@disseynails / Instagram
Spooky season is finally here, meaning its time to prep and perfect your spooky makeup look of choice and, most importantly, your Halloween nails. Whether you go all out with an elaborate costume, complete with a Halloween hairstyle and witch, zombie, or devil makeup, or prefer not to dress up, nails are a fun way to celebrate the haunted holiday. No matter your style, theres a set out there for you—from classic fall nail ideas to festive black and orange manicures and pumpkin nail art.
To help you find a Halloween mani youll be stoked to wear come October 31, weve rounded up the 50 most eye-catching designs. Get ready to screenshot and scroll to see the best Halloween manicure ideas for 2023.
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Spider Web French Tips
@myprettyset / Instagram
Glam and gloom meet with this elegant, spider web French tip nail design. We love the addition of the silver crystal, which gives the impression of a glistening dew drop falling from a wet web.
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Costumed Ghosts
@thenailartbabe / Instagram
Possibly the cutest little ghosts we’ve ever seen belong to this set of nails. The ghosts are all dressed up for Trick or Treating underneath a starry sky, masquerading as a witch, vampire, Jack-o-Lantern, and Frankenstein.
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Metallic Stars
@heygreatnails / Instagram
This look borrows from Fourth of July nails with all the stars and stripes. The orange-gold foil tips paired with silver and black reads as Halloween-themed without going full-fledged with spiders, gore, and ghosts.
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Candy Corn
@aliciatnails / Instagram
Nothing screams Halloween like candy. These candy corn nails are a tasteful take on All Hallows Eve and only require a couple of shades of orange polish and a steady hand to replicate.
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Frankenstein French
@amyytran
If Frankenstein went to the salon for a manicure, he would definitely get this look. The signature stitching paired with a candy apple red French tip is a fun twist on the classic bright green we think of when monsters come to mind.
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Itty Bitty Bats
@amyytran / Instagram
To recreate nail artist Amy Trans simple Halloween nail design, use a toothpick dipped in black nail polish to create the points of the bat. From there, connect the points, creating swooped wings and a diamond-shaped body.
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Spooky Swirls
@nuka.nails / Instagram
This mismatched mani totally gives subtle The Nightmare Before Christmas vibes. The Jack Skellington-esque, black and white striped French tips and the dramatic swirls are our fave.
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Horror Movie Mani
@yo_kesh / Instagram
Movies give us endless beauty inspiration (think Barbie nails), so why not channel your favorite scary flicks with inspired nail art? This look features the classic Ghostbusters insignia and Slimer on the one hand, while the other shows the outline and eye of the titular Candyman character.
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Ghosts on a Grid
@nylove_nail / Instagram
Light orange, plaid-like grids combined with black French tips are a ghoulishly good combo. Add adorable hand-painted ghosts and the design gets even better.
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Ghostface Nail Art
@bhambnails / Instagram
Whats your favorite scary movie? If its Scream, then you need to bookmark this mani for your next appointment. Wavy, black and white striped French tips compliment the spooky portrait of Ghostface and his weapon of choice.
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Space Webs
@aliciatnails / Instagram
Universally accepted as a symbol of Halloween, spider webs have been a go-to design for most novice nail artists. This subtle, negative space manicure take on the pattern, (which features a gradient of purples) can work with any office setting or costume. Plus, all you need to bring it to life is a toothpick and the polish of your choice.
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Gold Drip
@chalkboardnails / Instagram
Fake blood is to Halloween what fireworks are to the Fourth of July. This dripping manicure is the perfect amount of kitschy and classic. To DIY, use a toothpick with a hefty drop of polish on the end. Dollop it on your nail and lightly draw it towards the cuticle to create the drip appearance.
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80s-Chic
@amberjhnails / Instagram
Halloween is the perfect time to throw it back to your favorite retro era. Still keeping with the 80s but with a more subtle finish, this negative space mani with delicate pops of color is the ultimate inspiration.
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Black Flames
@nail_unistella / Instagram
It may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think Halloween (unless youre a Hocus Pocus fanatic), but these black flame nails give off a scary vibe. We love the almond-shaped style and how the curves mimic those of the flames. To craft your flames, use a toothpick or polish pen to outline your flame and then gently fill it in.
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Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
@nailartbysig / Instagram
For those who celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), this design is worth considering. The sugar skull-inspired design will require a steady hand, so you may want to book an appointment for this screenshot-worthy nail look.
