Real talk: Halloween nails are having their main character moment. Costumes? Cute. Candy? Always. But a killer mani? That’s the real showstopper. From TikTok to Pinterest boards, spooky season is officially a nail-art holiday, and if your nails don’t slay, you might be doing October wrong.
Whether you’re going full vampire princess or just need your nails to serve spooky-but-make-it-aesthetic vibes for the ‘gram, I got you.
Below are 15 Halloween nail looks that are not only next-level creative but also 100% compliment magnets. Warning: your costume might just become the sidekick. Let’s get into it.
1. Glazed Pumpkin Nails
If you’re not one for cobwebs or skeletons but still want to channel the spirit of Halloween, glazed pumpkin nails are the perfect in-between.
This design takes the viral glazed donut finish and adds a cozy seasonal twist with warm orange tones that mimic the color of fresh pumpkin pie.
The glossy, reflective topcoat keeps things chic, while the burnt orange base gives it that unmistakable fall vibe. Try using OPI’s My Italian is a Little Rusty for the base, and finish with a chrome powder or pearlescent top coat to get that luminous glazed effect.
2. Blood Drip French Tips
A classic—but still so good it gives the main character energy every time. Blood drip French tips are for the girls who love a little gore with their glam.
Picture this: a sleek nude or sheer base, a clean French tip… then bam! Vivid red “drips” that look straight out of a vampire flick. Simple, sexy, scary, and totally aesthetic.
The key is making the drips irregular so they look natural (well, as natural as dripping blood can be). You can go for a deep crimson red and let the color drip slightly over your nail like fresh blood.
To get the perfect shade, try OPI’s Got the Blues for Red—it walks that line between sultry and sinister.
3. Ghostly Nude Nails
If you’re not into bold colors or busy designs but still want something spooky, ghostly nude nails are your low-key Halloween win.
The vibe is minimal, but the tiny white ghost faces floating on each nail? Pure perfection. Start with a soft, sheer nude base like Essie’s Ballet Slippers or DND’s Peach Buff.
Once it’s dry or cured, use a dotting tool like the Beetles Nail Art Dotting Pen and white or black gel paint (Modelones White/Black Drawing Gel is great) to create rounded ghost shapes—think chubby blobs with arms.
Add tiny black eyes and a mouth using a fine brush or a toothpick dipped in Beetles Black Gel Polish. Seal everything with a glossy top coat for that fresh, glazed finish. It’s cute, spooky, and perfect for the “I want to do something Halloween-y, but chill” aesthetic.
4. Chrome Webs on Black Nails
This one’s for the girls who want spooky but still sleek. Chrome spiderwebs over a glossy black base give off serious haunted runway energy.
The look is graphic and eye-catching, especially when the webs catch the light and reflect with that chrome shimmer. It’s the kind of nail art that feels just as right for a Halloween party as it does wrapped around a latte the next morning.
For the black base, try OPI’s Black Onyx, and layer with a silver chrome stamping polish or foil to get that crisp, metallic web detail.
5. Ghostie Tips with Negative Space
If you’re into playful details but want to keep things clean and minimal, ghostie tips are a low-effort way to get into the Halloween spirit. The look features tiny white ghost shapes floating along the tips, leaving the rest of the nail nude or sheer.
It’s cute without being cartoonish and subtle enough to wear to literally anything—school, work, brunch, you name it. Use a soft nude base like Essie’s Mademoiselle, then hand-paint the ghosts with a white polish and add tiny black dots for the eyes.
6. Green Slime Nails
If Halloween had a signature texture, it would be slime—and this mani leans into that in the best way. Think glossy neon green polish dripping down from the cuticle over a matte black or sheer nude base like something out of a haunted science lab.
It’s playful, weirdly cute, and totally party-approved. For a glow effect, layer on a green polish like Cirque Colors in Sour Punch and top it with a glossy drip design using a dotting tool.
7. Orange Chrome Glow
If Halloween had a signature nail color, it would be this: molten orange with a chrome finish. It gives off that lit-pumpkin glow without being too literal. This look works especially well with coffin or almond shapes.
Start with a vibrant burnt orange gel polish like Beetles Gel Polish in Pumpkin Pie Spice. Once cured, lightly tap on a pearlescent chrome powder—Born Pretty’s Orange Mirror Chrome Powder is perfect—using a silicone applicator tool.
Lock in that molten finish with a non-wipe gel top coat. The final result looks like a Halloween sunset sealed in glass—subtle, glowing, and seriously glam.
8. Spider Web French Tips
Take your classic French manicure and give it a creepy twist by adding hand-drawn spiderwebs across the black tips. You can keep the base sheer pink to make the web design pop.
Start with a sheer pink base like OPI Bubble Bath or Essie Mademoiselle. Once cured, use a fine detail brush like the Beetles Nail Art Brush Set and white gel paint (Modelones Drawing Gel) to sketch crisp webs along the tips.
For an easier option, use a stamping plate like Whats Up Nails B035 with spiderweb patterns. Finish with a high-gloss or matte top coat, depending on your vibe.
9. Glittery Midnight Skies
Think of this one as Halloween meets the night sky. It’s all about layering black or deep navy polish with scattered glitter to mimic a starry sky. Use a moody base like Zoya Ryan or OPI Lincoln Park After Dark, then sponge on holo glitter—ILNP Mega (L) is next-level reflective.
Add moon and star decals from a sticker pack like EBANKU Halloween Nail Stickers, or try stamping plates if you’re feeling fancy. Top it all off with a high-shine top coat so the light catches every sparkle.
