35 Halloween Manicure Ideas for the Spookiest Week of the Year

Rebecca Norris

Published on October 28, 2025 06:45AM

Close-up of manicure with tortoiseshell base and ghost designs — @disseynails / Instagram

Spooky season is in full swing, with much-anticipated Halloween festivities inspiring us to plan creative costumes, order a spooky drink or two, and update our manicures. This beloved holiday is full of classic, versatile motifs—from ghosts to spiderwebs to blood-red polish—and they’re especially fun when adding an after-dark edge to current nail trends.

As always, we’re here to help you find ample inspiration, and we’ve scoured Instagram for some of the most exciting offerings to try for all your upcoming parties (or just a touch of everyday joy). Ahead, peruse 35 Halloween nail ideas you’ll want to recreate this October.

01of 35

Black and White Halloween Nails

A black-and-white color palette is a stark and stylish choice for a spooky season. Add classic Halloween accents, like spiderwebs, spiders, ghosts, and cat eyes, to enhance the moody manicure.

02of 35

Tortoiseshell Ghosties

Manicure with brown tortoiseshell base and white ghost designs — @disseynails / Instagram

Upgrade your fall tortoiseshell manicure for Halloween with a few playfully chic ghosts. This design features them in the corners (similarly to the swirls of many abstract nail looks) for a result that balances whimsy with sophistication.

03of 35

Blood Bath Nails

These spotty burgundy and black nails are meant to resemble gory pools of blood. To recreate the look, use sheer burgundy nail polish overlaid with sheer black polish.

04of 35

Blood Drip Nails

Dripping nail designs have remained a popular choice, and they’re one nail art idea that translates well to Halloween manicures. When done with ruby red polish, the cascading design takes on a bloody appeal perfect for the spooky season.

05of 35

Blood Red Nails

Speaking of red polish, if you don’t have time for intricate Halloween nail art, opting for a simple blood-red mani will work just fine for the holiday. Just be sure to add a glossy top coat for a long-lasting look.

06of 35

Spooky and Squirmy

Close-up of manicure with neutral base and 3D pink worm designs — @betina_goldstein / Instagram

The idea of a worm manicure may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it does make for a stunningly unexpected result that’s perfect for Halloween. For best results, have a nail tech help you recreate this unsettling yet mesmerizing design.

07of 35

Blood-Splattered French

Love the idea of a blood-inspired Halloween manicure? Transform a classic white French manicure with bright red splatter.

08of 35

Bloody French Tips

Give your French manicure an edgy twist by opting for red tips and a drippy accent. The end look is chic and spooky all at once.

09of 35

Crime Scene Nails

Sucker for true crime? Embrace your passion on your fingertips this Halloween by opting for a crime scene-inspired manicure.

10of 35

Sparkly Blood Drip French

Manicure with white French tips and red gem blod drip design accent nails — @disseynails / Instagram

For a luxe twist on a blood-inspired look, use tiny red gems instead of polish. The sparkly result feels Twilight vampire-approved, and alternating the design with simple white French tips makes it subdued enough for everyday.

11of 35

Freddy Krueger Nails

Freddy Krueger fans will appreciate this olive and red Halloween mani. To achieve the striped look, use a fine-lining nail art brush and a dotting tool.

12of 35

Gothic Romance

Close-up of manicure with wine red French tips and rhinestone cross accents — @nailsby.hails / Instagram

If your Halloween mood this year aligns with Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball and the related dark romance trend, this one’s for you. Start with deep red French tips (the almond shape here is stunning), then add rhinestone cross accents on a few select nails for a storied touch.

13of 35

Ghostly French Tips

How chic is this reimagined black and white French manicure? The tips of each nail feature spooky ghosts, giving the mani an unexpected twist.

14of 35

Halloween Doodle Nails

We love a cutesy nail art idea, and this Halloween doodle design is too precious to pass up. There are so many on-theme nail designs to love, from the ghosts to the bats.

15of 35

Halloween Motif Nails

Halloween Motif Mix-n-Match Nails - Byrdie Halloween Nail Ideas — @melanated.mani / Instagram

You can never go wrong with classic Halloween motifs when crafting a spooktacular October manicure. Here, bats and webs elevate a black, orange, nude, and white skittle mani.

16of 35

Halloween Skittle Nails

While on the topic of skittle manis, check out this vibrant Halloween nail art idea. We love the inclusion of royal purple and teal, which makes for a Scooby-Doo-inspired look. It’s also super easy to DIY. Simply paint on two coats of each color, touch up the edges, and finish with a top coat.

17of 35

Jet-Black Spiderweb Nails

black nails with white spiderwebs — @lolo.nailedit / Instagram

You can always spruce up a glossy jet-black manicure with bright white spiderweb designs. It adds a striking touch to an already cool nail look.

18of 35

Pastel Halloween Nails

Neutral Sheer Halloween Nails - Byrdie Halloween Nail Ideas — @pop_polished / Instagram

This look proves that Halloween nails exist in every color palette and aesthetic. If high-contrast Halloween nail art isn’t your favorite, consider this pastel option.

19of 35

Nightmare Before Christmas Nails

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a divisive film in that some people consider it a Halloween classic, while others reserve it for the holidays. There’s no denying that the black, white, purple, yellow, and green designs from the film make for a pretty eye-catching Halloween manicure, though.

