62 Halloween Nails to Celebrate the Spooky Season | Glamour
By Andrew Campbell•
One of our favorite parts of the fall: Halloween. With spooky season approaching, deciding on everything from our Halloween nails and to and is a highlight of the season.
If you want to get into the spirit but aren’t totally into the idea of going all out on dressing up in a costume, Halloween nails are the perfect way to bridge the gap so you can still celebrate the holiday. Between Halloween press-on nails, nail stickers, and countless Halloween-themed nail art designs, there are plenty of ideas to choose from, whether you want to DIY your look or head to an appointment with your nail tech.
What can we expect from our Halloween nails? According to , a celebrity nail artist known for her and founder of , you can expect darker nail colors this season. “Dark mattes will be popular,” she says. “Think dark green, black, and even a blood red.” The other side of the spectrum is everything glazed donut: “Silver chrome is also here to stay, and I’m obsessed with it.”
If you’re unsure about leaning into full-blown Halloween nail art, Boyce suggests a chrome or matte finish to give a simple mani some extra edge. And if you’re up for it, “I also love adding 3D metal jewelry at times,” she says. And if you do want to try some of the Halloween nail art ideas but don’t want to take a trip to the nail salon, you don’t have to: “For a DIY approach, I suggest using nail art decals. They’re pretty easy to use and look amazing,” she says.
No matter how you’re dressing up this October, we have plenty of Halloween manicure ideas that you’ll love so much, you’ll want to wear them year-round. Scroll on for our best Halloween nail ideas that are perfect for fall.
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Glazed Mummy
Keep things chic with a and adjust the nail art for the season with these adorable mummy designs.
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Ghost French
You don’t have to break up with your manicure for spooky season. Just replace the tips with ghosts!
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Black Widow
Creepy Halloween nails don’t have to be over-the-top to make a statement. Case in point: this low-key but sufficiently spooky spiderweb style.
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Orange Aura
are one of the biggest nail trends of the year. Fortunately, this orange look proves you can also wear them for Halloween.
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Vampy Vibes
Matte black meets drippy French? Sign me up yesterday.
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Pumpkin Chic
Festive nails don’t have to be cheesy, and this pretty pumpkin French design is proof.
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Spider Woman
Spiderweb-inspired styles don’t have to be cheugy, either. In fact, this one is straight-up chic.
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Magic 8 Ball
Let me see into your future…through my nails.
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Patch It Up
Calling all Nightmare Before Christmas stans! This one’s for you.
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Pumpkin Spice
Once again, proof that pumpkin designs can still be cool.
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3D Chrome
’Tis the season to embrace .
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Madame Web
This pretty pink mani is a delightfully fresh and feminine take on the spiderweb nail trend.
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Heavy Metal
If you’d prefer something simple but black feels too basic, consider a deep shade of charcoal instead.
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Splatter Tips
If you’re into , this might be the manicure for you.
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Batwoman of the Year
Bats are seriously slept on as Halloween nail designs. Why so many spiderwebs and so few bats? Let’s change that this year.
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Ombré Red
Sexy, spooky, and very much on trend, this ombré red mani is ideal for the whole autumn.
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Spooky Mix & Match
Can’t choose just one style? Now you don’t have to.
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Lilac Jack-o’-Lantern
Another adorable option? This lilac jack-o’-lantern look.
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Matte Black
Look, black is never basic. But in case it feels like it is, might we suggest mixing it up with a matte base and a glossy black French tip? Chic!
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Freaky French
This French mani is perfect for anyone who loves Halloween but can’t go all out with nail art. At first glance, it just looks like a dark Frenchie!
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Scarlett Serpents
is kind of the queen of freaky nail art, so it’s no surprise her everyday styles work so well for Halloween inspo.
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Witching Hour
Another ideal option for the more discrete nail lovers, this look is giving “witchy” without feeling too scary.
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Crimson Chrome
This crimson chrome mani is perfect for late October, since it works for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and even Christmas.
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Gothic Romance
Want to channel your inner ? This mani should do the trick.
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Goth Glam
Fox, a goth glam queen, may have worn these for her birthday in May (peep the Taurus symbol), but this goth glam mani is ideal for Halloween.
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Tangerine Tips
This vibrant manicure is sure to brighten your day while setting the mood for All Hallow’s Eve.
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Skeleton Hands
This skeleton mani may be creepy, but it’s so cool.