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Bloody Statement Nail
@lolo.nailedit / Instagram
Those who dont plan on straying from neutral colors this season will love this look, where a single milky white nail gets a blood drip. Its simple, yet oh-so bold and full of character.
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Spooky Ghosts
@nicoleoharehair / Instagram
What is Halloween without ghosts? This manicure blends together the spooky design with classic French tips.
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Spell Caster
@bhambnails / Instagram
Cast a (literal) spell with a bone font design on your nails. Go with spooky or choose another word that fits on your fingers, like bad witch or haunted.
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Neon Ghosts
@nuka.nails / Instagram
Halloween doesnt have to be all gloom and doom—just look at these neon nails as proof. Happy ghosts paired with colorful flowers and hearts have us feeling nostalgic for the 90s. If there ever were a Lisa Frank Halloween mani, this would be it.
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Gucci Snake
@thehangedit / Instagram
This Gucci-inspired snake manicure by Hang Nguyen is almost too good. Its all in the details. We cant stop staring at the shiny translucent lacquered base, the glinting red ribbon of the spooky snakes body, or the itty-bitty split tongue.
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Dripping Black Talons
@color.city_ / Instagram
If youre looking for a festive Halloween manicure that makes you feel like the chicest vampire, look no further. This glossy nail design has red blood dripping from the tips, and if you look closely, the black base actually has a drip effect, too.
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Pop Art
@narinanails / Instagram
Pop art isnt going to stop inspiring Halloween looks anytime soon. To bring the styles bold and vivid brights onto your nails, cop this look from nail artist Narina Chan. Its modern and scene-y, just like a buzzy art installation.
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In Stitches
@aliciatnails / Instagram
Alicia Torello is an editorial manicurist based in NYC, and her designs are colorful and varied, ranging from maximalist to minimalist in nature. These easy-to-recreate stitch nails belong to the latter category. Theyre chic, doll-like, and just a little bit off-kilter. In other words, theyre perfect for a low-key Halloween. Do they remind anyone else of the movie Coraline?
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Gory-Good
@gotg0ld / Instagram
3D eyeballs, silver stitch staples, and blood splatters? This design is definitely reserved for only the bravest of ghouls out there.
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Red Rum
@paintboxnails / Instagram
This manicure is simplicity at its best. Grab your favorite red nail polish to create the thin, blood-red base, and finish off by painting tips black to recreate the look. Its darkly romantic, and were nothing short of obsessed.
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Drip Tips
@disseynails / Instagram
These free-flowing, drippy French tips in the classic Halloween shades of black, white, and orange are just adorable. The shiny stars and teeny spiders serve not-so-scary, yet still festive vibes.
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Peek-a-Boo Nails
@sierrasnails_ / Instagram
Orange and black nails are arguably the most classic choice for Halloween. And with the addition of a sweet ghost peek-a-booing over a French tip accent nail, the look becomes even more festive.
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Black Details
@nails_byely / Instagram
The clean lines paired with black and white tones make this nail design just witchy enough. Nail artist Elizabeth Garcia created this manicure look, leaving us questioning how she ever got those lines so straight and perfect. Our guess is nail striping tape, like China Glazes Stripe Em Striping Tape ($10).
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Lunar Look
@vanityprojects / Instagram
Feeling a little out of sync this Halloween? It could be because of the phases of the moon. Reminiscent of a werewolf, this artistic creation is truly genius, and Halloween color-appropriate, might we add.
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Blood Ombré
@chelseaqueen / Instagram
If you cant decide what to be for Halloween, let this easy-to-recreate nail art idea be your guide—the simple red ombré (which can be created with a sponge and layered polish) gives off serious vampire and evil witch vibes. Whats more, the strategically placed crystals only add to the drama of the simple nail look.
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Floral Accents
@betina_goldstein / Instagram
Betina Goldstein gives us the simple nail look of our dreams, with gold and amber floral nail art. The combination creates the image of sugar skulls in our minds. It is perfect for any setting, and the fall-inspired colors are just what we need for the upcoming season. Plus, its easier to create than her other skull creation, as, when you look closely, its just lines and dots.
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Black and White Beads
@jessicawashick / Instagram
These beaded nails serve as a reminder that even the most theme-heavy holidays can still be chic. Channel your inner socialite with this black-and-white mani that gives off major Chanel vibes.