20of 35

Pumpkin Ember Aura Nails

This orange and yellow aura manicure feels warm and cozy—it reminds us of happy jack-o-lanterns perched on the porch. It’s an easy Halloween nail idea to DIY, too.

21of 35

Pumpkin Jelly Confetti Nails

Jelly nail polish is one of the trendiest textures. While it’s a finish typically reserved for summer, we like the idea of this sheer orange confetti mani for Halloween.

22of 35

Velvet Pumpkin Nails

Pumpkin Velvet Nails - Byrdie Halloween Nail Ideas — @brushedbyb_ / Instagram

Velvet nails are luxe and warm, making them perfect for the year’s cooler months. This orange-black velvet rendition is particularly fitting for Halloween, as it resembles glowing carved pumpkins, black flame candles, and spooky black cat eyes.

23of 35

Purple and Green Alien Nails

Looking for an eccentric Halloween nail idea? Check out this daisy and alien design. You can recreate it using a fine-lining nail art brush dipped into shimmery green and royal purple polish. Use black and white polish to pump up the contrast.

24of 35

Purple Aura Bat Nails

Pastel polish can be used for Halloween nail art, too. Just look at this purple, pink, and orange aura design. The black bat and star details give it a chic, spooky vibe, while the shimmering silver foil brings the magic.

25of 35

Purple Galaxy Cat-Eye Nails

Feeling witchy? Consider a purple galaxy cat-eye manicure this October. The creamy gray base with shifting purple shimmer will make your nails look like the night sky on Halloween.

26of 35

Red and White Witchy Nails

Red and white pairings might make you think of candy canes and Christmas, but here’s proof that the high-contrast combo can also work well for Halloween. For this Halloween nail art idea, you’ll need a creamy white polish for the base and a bright red polish.

27of 35

Halloween Mix-and-Match Nails

Sheer Halloween Mix-n-Match Mani - Byrdie Halloween Nail Ideas — @disseynails / Instagram

Here’s another doodle-dotted Halloween nail art idea. Opting for different designs on each nail gives the mani a fun and quirky feel.

28of 35

Sheer Purple Magic Nails

While sheer polishes are top of mind, let’s ogle over this pretty pale purple mani. With silver swirls and sparkle star designs, it looks whimsical and witchy, not to mention magical.

29of 35

Shimmery Green Slime Nails

Another fantastic color choice for witchy nails? Slime green. Case in point: this ultra-fine shimmer mani with 3D swirls. You can recreate the raised design using a fine-lining nail art brush dipped in builder gel.

30of 35

Vampy Ombré Nails

Vampy Ombre Nails - Byrdie Halloween Nail Ideas — @disseynails / Instagram

If vampires are more your thing, work black and burgundy into your Halloween nail look. This almost metallic ombré fade looks sinister and chic, making it a must in our seasonal mani book.

31of 35

Velvet Ghost Nails

Velvet polish looks spectacular on its own but when it’s artfully applied, it can take on an even spookier appeal. This dazzling manicure is a prime example.

32of 35

Velvet Halloween Skittle Nails

An easy way to make a simple Skittle mani look much more intricate is by opting for a velvet finish. We can’t take our eyes off this purple, bronze, pumpkin, silver, and slate set.

33of 35

Villainous Green Velvet Nails

Green velvet polish is another stunning choice for spooky season. It takes on a villainous air, don’t you think?

34of 35

White Web Nails

Not one for bold colors on your nails? Get creative with the way you apply white and sheer nudes. You can recreate this web design with a nail art brush. And if you want to make it a bit spookier, add spider nail stickers to the mix.

35of 35

Celestial Cat-Eye Nails

This midnight-toned cat-eye mani is a work of art. The navy-to-silver shimmer shift and metallic silver nail art create a mystical Halloween nail look we’d recreate in a heartbeat.

Nails

Source URL: https://www.byrdie.com/halloween-nail-ideas-11837735

35 Halloween Manicure Ideas for the Spookiest Week of the Year

35 Halloween Manicure Ideas for the Spookiest Week of the Year

Black and White Halloween Nails

Tortoiseshell Ghosties

Blood Bath Nails

Blood Drip Nails

Blood Red Nails

Spooky and Squirmy

Blood-Splattered French

Bloody French Tips

Crime Scene Nails

Sparkly Blood Drip French

Freddy Krueger Nails

Gothic Romance

Ghostly French Tips

Halloween Doodle Nails

Halloween Motif Nails

Halloween Skittle Nails

Jet-Black Spiderweb Nails

Pastel Halloween Nails

Nightmare Before Christmas Nails

Pumpkin Ember Aura Nails

Pumpkin Jelly Confetti Nails

Velvet Pumpkin Nails

Purple and Green Alien Nails

Purple Aura Bat Nails

Purple Galaxy Cat-Eye Nails

Red and White Witchy Nails

Halloween Mix-and-Match Nails

Sheer Purple Magic Nails

Shimmery Green Slime Nails

Vampy Ombré Nails

Velvet Ghost Nails

Velvet Halloween Skittle Nails

Villainous Green Velvet Nails

White Web Nails

Celestial Cat-Eye Nails

Analyse