If you’re not going to allocate your nail real estate for a killer Halloween manicure come October, WYD? Whether you’re into a seriously witchy design, prefer something a bit more spooky, are OK with gore-adjacent art, or simply want to keep things autumnal chic, your options are pretty much endless. To help you brainstorm the perfect Halloween nail idea, we’re showcasing some of our favorite designs we’ve seen yet.
1. 3D Ghosts
The subtle 3D nail trend is on the rise, and this ghoulish variation seriously slays. The ultra-shiny chrome topcoat keeps things chic, while the tiny pink cheeks balance things out with a little bit of joy.
2. Glam Vampire
This vampire-inspired manicure is splendidly spooky. Opt for a deep blood red color on all your nails except for one, then go for an accent nail featuring a glamorous pucker with some long, sharp, and intimidating fangs.
3. Creepy Crawlers
Sometimes it’s the tiniest creatures that elicit the biggest screams! This olive green manicure featuring beetles, critters, and worms is proof of that. It’s definitely a Halloween manicure worth bugging out over.
4. Tiny Halloween Details
If you can’t decide between bats, coffins, spiders, eyeballs, or other Halloween icons, why not just opt for all the above? This cute Halloween nail idea incorporates a ton of tiny details across each nail alongside dots in seasonal colors.
5. Mummy Mani
The black and purple color scheme is on point with this mummy manicure. Plus, it’s super simple to pull off even though it looks complex. Start with a dark black base, then apply stripes of purple back and forth. A few googly eyes keep things whimsical while a super shiny top coat puts the nail in the coffin.
6. Good Gourds
Not a fan of jump scares? A Halloween pumpkin manicure keeps things cute while still embracing the spooky season. This gilded gourd idea features gorgeous gold chrome French tips with golden leaves and pumpkins with shimmery gold detailing.
7. Cowboy Skeleton
You could go with a standard skeleton manicure—which we love—but if you’re keen on adding a little twist then might we suggest a rugged cowboy theme? The inclusion of happy mushrooms and groovy checkerboard patterns brings the whole look to life.
8. Mystical Mani
If you consulted your third eye, we’re guessing it’d urge you to try on a Halloween nail idea like this one. A beige base serves as the perfect backdrop for nautical constellations and stars, and each hand has a glowing green third eye alongside an inky black talon.
9. Spidey Style
Did someone say Charlotte? This minimalist Halloween nail design is perfectly creepy and crawly with wee-sized spiders against a nude base. The silver glitter bodies add a touch of glam; you could also try pearls or rhinestones instead.
10. Witchy Woman
If you’re feeling your witch era, it only makes sense to have your nails match the mood. This layered design features a shadowy background with swirling shades of green. Bats, branches, and a witch sailing across the moon on a broom are hauntingly perfect.
11. Very Demure Halloween Mani
If you’re in the market for a very demure, very classy Halloween mani, then consider this pink chrome option. The shiny pale pink base keeps things girlish and sweet, but the inclusion of ghosts, droplets, a mummy, and spiderwebs dig deep into the All Hallow’s Eve vibes.