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Fall Foliage
@chalkboardnails / Instagram
This abstract marble effect reminds us of the fall foliage that is sure to be covering the sidewalks this Halloween. The mirror-like shine captures your attention and adds to the beauty of the overall look. Your friends will ask how you managed to conjure up this design.
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Eerie Green Checks
@phoebesummernails / Instagram
This is yet another nail design you can DIY with just nail polish, a toothpick, and steady hands. For the wavy checkerboard print, paint a green base before using a toothpick to create tiny black squares on top. The best part? They dont have to be perfectly symmetrical as youre going for a curved look.
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French Stitch
@vanityprojects / Instagram
Throw in some stitch details if you want to Halloween-ify your French mani. A couple of heart-fanged accent nails will strike the right balance of scary meets sweet.
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Zodiac
@oliveandjune / Instagram
Keep it simple with these constellation nails painted against a black sky—how Halloween-appropriate. Personalize it by tracing your own astrological constellation as an accent nail.
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Stellar Spiders
@staceymachin / Instagram
These tiny spiders and starry skies are out of this world. Theyre a perfect seasonal pick for Halloween—and lucky for us, they only require a toothpick, nail polish, and a few gemstones to bring them to life.
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Realistic Spiders
@betina_goldstein / Instagram
If you want to take spiders to a new creepy level, copy this negative space manicure that looks like spiders crawling over your nails. Theyre a bit more intricate but still doable. Just be sure to have a bottle of nail polish remover nearby for touch-ups.
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Magic Metallics
@clarahnails / Instagram
This mystical, metallic manicure resembles a magic potion that could very well keep us in eternal youth forever. (Theyll also keep you in a nail salon for around an hour to bring them to life.) And with black, purple, and holographic witchy siren vibes, who knows what kind of magic youll find yourself stirring up.
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For the Angels
@jinsoon / Instagram
If an angel costume is more your speed, this sparkly, glammed-up look is for you. Its far less complicated than it seems: All you need is a sparkle-infused nail polish and one hand to paint it on—bonus points for the clear base color to keep things mess-free. Luckily, Jinsoon makes the perfect shade—Absolute Glitz ($18).
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Spirited Set
@trillanails / Instagram
Dare to play with this set inspired by the iconic Ouija board, which is used in seances to supposedly contact those beyond the grave.
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Beetlejuice Tips
@thenailphilosophy / Instagram
Try a throwback mani this Halloween, with a nod to one of the quirkiest spooky flicks in ages: Beetlejuice.
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Youre a Cat, Duh
@nailsbycanishiea / Instagram
Dress up the usual all-black feline manicure with a spotted leopard look. It takes no time at all after picking up black, brown, and beige polish at your local drugstore.
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Whimsical Witch
@jinsoon / Instagram
This ultra whimsical nail look compliments the sparkliest of wings for a modern fairy, witchy design. Adorned in shimmering crystals, youll be as bejeweled as Tinkerbell with her pixie dust in Neverland.
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A Spooky Bit of Sparkle
@jinsoon / Instagram
If youre not into a full Halloween getup this year, go for a sparkly glitter-dipped manicure for a still seasonally appropriate look. This DIY take includes full-on edgy glitter for a fun design.
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A Black Cat Is Essential
@oliveandjune / Instagram
Black cats are a Halloween essential, so why not paint a few on your nails for good measure?
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The Disney Fanatic
@afreshset / Instagram
If theres one thing a true Disney fan loves to do, its look for hidden Mickeys. Spoiler alert—the main mouse can be seen masquerading as itty bitty bats in this design.
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The Halloween Minimalist
@jinsoon / Instagram
Skeletons and the undead alike will love this minimalist nail art manicure. It uses only two shades (Jinsoons Absolute White and Polka Black, $18 each), one brush, and a little bit of smudging. Halloween nails in just three steps—voilà!
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Witches Magic
@ginaedwards_ / Instagram
Instead of an intricate, painstakingly detailed manicure, opt for glossy black paint and a few nail adhesives, like the stars pictured here. Itll add to your witch costume, albeit subtly, but its also chic for the week post-holiday. See? Were saving you time and money.
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Spooky Spots
@anetaujwary / Instagram
Leopard print gets a Halloween makeover with bold and bright colors. Although they might look complex at first glance, all you need to land this design is a toothpick and your polishes of choice. And in case you mess up a bit, thats okay—each spot is unique, after all.