polish that shifts between orange and olive green as the background for an eerie depiction of bats and birds hanging from hand-painted branches. She doesn’t say whether she did the designs freehand or used stickers, but if you’re a beginner, it wouldn’t hurt to use some spooky press-ons or nail wraps.
Glow-in-the-dark ghost nails
This glow-in-the-dark ghost look is cuter than it is scary. You could use Holo Taco’s Glow In the Dark Taco to get this look—or find some fun glowing ghost stickers for a similar feel. Simply place the stickers on top of whatever black polish you have in your collection and you’ll be good to go.
Haunted hands
There are few moments in horror movies more chilling than when the hands of the undead start emerging from the ground. Nail artist Amy captured the spooky scene in nail art using a stamping plate, multiple green nail polish shades (we like Lights Lacquer Swamp Girl and Tranquila y Tropical for a fun clash), and one black polish.
Blood drips
Dripping nail art is always a cool look, but it takes a creepier, Halloween-ready tone when emerging from your cuticles. (Eek!) This take by nail artist Brittany Nefcy captures the holiday’s scary spirit with bloody accents on a white base.
Glam Glitter and Ghosts
Miami-based nail technician Laysa found another genius way to incorporate the ghost motif into a manicure. These nails were made with hand-sculpted acrylic, which she infused with a chunky orange glitter base. If you look closely, you’ll see a few teeny ghost- and bat-shaped glitter pieces in there too.
Shimmery spiderweb
Combine the classic cuteness of a French manicure with a Halloween motif like spiderwebs for something that’s equally eerie and elegant. California-based nail artist Mireya amps up the creep factor with color-shifting purple and gunmetal gray base shades.
Orange-and-black spiders
This Halloween-themed creation by Madeline Poole couldn’t be easier to do. Poole used a gorgeous bright orange polish for the base. (We love Londontown Lakur Enhanced Colour in Camden Chic for this.) She then used a dotting tool to create the spiders. “Paint a random assortment of dots with a smaller dot and a slightly larger dot connected, which will be the body of your spider,” Poole says. See? It couldn’t be simpler.
Itty-bitty eyeballs
Eyes as part of someone’s face? Pretty. Eyeballs anywhere else? Pretty creepy. Betina Goldstein used Essie nail polishes to paint bloodshot blue eyes at the base of nearly nude nails: Blushing Bride for the base, Blanc for the eyeballs, Strut Your Stuff for the irises, Licorice for the pupils, and Geranium for the veins.
Orange-and-black marble
A marble effect isn’t limited to shades of white and gray. Use a black and orange pair of polishes like Finnish nail artist Ira P. did to create a sophisticated yet spirited manicure with Halloween’s traditional colors.