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Snake Print
Perfect for Halloween but chic enough for everyday wear, this snake-print style checks all of our boxes.
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Dark Skies
Have you been counting down the days until Halloween since last spring? This spooky-season mani is screaming your name. Boo!
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Witchy Wine
For a more seductive Halloween aesthetic, paint your nails wine red and decorate with celestial and snake .
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Spiderwebs
Top your favorite fall shade with spiderwebs, and you’re good to go (trick-or-treating). DIY with spiderweb stickers.
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Jolly Jack-o’-Lantern
Embody the spirit of Halloween with jack-o’-lantern nails. Simply paint your nails your favorite shade of orange and top off with spooky nail decals.
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Purple Chrome
We’re calling it now: This purple chrome mani is the Halloween-friendly evolution of .
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Pink Ghost
Have you seen cuter ghosts? Add some to your look this Halloween with pink tips and detailing.
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Haunted Forest
Be the talk of the Halloween party after showing off this super-detailed (and spooky!) ghost nail art.
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Lightning Storm
This manicure with silver lightning detailing is the perfect pair for X-Men’s Storm or any moody costume.
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Multicolor Kawaii
Keep things cute with a Sanrio-inspired Halloween design featuring your favorite characters and festive detailing.
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Ombré Cobwebs
are always in, but these cobwebs add a dark and spooky touch.
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Orange Gradient
These are channeling some serious Skittles vibes, making them perfect for some Halloween trick-or-treating. Plus, it’s about as easy to DIY as nail art comes.
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Deep Wine
Take the mulled wine to your nails for a moody mani that has serious staying power.
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Fangs
Consider this interpretation way cooler than the plastic fangs at the Halloween store.
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Red Outlines
Start with a bright red base and layer a dark burgundy shade on top so just a sliver of red peeks out at the cuticle. (Need recs? .)
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Bloodshot Eyes
Scary or not? You choose! They’ll have people staring (and these classic Halloween nails will stare right back).
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Delicate Chains
Channel a ghost trapped for centuries.
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Sugar Tips
The only thing sweeter than these candy corn nails is the candy itself.
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Graphic Cats
Black cats are a staple of Halloween lore, so bring the elusive creatures to the tips of your nails this season.
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Unfinished Stitches
Copy nail artist Betina Goldstein, and glue leftover string from a sewing kit at the ends of your “stitches” to play up the creepy Coraline vibes.
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Pumpkin Pie
A bright orange is a cheerful take on the season and matches the changing colors of the leaves.
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Negative Space
A clean inverted moon with a bright orange base? So cool. A copper stud in the center? Even cooler.
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Phases of the Moon
Kinda witchy, kinda werewolf-y, and all kinds of cool.
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Moody Ruby
A shimmering finish adds a cool twist to a fall classic.
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Stitched Tips
Sally from the The Nightmare Before Christmas is a year after year. Here’s a mani to make the look complete.
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Orange Glitter
Take your pumpkin nails to the next level with some glitter, or even try a cat-eye finish.
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Mini Bats
The negative space keeps the design from looking too costumey.
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Candy Corn Tips
For a nonliteral take on candy corn, paint different nails in shades or orange, yellow, and white. Pops of gold and black keep things interesting.
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Moody Moons
Channel a chilly night with graphic moons and mountains on a pitch-black base.
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Skulls and Stripes
It's not a Halloween nails gallery without at least one reference to Beetlejuice or Jack.
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3D Eyes
Okay, so these realistic eyes may be a little ambitious to attempt at home, but they’re so creepy we had to include.
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Classic Black
Black polish is always cool, but it’s especially fitting for the Halloween season. Go with an extra-glossy formula or top coat for the most impact.
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Black Cats
Lucky or unlucky, they’re pretty cute.
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Blood Drip
A single blood drip on nude nails is just creepy enough (and surprisingly realistic).
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Black French
Put a spooky twist on a classic French tip for a mani that holds up on November 1.
Your questions about Halloween nails, answered
What are popular Halloween nail designs?
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Every year, nail designs that include spiderwebs, pumpkins, and ghosts tend to be popular. If you want to switch things up, think about trying these designs in creative colors or a mismatched mani with different nail art on each fingertip.
What nail polish colors are good for Halloween?
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Nail polish colors for Halloween really depend on what design and vibe you're going for. In general, moody fall shades like dark charcoal, oxblood red, burnt orange, and midnight black will work well. But if you want to try some Halloween nail art with a twist, consider a pop of color instead.
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