10. Pumpkin Patch Plaid
This design feels like a cozy flannel wrapped around your nails. Start with a soft neutral base like Olive & June’s MM, then use a striping brush to paint plaid lines in fall tones—try Butter London’s Broody for a deep burgundy and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Go Garnet for a burnt orange.
Dot on mini pumpkins using a dotting tool and a creamy orange like Essie’s Playing Koi. Not up for hand-painting? Plaid nail wraps like ManiMe’s Autumn Flannel do the trick with zero effort.
11. Black and Orange Swirls
Swirls are still trending, and Halloween colors make them even better. Start with a sheer nude base like Lights Lacquer in Adaline, then swirl on freehand lines in black, burnt orange, and gold using a thin liner brush (the Makartt Detail Brush Set is great for this).
Let each color cure before layering the next to avoid smudging. Finish with a glossy top coat to tie it all together. Want a shortcut? Look for press-ons or stickers with swirl patterns from Static Nails or Glamnetic.
12. Skeleton French Tips
If you’re over the dainty white tips, this one brings just enough edge. Skeleton French tips add a bone-white twist to the classic mani with tiny skeletal accents that peek along the nail edge. Start with a sheer nude like DND’s Soft Tan as your base.
Then, use a white gel liner like Beetles White Drawing Gel and a fine-tipped brush (the Pana 5mm Detail Brush is great), sketch out mini bone shapes or finger joints along the tip. You can keep it minimal or go full hand-bone realness. Finish with a glossy top coat, or try matte if you want that x-ray effect.
13. Candy Corn Ombre
Sure, candy corn is controversial. But candy corn nails? Undeniably cute. This design blends white, orange, and yellow in a vertical or diagonal ombré that screams Halloween without going full cartoon. Use a sponge to apply the gradient over a white base—OPI Alpine Snow works great.
Layer on Sally Hansen’s Mellow Yellow and OPI’s It’s a Piazza Cake for the perfect warm-toned blend. Blend with light dabs and finish with Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat for a smooth, glazed finish. Bonus points if you matte it down for that soft, candy-like feel.
14. Beetlejuice Stripes
This mani is basically Tim Burton in nail form. Start with vertical black and white stripes—Cirque Colors Memento Mori for the black, OPI Funny Bunny for the white.
Use nail striping tape or Beetles French Tip Guides to keep the lines clean. Add a pop of neon green or purple with a detailing brush, or go full Beetlejuice with a green accent nail (try Lights Lacquer in Now & Later). This one’s great if you want something bold that still feels wearable post-Halloween.
15. Jack-o’-Lantern Accents
Nothing says Halloween like a little pumpkin face—especially when it’s sitting on one accent nail. Start with a warm orange base like Olive & June in Wild & Free. On one or two nails, paint on mini jack-o’-lantern faces using Modelones Black Drawing Gel and a fine liner brush like the Saviland Nail Art Brush Set. Keep the other nails solid or add a green stem swirl on your pinky for balance. Seal it all with a glossy gel top coat for a super smooth, Instagram-worthy finish.
16. Haunted House Nails
Mini haunted house silhouettes against a sunset or midnight ombre background? Yes, please. Start with an ombré background using deep purple, midnight blue, and black—ILNP’s Eclipse and Zoya Serenity blend beautifully.
Use a sponge for the gradient effect. Once that’s cured, sketch out your haunted house silhouette using black gel paint and a super-fine detailing brush. Add tiny trees, bats, or a yellow moon using Essie’s Hay There to finish the look. Seal it with a matte top coat for that eerie, foggy-night finish. This one takes time, but it’s a total showstopper.
17. Bat Wings
This one’s sleek, moody, and just the right amount of spooky. Bat wing nails are usually done across two nails—like a little silhouette that spans from your middle to your ring finger. Start with a neutral or deep plum base like Lights Lacquer in Mila or Essie’s Wicked.
Then use a thin detailing brush like the Makartt 3-Piece Nail Art Brush Set and Modelones Black Drawing Gel to sketch the wing design across both nails. Go slow—smooth curves and a crisp wing tip make all the difference.
Top it off with Beetles Gel No-Wipe Glossy Top Coat to seal the design and give it that fresh, in-flight shine. It’s bold but not too loud, and super wearable even after Halloween.
18. Holographic Witchy Symbols
If you’re into the spiritual side of Halloween, this one’s your vibe. Think mini crescent moons, evil eyes, stars, and crystals—all stamped in holographic foil over a sheer smoky base.
Start with a translucent grey or deep jelly polish like Cirque Colors in Smoky Quartz. Apply a layer or two, depending on how sheer you want it.
Then press on tiny symbols using Born Pretty Holo Nail Foils or sticker sets like EBANKU Holographic Nail Decals.
You can go minimalist with just one or two per nail, or fill the whole set for that full moon ritual energy. Finish with a glossy top coat to keep everything sealed and shining like magic.
Final Thoughts
That’s a wrap on 18 Halloween nail looks that are way too cute to be hiding under gloves. Whether you’re into subtle glazed finishes, full-on haunted house murals, or glow-in-the-dark slime, there’s something here for every vibe—from “soft spooky” to “Halloween is my personality.”
Each design comes with its own moment, and the best part? You can totally DIY most of these at home with the right tools (or treat yourself to a salon visit and bring this inspo with you).
Now tell us, what design are you trying out? Tell us in the comments!
