It’s easy to get into the creative spirit on Halloween, from curating unique costumes to creating artful makeup looks. And when it comes to embodying your character of choice during the holiday, we think you’d be remiss not to include your nails in the fun. While Bazaar editors have been keeping track of the best nail trends of 2024 since the top of the year, there’s something singular about the best Halloween nail art ideas.
With the 31st just around the corner, creative and creepy nail additions by way of usual suspects like pumpkins, ghosts, and moody polish tones help make Halloween even more of a thrill. Of course, if you’re attending a themed party or snagging some candy while trick-or-treating, your nails can seamlessly coordinate with your costume.
For some of the best Halloween nail art ideas to help get you in the spirit, look no further than the stylish designs on our list below. Keep scrolling for some of our favorites, along with a few tips and tricks (the good kind) on what to ask for at the salon or re-create at home.
Spider Woman
A nude base makes the minimal yet impactful spider design on the ring and thumb fingers more prominent.
Abstract Orange
Keep things simple with a series of contrasting orange nail shades that channel the holiday spirit.
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This vibrant shade from Dior is the perfect base for your next orange-toned manicure.
French Ghosts
A spooky take on a French manicure, this sheer nail features a stripe of black in place of white, plus ghost art that’s easy to freestyle with a small brush.
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Stitched Up
This mani combines graphic-looking blocks of sheer pink, terra-cotta orange, and earthy yellow. For the stitches, use a black nail art pen to complete the look.
Add tiny details to your nails with this pack of six polish pens from Olive & June.
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Just Batty
We love this playful purple manicure, accented with a bat silhouette on each nail.
Blood Drip
Along with a pointed tip, this manicure design features a cuticle-rimming blood drip and a clean white base.
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Villain Era
This green, blue, and orange look by Essie draws inspiration from the Joker with "ha ha ha" painted on the middle finger.
Use this purple polish shade and a thin liner brush for expert-level design precision.
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Warm and Fuzzy
Looking for a mani that will last into November? Try a mix of pumpkin and earth tones, then two sheer neutral bases dotted with falling leaves.
Chrome Splatters
Go the artistic route with painterly splatters of rich browns, oranges, and deep eggplants, accented with metallic hues.
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Check Mates
The black-and-white checkered look grounds the playful nail art featured in this unique mani.
Halloween Night
Use a dotting tool to paint on stars, moons, and sugar skulls against alternating cream and suede backgrounds.
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Candy Corn Nails
Draw color and shape inspiration from the iconic Halloween candy, but make it subtle for a cooler effect.
Bloody Handprint
To start, paint four nails on each hand with a rich, oxblood red. For the remaining nail, swipe on some white polish to create the perfect canvas for a bloody handprint.
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Creepy Crawlers
Terra-cotta nails are the perfect backdrop for spider-inspired designs. Finish with a matte top coat to minimize a shiny finish.
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A couple of coats of this mattifying top coat from JINsoon can help seal your look.
Orange Swirl
The orange swirls at the tops of the nails add interest to this negative-space mani. Top it off with black Halloween designs of your choosing.
Marissa Oliva
Freelance Writer
Marissa Oliva is a writer based in New York City whose work has appeared in Bustle, The Zoe Report, Glamour, and Harper's Bazaar. Marissa has a bachelor's degree in journalism and started her career as a beauty editor at Hearst Magazines over ten years ago. When she’s not writing, you can find her taking a hot bath or spending time with her new baby boy.