A Manicurist’s Guide to Spooktacular Skeleton Nail Art for Halloween

Are you ready to take your Halloween nails graveyard style? Look no further than skeleton nail art. This fun manicure trend is a must-have for the spooky season, adding a touch of scare to your fingertips. Best of all, it’s easy to DIY.

As a professional nail artist with 20+ years in the industry, I have executed hundreds of Halloween manicures for editorial photoshoots and clients. I love to create more detailed designs, from stiletto and coffin shapes to crystal decals or gems, but more elaborate looks require a trip to the craft store. These skeleton nails are one of the easiest for my clients to replicate at home because you only need a few basic tools, black and white nail polish, and somewhat of a steady hand.

Since this is a quirky design, there’s no need to go extreme with length. So, pick whatever shape you’re comfortable with, grab your favorite nail polish, and get ready to unleash your inner ghoul with this step-by-step skeleton nails tutorial for Halloween. Whether you’re a nail-art pro or a beginner looking to try something new, this fun and festive design is sure to make your holiday a little more spooky in the best way possible.

Remember: Don’t worry about being too perfect. The beauty of skeleton nails is in their imperfection and eerie charm.

The Tools

How to Do Skeleton Nails

Step 1: Apply your base color

First start by painting the base of your nails in black or white (or both). Deborah Lippmann products have the best opacity; I recommend the Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Polish Treatment in Fade to Black ($17).

Step 2: Sketch the skeleton body

The most important step is to wait for the base layer of your nail polish to dry (about 10 minutes) before you start your design. Once your base color is dry, use a fine-tipped brush or a nail art pen to draw on the skeleton details. Try these Saviland pens ($15). Begin at the spine midway on the nail, then draw a horizontal line under the spine and make a small half-circle at each end.

Step 3: Create the skeleton arms

Using the brush or nail dotter, line out the arms in a capital “L” to make two pieces for each side of the skeleton body. Draw a small “v” and a line in the middle of it to create the hands.

Step 4: Repeat for the skeleton legs

Follow the same steps as above using the same tools above for the legs and feet.

Step 5: Draw the face

Use a round dotter tool with different shapes (or if you don’t want to buy one, a bobby bin will work) to create the face of the skeleton. Dot on the eyes and the mouth to create an “O” shape for each.

Step 6: Top it off

Finish with a thin layer of a clear polish. (Since there’s no overlap in colors, you don’t need to wait more than 10 to 15 minutes before adding a top coat.) I love Essie Gel Couture Clear Nail Polish Top Coat ($14). It gives an intense, high gloss shine and will protect your artwork over the next couple of days. My recommendation is adding an additional layer after three or four days to extend the shine and wear.

Gina Edwards discovered her passion for nails during her studies as a psychology major; it was a way to help pay for college expenses. Gina has left her finishing touch on the nails of celebrities and graced the covers of Vogue, Italian Vogue, Vogue Japan, Allure, Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle Magazine. She has been a global brand ambassador for Kiss products and has led fashion shows. Gina continues to collaborate and forecast nail trends with brands in the industry. Gina is a PS Council member.